A Clean Break

The corporate lobby was suffocatingly silent, save for the hum of the tablet resting in Stella's hands. The marble floors seemed to amplify the stillness, freezing everyone in place.

"It's your turn." Stella flashed a bright, expectant smile. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she politely signaled Declan with a slight tilt of her chin, urging him to press the digital button and confirm their divorce.

Dozens of passing employees lingered near the towering pillars. Their footsteps slowed to an agonizing crawl as they watched the tense standoff between their formidable CEO and his estranged wife. The air felt thick, heavy with the weight of the spectacle.

Declan stared at her glowing face, his jaw clenched so tightly a muscle ticked rhythmically in his cheek. He was secretly, desperately convinced she was bluffing. This very public display had to be her ultimate, twisted attempt to force him into a panic. He believed she wanted to back him into a corner so he would beg her to stay for the sake of his promise to their daughter.

Yet, beneath the widening gaze of his anticipating workforce, Stella remained silent. She offered no apologies, no sudden pleas to cancel the process, and no dramatic tears. She just stood there, holding the screen steady, waiting for him to finalize their ruin.

After agonizing, breathless seconds of intense hesitation, Declan realized she was not going to back down. The unwavering resolve in her clear eyes shattered his arrogant assumption. He slowly raised a rigid finger, hovered over the glass screen, and pressed the confirm button.

The deed was done. The system registered his input, processing the final severing of their marriage.

A crisp, melodious voice suddenly called out, breaking the heavy tension in the room. "Deccy!"

Vanessa arrived with her assistant in tow, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. She paused in front of the pair, feigning an expression of innocent surprise as she took in the sight of the freshly stamped digital divorce certificates glowing on the portal. Her eyes widened in a picture-perfect display of shock.

Vanessa gasped softly, her tone dripping with artificial sweetness and rehearsed disbelief. "Are you two really divorced?"

Before anyone could answer, she sauntered over and naturally hooked her delicate arm around Declan's stiff bicep. She leaned her frame against him, staking her claim in front of the stunned lobby. Declan, who had been moving at a sluggish pace mere moments ago, did not push her away. His silent acceptance spoke volumes, exemplifying his care for the woman clutching his arm.

Vanessa tilted her head up at him, flashing a dazzling smile. "I was in such a rush this morning and haven't had my breakfast yet. There is a fantastic coffee shop right around the corner. Deccy, do you mind accompanying me?"

Then, she turned a smug, victorious gaze directly onto Stella. "Miss Mercer, would you like to join us? Even if you guys are divorced, we can still be friends."

Not in the mood to humor her pathetic theatricals, Stella met her gaze dead-on. Her expression remained cool and unbothered as she prepared to leave.

"Nah, I'm not in the habit of being divorced and remaining friends with my ex." Stella replied lightly.

Vanessa's assistant quickly stepped forward, putting on a sickeningly sweet smile as she condescendingly offered a lifeline. "Or you could leave your number. Vanessa has an established network and knows a lot of influential people. If there is a suitable opportunity in the future, we will definitely recommend it to you. We will not let your life be ruined just because you lost the Vance name."

Vanessa chided her assistant in a soft whisper, putting on a flawless act of humility. "Hey, watch what you are saying."

Stella could only grin at the well-acted, coordinated play before her. Know your place, Vanessa Croft. She was more than capable of supporting herself and hundreds of others. The sheer audacity of Vanessa pitying her quality of life was laughable.

Before Stella could open her mouth to firmly put them in their place, a booming male voice interrupted the lobby.

"Miss Croft, you don't have to worry about Stell's life." Landon Quinn declared smoothly, his tall frame cutting through the crowd of gaping employees.

He stepped right beside Stella, and a heavy, protective arm draped securely over her shoulder. The casual intimacy of the gesture drew a sharp gasp from the onlookers. Landon ignored Vanessa's sheer, wide-eyed disbelief and flashed a wicked grin.

Landon mocked, his tone laced with razor-sharp sarcasm aimed directly at Vanessa's current employer. "My monthly sales profit is more than enough to buy Prime Media ten times over and splurge endlessly on Stell. Even after that, I would still have a hefty balance left over."

Vanessa's smug demeanor cracked. Her face paled as she recognized the man standing beside her rival. "Mr. Quinn? It is you?"

Witnessing the protective, intimate gesture, Declan's expression darkened. His eyes turned to stormy pits of raw fury. His intense gaze locked onto the large hand resting casually on Stella's shoulder. The realization hit him like a physical blow. Stella had pushed for this divorce without a shred of hesitation, and this man was the reason why.

There was no way the dull, uninteresting Stella could find a man of Landon's immense caliber and wealth so quickly after a divorce. Declan instantly and furiously concluded that she had been cheating on him during their entire marriage. This thought fueled a deep, bitter anger that radiated from him in dangerous waves. He felt a profound sense of betrayal, an outrage far greater than what he had experienced when forced to marry her in the first place.

Vanessa, acutely sensing his escalating wrath beside her, swallowed hard. She balled her fists in silence, watching in quiet, seething fury as Landon gently guided Stella away from the scene.

Landon refused to spare another glance at the furious CEO or his clinging companion. "Let's go."

Stella nodded, turning her back on Declan and Vanessa for good. "Sure."

The two of them walked out of the corporate headquarters side by side, leaving a trail of chaos in their wake. The stunned employees broke into excited, hushed whispers the second the glass doors slid shut.

"Isn't that the online live-selling streamer, Landon Quinn?"

"He hit the jackpot last year, and Nova Media made a fortune turning him into a star."

"Now everybody knows who he is. Everybody must have purchased at least one of his items. His monthly sales are in the trillions. He is a notoriously wealthy billionaire!"

"Not only that, but his father is the number two entrepreneur in our city. He is a through and through nouveau riche!"

Once they reached a quiet, sunlit spot outside the towering glass building, Stella stopped walking. The stifling air of the Vance corporate lobby finally washed away, replaced by a warm morning breeze. She turned and playfully pushed Landon's heavy arm off her shoulder.

Stella asked, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Harper asked you to come, right?"

Landon chuckled, his face breaking into an adorable, puppy-like grin that contrasted sharply with his towering physique. He leaned back against a brick wall, crossing his arms over his chest.

Landon offered, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "It has nothing to do with her. I came on my own. What I said earlier was not a joke, though. We can get married right now if you want."

Stella laughed off the absurd joke, waving her hand dismissively in the air. She knew him too well to take the bait.

She teased, her tone light and grateful. "I don't want your scary dad to come after me with a stick. There is a beautiful life ahead of us, and I want to have a few more decades of peace."

They had known each other for years, sharing a bond built on trust and endless banter. There were no secrets between them, only a comfortable familiarity that Stella desperately needed after the tense confrontation. Landon let out a loud laugh, and the two traded a few more harmless jokes in the sunlight before finally parting ways.

Stella hailed a cab and soon arrived at the bustling headquarters of Nova Media. The spacious office was a hive of activity, filled with ringing phones, glaring ring lights, and frantic staff members running around with clipboards. She marched straight past the reception desk, intending to severely warn Harper about the huge scene Landon had just caused.

Stella announced the moment she pushed open the glass door to Harper's private office. "Landon made a huge scene today. Keep your eyes and ears open, because something is bound to happen."

Harper didn't look up from her desk. She just aggressively shoved a sleek tablet into Stella's hands, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Harper stated flatly. "It is too late. The damage is already done."

Stella lowered her head and stared at the bright screen. Her stomach dropped. The display showed a barrage of viral, high-definition photos of her public divorce confirmation. There were crystal-clear shots of her standing before the tablet in the lobby, followed by dramatic angles of Landon wrapping his arm around her shoulder and leading her away from Declan.

Though Stella's face was fortunately blurred by the camera angles, protecting her identity for the moment, the internet was already in a frenzy. Hundreds of thousands of frantic netizens were dissecting the juicy drama online. The view counter on the main post was skyrocketing by the second, flooded with wild speculations about the billionaire live-streamer rescuing a mystery woman from a ruthless corporate CEO.

Stella sighed deeply, aggressively rubbing her throbbing temples. A vicious headache began to bloom behind her eyes. She tossed the tablet onto the desk and groaned.

Stella muttered to herself, frustrated by his reckless display of loyalty. "Landon Quinn! Are you happy now that I am in huge trouble?"

Harper walked around the desk and patted her shoulder reassuringly. She guided Stella to a plush leather chair, offering a comforting smile.

Harper promised, her voice radiating professional confidence. "You should be well aware of Nova Media's PR capabilities. Do not worry, I guarantee that our elite team will swiftly handle the fallout."

Stella leaned back in the chair, letting out a long breath. The exhausting reality of the morning was finally catching up to her.

Harper perched on the edge of the desk, her eyes gleaming as she smoothly shifted the topic. She studied Stella's tired but resilient face.

Harper noted, a thrilling edge of anticipation in her voice. "It is just that you are finally divorced, so you cannot be in hiding forever. How about we revive our old business? Everyone on the internet has been missing you loads."

Hearing the sudden suggestion, Stella paused. The memories of her former life, the vibrant energy of the live streams, and the genuine connection with her massive audience rushed back into her mind. It was a world she had sacrificed for Declan, a passion she had buried deep down to play the role of the perfect, unseen wife.

Her exhausted eyes instantly lit up with a familiar, undeniable spark. A genuine smile formed on her lips, erasing the lingering shadows of her failed marriage. She felt a defiant sense of empowerment washing over her, mixed with the thrilling anticipation of a long-awaited return.

Stella agreed, her voice steady and full of bright promise. "Sure. But I want to bring May along."