My CEO Ex-Husband's Regret

The cold wind of late autumn cut into Stella Carter's body like countless tiny blades of ice.

She stood outside the magnificent villa complex, wearing the old coat given to her when she was discharged from the mental hospital.

Everything from three years ago felt like a nightmare sealed inside this luxurious cage, and she was the only survivor who had escaped it.

The coat had been washed until it faded, with frayed cuffs that clashed sharply with the refined landscaping around her.

Cold wind seeped through the thin fabric, but she felt no cold—only a numbness that seeped from deep within her bones.

Three years ago, she was still Stella, Miles Hudson's fiancée, a rising star in the business world.

Until Ella Thomas appeared with tears of innocence on her face, and everything came crashing down.

Business fraud, leaking confidential information—one accusation after another was thrown at her.

The most fatal blow was that forged "mental illness" diagnosis.

Miles, her fiancé, stood by Ella's side from beginning to end.

He ignored her calls for help and personally sent her to that living hell.

She still remembered the heartbreaking cries of her newborn son when she was taken away.

That was the only pillar that sustained her through more than a thousand days and nights.

Now, she was finally out.

She pressed the doorbell, feeling the cold metal against her fingertip.

A slightly hesitant male voice came through the intercom, "Hello, who are you looking for?"

"I'm Stella."

She nervously gave her long-unused name.

After a long silence, static crackled through the intercom, and the heavy carved iron gate let out a dull boom as it slowly opened to both sides.

Inside the villa, voices buzzed loudly—music and laughter reached her ears from far away.

Today was Ella's birthday party.

Stella's nails dug deep into her flesh, the pain keeping her barely conscious.

Step by step, she walked with unusual steadiness toward the cage that had once promised her a home.

The moment she pushed open the heavy oak door, all the noise inside the villa stopped abruptly.

Under the crystal chandelier, elegant figures mingled, glasses clinked.

Everyone's gaze, like iron filings drawn to a magnet, fixed on her in unison.

There was surprise, contempt, but more than anything, a sense of watching a good show.

She was like a monster that had stumbled into a fairy tale world.

In the center of the crowd, Miles wore a perfectly tailored designer suit, kneeling on one knee, tenderly adjusting Ella's expensive mermaid gown.

That image stung Stella's eyes.

"Stella? What are you doing here?"

Ella was the first to react. Like a startled deer, she weakly hid behind Miles, one hand clutching his arm tightly while the other subtly moved to her flat stomach.

This gesture struck precisely at Stella's heart.

Miles stood up, his handsome face showing not a trace of joy at their reunion, only the anger and impatience of being interrupted.

He protected Ella behind him, his gaze toward Stella bone-chillingly cold.

"Stella, what are you doing here? Who let you in?"

His scolding echoed particularly loudly in the silent ballroom.

Suppressed snickers came from among the guests.

"Didn't she go crazy three years ago? Why did they let her out?"

"Look at what she's wearing—did she pick it from some garbage dump?"

"Mr. Hudson is so unfortunate, being pestered by a woman like her."

Those comments were like countless tiny needles, piercing her body all over.

Stella's body trembled slightly as she forcefully suppressed the surging hatred and grievance in her heart.

She didn't come here to argue with these people, much less to beg for Miles to change his mind.