Chapter 5 Apologize to Belle
Finished
Estella counted the days. There were still about twenty left in the divorce cooling–off period. “More than twenty days to go. You know, my divorce isn’t final yet.”
Selene asked with concern. Your ex–husband isn’t going to cling to you, is he?”
After all, back in college, Estella had been the department beauty. No man would let go of such a stunning woman so easily.
Estella gave a self–deprecating smile. “He won’t. He can’t wait to be rid of me.”
Nathaniel had eyes only for Isabelle now. He wouldn’t even care about her.
“That’s good, then.”
Selene was a cautious person. She handed Estella a business card. “Of course, if you do run into trouble, don’t worry. I have a friend at the top law firm in Javerton. She’s an expert in divorce cases. With her on your side, you’ll get out of this unscathed.”
Estella didn’t think she would need it, but she still accepted the card with a smile. “Thank you, Selene.”
By the time Estella got home, it was already dark.
A pair of high heels sat by the entrance. A woman’s clothes and handbag were on the couch.
She paused for a moment before hearing Isabelle’s voice upstairs, then remembered that Isabelle had moved in earlier.
So. Isabelle had been discharged from the hospital.
She headed upstairs and realized the voice was coming from the master bedroom.
A flicker of displeasure rose within her.
Even though she was preparing for a divorce, the master bedroom was still hers. Isabelle barging in like this was simply too much.
She pushed open the door and saw Isabelle sitting on her bed, wrapped in a bath towel.
Nathaniel was crouched beside her, applying ointment to her ankle.
The sight stung Estella’s eyes. She held back the urge to curse.
Isabelle quickly explained upon seeing her. “Estella, I slipped in the bathroom just now, and Nate helped me over to apply medicine. You don’t mind, do you?”
Estella asked coldly, “Then why are you in my room?”
Isabelle seemed startled by her tone, her eyes turning red as she spoke pitifully. “The shower in my room suddenly broke, so I came here to borrow Nate’s. If you mind, I’ll leave right away.”
Saying that, she immediately stood up.
But because of her injured ankle, she lost her balance and almost fell.
Nathaniel instinctively caught her by the waist.
Isabelle clung to him, eyes full of panic.
Nathaniel soothed her gently. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing. Estella won’t mind.”
Then he looked at Estella, his expression turning stern. “You were out of line just now. Apologize to Belle.”
Estella found it laughable.
Isabelle was sitting on her bed, barely dressed, still wrapped around her lawful husband, and yet she was the one who needed
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Chapter 5 Apologize to Belle
to apologize.
She didn’t bother to argue and turned to go downstairs.
“Estella!” Nathaniel’s tone was displeased as he called after her.
Estella turned back, her gaze colder than his. “And what if I don’t?”
Nathaniel’s expression darkened, his voice carrying a trace of anger. “That wasn’t a request. It was an order.”
For three years, he had always spoken to her like this.
Before, she endured it.
Now, she wouldn’t.
She was divorcing him anyway. There was nothing to be afraid of.
Finished
Estella lifted her chin and mocked, “Sure, I’ll apologize. I’m terribly sorry for walking in on your little affair. After all, a proper Mrs. Hartwell should turn a blind eye to her husband’s cheating.” Mrs.
“Estella!” Nathaniel’s breath hitched, clearly furious. “What nonsense are you spouting?”
Estella’s gaze dropped to his arm. “Am I wrong, Mr. Hartwell? Where are your hands right now?”
Only then did Nathaniel realize he was still holding Isabelle’s waist.
Tears welled up in Isabelle’s eyes as she whimpered, “It’s all my fault. Estella, don’t misunderstand Nate, and don’t fight with him because of me. I’ll move out tonight.”
After speaking, she limped out hurriedly.
Nathaniel was about to continue scolding Estella when he suddenly heard Isabelle’s startled cry.
Estella turned back and saw Isabelle tumbling down the stairs.
Nathaniel immediately shoved Estella aside in a panic and rushed out.
Caught off guard, Estella fell hard onto the ground. The wound on her arm began to throb faintly again.
“Belle, are you okay?” Nathaniel’s anxious voice rang out.
Then came the sound of the front door opening and closing.
Estella let out a mocking laugh.
It seemed that tonight, Nathaniel would be spending another night at the hospital with Isabelle.
She stripped off the bedsheets and threw them into the trash.
She found anything a where had used disgusting.
Once she finished tidying up, Nathaniel sent her a message on WhatsApp. “Go to Belle’s room and bring two sets of clean clothes.”
Estella acted like she never saw it, ignored him completely, and turned off her phone.
After washing up, she lay down on the fresh sheets, pushing thoughts of Nathaniel and Isabelle out of her mind. Before long, she drifted into sleep.
The next morning, Nathaniel’s assistant arrived, speaking cautiously, “Mrs. Hartwell, Mr. Hartwell asked me to pick up two sets of Ms. Isabelle’s clothes.”
Estella pointed to a room upstairs. “That’s Ms. Isabelle’s room.”
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Finished
The assistant quickly grabbed the clothes and hesitated before adding, “Mr. Hartwell also asked me to bring you to the hospital… to take care of Ms. Isabelle.”
She sounded uneasy.
Estella calmly ate her scrambled egg and cheese toast, ignoring her
etely.
Feeling a bit wronged but powerless against Estella’s indifference, the assistant remained silent.
Estella used to do anything for Nathaniel.
Now, she seemed unwilling to even acknowledge him.
Even the assistant found it absurd that Nathaniel expected his wife to care for his mistress.
She said nothing more and quickly excused herself.
After finishing breakfast, Estella went online and ordered some household essentials to be delivered to her new home.
Just as she completed the purchase, Nathaniel’s WhatsApp call came through.
She picked up, and his scolding voice immediately erupted, “Estella, don’t be so unreasonable! You caused Belle’s injury, so you should come to the hospital, apologize, and take care of her!”
Estella sneered. “She fell on her own. What does that have to do with me? And what if I don’t go?”
Nathaniel grew even angrier.
Estella had always obeyed him in the past. She had never defied him like this before.
Gritting his teeth, he spat, “Estella, don’t forget who has been supporting you! You’ll do whatever I tell you to do!”
Estella’s temper flared.
She had done so much for him, even helping him rebuild his life, yet now he used those very words to insult her.
She didn’t want to talk to him anymore. She hung up and blocked him on WhatsApp.
In the past, when Nathaniel blocked her number, it left her feeling suffocated, unable to sleep for nights.
Now, blocking Nathaniel gave her a sense of relief.
A while later, Nathaniel’s assistant called her again.
Estella blocked the number and shut off her phone.
Finally, the world was quiet.
Thinking about work, she decided she needed some proper outfits and shoes.
So, she went to the mall.
Nathaniel gave her a monthly allowance of 4,000 dollars for living expenses and 700 dollars for personal spending, based on her requests.
If she needed to attend important events with him, she had to apply separately for funds to buy outfits.
All the designer bags and jewelry in her closet were for her use, but they were never truly hers.
After groceries and necessities, she always had a little left over.
Over the past three years, she had saved up more than 70,000 dollars.
Every cent he spent on her was carefully calculated.
Not even a fraction of what he would casually spend on a bag for Isabelle.
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Every time she had to request money from him, she felt humiliated.
But he never cared about her feelings.
His actions constantly reminded her that he never loved her.
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