Everything Stella had once cherished, which had felt like treasures, was now being packed away. Her belongings were few, a collection of old clothes and trinkets. One suitcase was enough to carry it all.
As she sifted through the pile, her eyes landed on a framed photo of herself and Dominic sitting on the desk.
For a moment, she froze. The warmth of his past kindness still lingered in her memory—clear, almost too sharp.
A thought from her school days popped into her mind:
'Is it better to never have regrets, or is it worse to have something than lose it and live with that regret?' The question twisted her stomach.
It had been so easy to fall for Dominic, to give him everything. But now, as she stood in this room surrounded by the remnants of a life she was leaving behind, Stella wasn't sure if it had all been worth it.
She shook her head to clear the thoughts, gathering the things she'd sorted out and ready to throw them away. It took several trips to the trash bins to dispose of everything.
She didn't look back.
"Why are you downstairs?" Dominic's voice broke through her thoughts as he walked in, his tone lazy. He grabbed her hand without looking at her, his eyes still fixed on his phone. His other hand was typing furiously, fingers flying over the screen as though he were racing against time.
Stella didn't meet his gaze.
She pulled her hand away and kept her voice even. "Just throwing out some trash."
Dominic didn't respond immediately, humming absently, unsure if he'd even heard her. But as they reached the door, he finally looked up from his phone.
"What did you just say?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly, noticing something was off.
Stella pulled her hand out of his grasp and kept her face impassive. "Nothing."
Dominic set his phone down, finally giving her his full attention. His expression shifted, and he stepped closer, his arm slipping around her waist, pulling her toward him with practiced ease.
"Are you mad again?" he asked teasingly, his voice softening with the same relaxed tone he always used when he thought he could charm her back.
In the past, this would have made Stella melt. She would have believed it was a sign that Dominic still cared. But with time, she'd learned that Dominic treated everyone with that same detached affection. It wasn't real.
And when it came to Celine, it was a whole different story. With her, Dominic was tender, protective, and even nervous. It was a kind of care Stella could never envy.
He stroked her hair, trying to soften the mood. "I was working today, but Celine said she was bored and wanted to go to the mall. She insisted, and I couldn't say no."
He continued, oblivious to how the words landed. "I didn't expect to see you there. Why didn't you tell me you were going?"
Stella raised an eyebrow, her voice flat. "If I had told you, would you have left Celine behind to be with me?"
For three years, Dominic had never been with her on a simple shopping trip. His excuse had always been that it would be too awkward—that someone might see them and expose their relationship.
But now, with Celine back in the picture, suddenly, those concerns didn't matter. Dominic no longer cared about looking awkward. He only cared about pleasing Celine.
"Stella," Dominic chuckled, his tone patronizing. "You're being stubborn, baby. Do you want me to punish you?"
He leaned in to kiss her, his lips hovering just a breath away.
But Stella pulled back, her eyes hardening.
Dominic's smile faltered, and his face darkened. His patience, once a constant with her, seemed to drain instantly.
"Stella, stop being unreasonable." His voice dropped, frustration creeping in. "I've already explained that Celine has depression. I need to be there for her." His tone grew sharper like he couldn't believe she wasn't getting it. "You're always jealous, making things difficult for Celine and me. Can't you just be a little more understanding?"
Stella's lips curled into a bitter smile. She let out a short, humorless laugh.
Dominic frowned, clearly confused. "What's so funny?"
Stella met his gaze, her voice steady but cold. "I'm not jealous, Dom." She paused, her eyes narrowing, a slight edge to her voice. "And I won't be jealous of you ever again."
Before she could finish, Dominic's expression turned ice-cold. His face hardened into something unrecognizable.
"Are you trying to be sarcastic?" he snapped.
Without waiting for an answer, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Stella couldn't help but laugh, though it was more out of disbelief than amusement.
Was he really falling apart over this?
Dominic didn't return home for several days after that. Stella kept herself busy. She scrolled through job listings online, looking for positions in the city.
Although her family could easily help her find something, she wanted to prove she could make it alone.
