Chapter 202: Just Letting You Go, Now We Should Settle Accounts

Stella tossed and turned all night, unable to settle her restless mind. Every time she thought about how Mason had surrendered all his assets and lost everything he'd spent half his life building, her heart ached with a mixture of sorrow and distress.

Mason sensed the woman in his arms shifting constantly. He opened his eyes and asked softly, "Why aren't you sleeping?"

Stella turned on the bedside lamp, then climbed out of bed.

Seeing her rummaging through her bag, Mason looked puzzled. "Babe, what are you looking for?"

Stella ignored him, pulling out a bank card from her bag and silently pressing it into Mason's palm. She looked up at him seriously, her eyes tender yet determined. "You don't have your assets anymore, but it's okay—I have money. I can take care of you."

Mason looked down at the bank card in his palm, then at the girl whose eyes brimmed with heartache, wanting so badly to protect him. Warmth flooded his chest instantly. He couldn't help but chuckle softly, his eyes full of adoration.

He pressed himself against her, his tall frame clinging to hers as he nuzzled into the crook of her neck like a clingy large dog, his tone lazy and playful. "Alright then, from now on I'll shamelessly live off you. My wife will support me completely."

"My wife is the best—the best in the whole world."

In truth, he'd never actually handed over all his cards. What he'd given Larry were merely surface-level shell operations. His true core connections and hidden assets had always remained firmly in his grasp.

He'd only pretended to compromise to prevent his father from continuing to harass them. But seeing the woman before him, filled with guilt and determined to support him, he couldn't bear to shatter this tenderness. He only wanted to indulge her concern.

Time flew by, and their wedding day approached.

According to wedding customs, the bride and groom couldn't see each other the night before the ceremony—it symbolized a smooth, stable marriage ahead.

But even one night apart was unbearable torment for Mason.

After nightfall, longing overwhelmed him. Unable to resist any longer, he disregarded the pre-wedding taboo and drove alone to the villa where Stella was temporarily staying. Just as he arrived, he spotted Stella standing in the courtyard, talking with someone.

The person facing her was Richard.

The night air was cool. Richard's face looked haggard as he gazed at the woman about to don her wedding dress. Still unwilling to give up, he spoke in a low voice. "Stella, it's not too late to turn back. Mason severed ties with his family for you—he has nothing left. He can't give you a stable, comfortable life anymore. Are you really going to marry him?"

They'd been talking for mere moments when a cold figure strode toward them.

Mason's expression darkened instantly, jealousy and hostility radiating from him. He walked briskly forward, immediately pulling Stella firmly into his embrace, his arm possessively circling her waist, shielding her completely behind him, his antagonism aimed directly at Richard.

Stella instinctively leaned into his embrace, docile and obedient, the picture of a woman dependent on her man. She tilted her head up and asked softly, "What are you doing here? We're not supposed to see each other tonight before the wedding."

"I missed you too much. Couldn't help it." Mason looked down at the woman in his arms, the hostility in his eyes dissipating somewhat, leaving only intense longing. Then he raised his eyes toward Richard, jealousy surging, his tone sullen and clearly displeased. "Good thing I came. Otherwise I wouldn't have known my bride was meeting privately with another man the night before our wedding."

Stella quickly tried to explain that Richard had come to find her, but Mason pressed his forehead against hers, cutting off all her words, his voice low and possessive. "Don't explain yet. We'll settle this account slowly when we get back."

Richard watched their intimate closeness, bitterness flooding his heart. Unable to restrain his anger any longer, he stepped forward to confront Mason directly. The tension between them instantly became explosive.

Stella quickly grabbed Mason's arm and looked up at Richard, her tone candid and resolute, drawing a final line. "Richard, he's my man. I hope from now on, you won't harbor such hostility toward him."

Those words pierced Richard deeply. A flash of obsession crossed his eyes. "Stella, I don't care how you treat me, but are you really going to abandon Zane too?"

As his words fell, Zane emerged from the car and rushed straight into Stella's arms, his small face full of grievance, eyes reddening as he asked in a soft, pitiful voice, "Mommy, are you going to leave me and Daddy? Are you really going to marry that other uncle?"

Seeing the aggrieved, upset child in her arms, Stella's heart softened.

Mason, however, seeing that Richard had stooped to using their child as leverage, turned completely grim. He couldn't help cursing under his breath, his eyes ice-cold. "Richard, you're truly shameless. When pressuring adults didn't work, now you're using a young child to gain sympathy."

"You're not fit to be a father."

Hearing someone criticize his daddy, Zane immediately lifted his small head and glared at Mason indignantly, spreading his little arms to protect Richard behind him, firmly defending his father. "Don't say bad things about my daddy! You're a bad person!"

"Zane, don't be rude." Stella immediately pulled the child back gently, looking at him seriously with patient tenderness. "This is Mommy's future husband, your Uncle Mason. From now on, you must respect him. You can't throw tantrums and call people names."

She gently stroked the top of his head, her eyes filled with helplessness and acceptance as she spoke slowly. "Adult relationships are things children don't understand. When Mommy and your daddy were together, I was never happy. Forcing ourselves to stay together is torture for everyone."

"When you grow up, you'll understand—feelings can never be forced."

Finished speaking, Stella raised her eyes toward Richard, clear displeasure in them. "Richard, Mason's right—you shouldn't drag Zane into this. No matter what, he's my son. Even if I marry someone else, I'll still be good to him."

"But if you keep using Zane to disrupt my life, I won't hesitate to pursue legal channels and formally fight for custody."

Mason immediately held Stella tighter, adding in a deep voice without hesitation, "I have no problem helping you raise the kid. Your son is my son."

Richard's face paled. He wanted to speak, to try to salvage the situation, but Mason's eyes turned sharply cold as he cut off all his words. "The child's here. I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to argue in front of him."

"Now, leave. Immediately."

Mason didn't spare him another glance. He bent down and scooped Stella up in his arms, turning to stride into the villa without a trace of reluctance.

Zane stood rooted in place, watching his mother's retreating figure, his small hand clutching Richard's clothes tightly, his eyes brimming with tears, his voice choked. "Daddy, is Mommy never coming home again? Is she never going to want us anymore?"

The evening wind blew bleakly. Richard stared at the closed villa doors, his eyes reddening, his throat working as regret and helplessness consumed him. He murmured softly, "Daddy has completely lost your mother."

Inside the villa bedroom, the door closed gently.

Stella pushed lightly against Mason's chest, speaking quietly. "Put me down. I can walk by myself."

Mason looked down at the obedient girl in his arms, his eyes dark, still simmering with unresolved jealousy. He carried her straight to her bedroom, gently laying her on the bed before bracing himself above her, trapping her between himself and the mattress.

His nose touched hers, his breath hot, his eyes full of possessiveness.

"I let you off outside just now, but..."

"Now, shouldn't we properly settle our account?"