Call Me Miss Mercer

Staring at the kneeling man and the massive congratulatory banner, Declan’s mind raced with cold fury. *What is the meaning of this? Is Stella accusing me of giving her the cold shoulder?* he thought. His jaw clenched tight enough to grind bone. He was convinced she had meticulously staged this humiliating spectacle just to rip his attention away from his work. After years of quiet submission, she had suddenly decided to throw a childish tantrum in broad daylight. He believed she would pathetically return to his side once she had embarrassed herself enough with these theatrical antics. The upscale neighborhood was quiet, save for the fluttering of leftover confetti drifting across the paved driveway, sticking to the pristine hood of his luxury car.

He stepped forward, preparing to issue a harsh warning to the actor she had hired.

"Listen, he—"

"Thank you." Stella cut him off cleanly, not even sparing him a single glance.

Walking smoothly past Declan’s rigid frame, she accepted a small velvet pouch from the trembling maid standing near the iron gates. She then turned her attention to the bewildered butler, her posture straight and her tone unyielding.

"Please call me Miss Mercer from now on. Also, I don't want my belongings that are left in this house anymore. Please throw them away. All of them."

Leaving Declan standing there speechless, his mouth slightly parted in shock, she turned around with grace and departed with the handsome, waiting man. The actor escorted her to the sleek car parked at the curb, opening the passenger door with a polite bow.

The moment the car doors closed and they pulled away from the sprawling estate, Stella's calm facade dropped. A stern expression surfaced on her face as she looked at the man behind the wheel. The adrenaline from the confrontation faded, leaving behind sheer exhaustion.

"Why are you acting crazy like Harper?" she scolded the driver sharply. She instantly deduced that her eccentric best friend was the mastermind behind this theatrical, public display. The massive banner, the endless shower of confetti, the overly dramatic proposal—it all screamed Harper's name.

The driver rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish as he navigated the residential streets. "Isn't this a surprise from Miss Quinn?"

Stella let out an exhausted sigh. It was more of a shocker than a surprise, but she knew the man was just following orders. She pulled out her phone and dialed Harper’s number.

A quick phone call confirmed her suspicions. Harper’s enthusiastic voice rang out through the speakers, buzzing with triumph.

"How was it? Was that bastard surprised? Don't worry, this isn't over yet. Next, I will scout and send even more outstanding men for you. At that moment, he will know how popular and cherished you truly are!"

Stella rubbed her temples, listening to her friend's chaotic plotting.

Meanwhile, standing by the iron gates, a grim-faced Declan retreated into the cavernous Vance Residence. The atmosphere around him plunged below freezing. The household staff held their breath as he stormed past them, his dark presence suffocating the grand foyer. The remnants of the glittery paint from the signs outside seemed to mock his unblemished reputation.

Inside, a deeply concerned maid quickly grabbed the landline and phoned Stella. Her voice trembled as she urgently pleaded with Stella.

"Mrs. Vance, please come back to the residence immediately. Mr. Vance is furious. Please come back, apologize, and explain things to him before you go overboard and ruin your life forever."

Calm as the deep ocean, Stella replied into the receiver. "Thank you for your concern, but didn't he inform you guys? We are divorced."

"D-Divorce?" The maid stared at the looming figure of Declan in shock, her hands shaking so hard the phone rattled against her ear.

She recalled the ridiculous banner and the elaborate setup outside. Could it really be true? Did the quiet, compliant Stella actually dump the intimidating Declan Vance? The realization hit her like a physical blow. She realized Stella had been dead serious when she demanded to be called Miss Mercer.

Declan impatiently snatched the receiver from her grip, intent on barking a command. Instead, he was met with Stella's chillingly indifferent, icy voice echoing through the earpiece.

"Tell him not to worry. Since we are already divorced, I will not bother him anymore. Also, I have sent him a bank card... as my blessing for his next marriage."

The line went dead.

Almost as if operating on a divine cue, a courier rapidly arrived at the front door at that exact moment. He nervously handed Declan a sealed envelope.

Ripping it open, Declan found the very same bank card he had heartlessly tossed at her for their wedding anniversary. The cold piece of plastic sat heavy in his palm, a silent testament to the years of emotional neglect he had subjected her to.

A murderous, dark look descended upon Declan's face. His grip tightened, nearly snapping the card in half. The terrifying aura radiating from his sharp features sent the young courier fleeing down the driveway without waiting for a signature.

Back in the safety of her cozy apartment, Harper giggled with malicious delight on the couch. She was eager to escalate their plans and piss off the arrogant man even more by sending a parade of suitors.

"That's a good one, Stella! That bastard will blow a gasket when he sees what you sent him. Now, let's prepare for the next step. The man who proposed today is just a rookie. I'm going to find the best male lead to sweep you off your feet in front of him!" Harper jumped off the sofa, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Stella walked over and gently tugged at her sleeves. Her eyes were serious, shutting the chaotic idea down immediately.

"Stop causing trouble now. I sent the card back to him because I deeply wanted to sever all ties with him. If you keep causing trouble and pulling these stunts, he will think that I still have lingering feelings for him."

All she wanted was to quietly secure the official divorce certificate in exactly a month and leave his shadow for good. She didn't want any more drama. She just wanted a clean break from a marriage that had drained the life out of her.

Yielding reluctantly to her sound reasoning, Harper sighed. She plopped back down onto the cushions, her shoulders slumping. "Fine, I'll let him off the hook then."

She suddenly changed the subject to something far brighter.

"Is cutie-pie going to be back soon?"

Like a magic password, the mere mention of the name instantly melted Stella’s expressionless, hardened face into a breathtakingly warm, bright, and loving smile. The cold detachment she had carried all morning vanished without a trace.

"Yes." She nodded, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

The next day at exactly 4:00 PM, the golden afternoon sun bathed the pavement as Stella and Harper stood waiting outside the gates of Meteor Kindergarten. The lively chatter of parents and children filled the air, a stark contrast to the sterile, quiet halls of the Vance Residence. Stella watched the main entrance closely, her heart pounding with a familiar, comforting rhythm.

After some time, a small, delicate little girl in a pink tutu walked out of the school building. She nervously hunched her shoulders as her big, cautious doe eyes darted around the bustling crowd.