Chapter 87

Around 7 o'clock, Stella parted ways with her friends and returned home. Ethan had been invited out by Jason today, and since the group hadn't gathered in a while, he probably wouldn't be back anytime soon. She went upstairs to change into some loungewear, and then did some yoga in the living room while following a video. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Thinking it might be Ethan coming back early, she got up to open the door, but was surprised to see who it was. "Natalie? Hey!" Earlier in the day, Natalie had said she had something come up and couldn't go out, so Stella hadn't expected her to come by at this hour. "I really didn't know where else to go, so I came to find you," Natalie said. She was wearing only a thin trench coat, without makeup, and looked a bit haggard. Stella rarely saw her looking so down. She stepped aside to let her in, closed the door, and then asked with a frown, "Did you have a fight with Juan?" "Not exactly." Natalie shook her head after the damp chill from outside had dissipated, but then she dropped a bombshell. "I want a divorce." Stella was very surprised, her eyes widened slightly, but she couldn't find the words to ask what she wanted to say. "What's with that look?" Natalie smiled, took a deep breath, and then continued, "Don't worry, he didn't cheat. I just don't want to see him struggle anymore." She walked over to the sofa and sat down, her voice very soft. "A while ago, I went for a check-up." With that, a bitter smile appeared on her lips. "I didn't expect that I wouldn't be able to have my own children." Natalie always had her life well-planned, whether it was her marriage or her career. Stella knew that as BG had gradually stabilized over the past 2 years, she had also started trying to get pregnant. Unlike Stella, who had her reservations, Natalie loved children very much. But sometimes, fate loved to play jokes. "His mother treats me well, but it's impossible for her not to mind this," Natalie sighed, then consoled herself, "But now I have money and a career, so I don't need to force myself to have a man and children. If we divorce, neither of us will have any pressure." Stella frowned and, after a long pause, asked, "What does Juan think about it?" "He doesn't agree with the divorce, but he knows it will make things easier for me, so he's willing to let me move out first." Natalie lowered her eyes. "Taking some time to cool off is also good." At the Golden Brilliance, a large private room played music, but no one was singing. Jason, sitting at the mahjong table, had just won a round and was in a good mood. He lit a cigarette and looked at the man sitting alone on the sofa. "You're out late tonight. Didn't your wife say anything?" Ethan glanced at him, set down his wine glass, and snorted. "Say something? Do you think she's like your mother?" Jason's family had recently been pressuring him to go on blind dates. He resisted, and his mother kept criticizing his lifestyle, making him miserable. Luke chuckled, "Well, you seem to have a high status at home, don't you?" "More or less," Ethan replied, his tone indifferent but with a hint of pride. Luke didn't bother to argue. He stood up and grabbed his coat. "Alright, you take my place. I'm heading out." "Where are you going?" Jason asked. "To pick someone up." Luke showed Jason the time on his phone as he leisurely put on his coat. "There's a curfew lately, I can't be out drinking late at night." "Your wife sure keeps you on a tight leash," Jason shook his head, then looked at Ethan. "Ethan, you're lucky. Your wife doesn't even call to urge you to come home." That didn't sit well with him. However, just as Jason finished speaking, the phone on the table rang. Ethan glanced at the caller ID, his expression softened a bit, and he picked up the phone. "Hello?" "Where are you?" "Oh, I'm at the Golden Brilliance, drinking with Jason and the others." He raised his voice slightly. To his surprise, Stella's voice sounded relieved on the other end. "Take your time drinking, no need to rush back." Noticing the gazes from Jason and Luke, he cleared his throat. "Got it. Stop nagging, I'm heading back now." Stella was confused. Thinking he had misunderstood her, Stella explained kindly, "I'm not nagging you. Natalie is here, and she's staying over tonight. The Golden Brilliance is close to my apartment. If you drink too much, have the driver take you to my apartment to rest." Her unexpected words made Ethan choke slightly. He nodded calmly. "Alright, I'll see. I'll hang up now." As Ethan put down the phone, Jason promptly asked, "Was that your wife urging you to go home?" Ethan pressed his lips together and replied nonchalantly, "Well, I've been out for too long, and she misses me." "Then what are you waiting for?" Jason quickly grabbed Ethan's coat hanging by the door and threw it to him. "Hurry up and go back." Ethan looked at the coat in his arms, then at Luke standing leisurely at the door. He pointed at the now empty seat at the mahjong table and said slowly, "If I leave, won't you be short one player?" "Just call someone else. Tom and the others are hosting next door, plenty of people there." Jason considered himself considerate. "Hurry up and go, before your wife gets anxious waiting for you."