Chapter 1 His First Love Is Back " Estella , has the document not arrived yet ? " The man's voice over the phone grew increasingly impatient . " Almost there . " Finished There was still a mile to Hartwell Group , but due to road construction ahead , traffic had come to a complete standstill . Estella Hayes looked at the torrential rain outside , gritted her teeth , and handed over the fare before hopping out of the car . She took off her coat , wrapped it around the folder , and ran forward . Rain soaked her thin clothes . But she no longer cared about her appearance . She just wanted to reach Hartwell Group as soon as possible . When she finally arrived , the security guard refused to let her in . She was drenched , and they didn't want her to wet the floors . She had no choice but to stand at the entrance and ask the receptionist on the first floor to deliver the document upstairs . Then , she sent a message on WhatsApp to Nathaniel Hartwell and his assistant , informing them that the document had been / delivered . But there was no reply . One of the receptionists , seeing her simple attire , mistook her for a courier . She sighed at how difficult the job must be and handed her a cup of warm water . Estella thanked her , drank the water , and prepared to leave Hartwell Group . At that moment , the elevator doors in the center of the lobby slid open , and a tall figure stepped out . It was Nathaniel Hartwell , the president of Hartwell Group , also her husband . Seeing him walk toward the entrance , she instinctively took a step back . " Mr. Hartwell , Ms. Isabelle's car broke down on the road . A driver has already been sent to pick her up , so you don't have to worry . " Nathaniel frowned at his phone . " Isabelle's phone isn't going through . Contact the assistant ." " Yes , sir . " Standing in the corner , Estella stiffened when she heard the name Isabelle Monroe . So Isabelle's back . She watched as the man hurried into his car , the corners of her lips curling into a mocking smile . The same man who had just claimed he had an urgent meeting and had frantically rushed her to deliver the document , had now abandoned that meeting without a second thought to go see his first love . Meanwhile , she stood here , looking like a fool , soaked and pathetic , yet he hadn't even noticed . Wiping the rain from her face , she felt utterly foolish . Back at the villa , she changed out of her soaked clothes , drank a cup of warm water , and called Nathaniel's mother , Madeline Reed . " Mom . " Madeline's voice was gentle . " What is it , Stella ? You don't sound right . Are you coming down with something ? " P P Chapter 1 His First Love Is Back Finished " No. " Estella gripped the phone , took a deep breath , and finally spoke the words she had been holding in . " I want to divorce Nathaniel ... " Silence fell on the other end . Estella pressed on . " The contract I signed with you was for three years . That time is up . And now , Isabelle is back ." Madeline sighed . " Alright , Stella , I understand . I'll have the lawyers draft the divorce papers . As for the compensation I promised you , the Javerton's villa , I'll have it transferred to you as soon as possible . " Estella didn't refuse the financial compensation . " Okay ." Three years ago , she had just graduated from university , ready to sign with an orchestra and chase her dream of becoming a musician . But then , her family's company went bankrupt overnight . Her father took his own life , and her mother , unable to bear the shock , suffered a mental breakdown . She couldn't afford the exorbitant cost of her mother's care and was desperate when Madeline appeared . Madeline , one of the orchestra's investors , had learned of her situation and offered to pay for her mother's treatment , but on one condition . / Her son , Nathaniel , heir to Hartwell Group , had been in a car accident . His legs were injured , leaving him unable to walk . To make matters worse , his first love had left him and moved abroad . Heartbroken , he had shut himself away , drowning in despair . Madeline wanted Estella to marry Nathaniel in a contractual arrangement , to help him recover and pull him out of his misery . She had needed the money , so she agreed . At that time , she asked Madeline why she had chosen her . Madeline said it was because she bore some resemblance to Nathaniel's first love , Isabelle , and , like Isabelle , she also played the piano . Estella accepted the job as a stand - in . She quit her job , registered her marriage with Nathaniel , and stayed home to take care of him . Like a nanny , she endured his bad temper , tended to his daily needs , and accompanied him through his rehabilitation training . Six months ago , Nathaniel finally regained full mobility , The first thing he did after stepping out of the house was buy a plane ticket to Edinland to see Isabelle . After that , he traveled to Edinland once a month . Nathaniel's sister , Naomi Hartwell , was also in Edinland . Estella followed her on social media . She often saw photos of the three of them together on Naomi's posts . Nathaniel was always stern and reserved in front of her , but with Isabelle , there was a faint smile on his lips . Every time she saw Isabelle holding a bouquet of champagne roses in those photos , her eyes stung . Every Valentine's Day , Nathaniel had his assistant send her champagne roses as well . At first , she had been touched but also puzzled as to why he sent her champagne roses . It wasn't until she saw the photos that she realized it was because Isabelle liked them . The person he truly wanted to give them to was Isabelle . 217 PM P P Chapter 1 His First Love Is Back She was nothing but a lowly stand - in . Now that Isabelle had returned , her role was no longer needed . Estella made a call to her former senior , Selene Harper . After graduating from university , Selene had become a teacher at a music institution . She was now a partner at the institution . For the past three years , Selene had been inviting her to join . But Estella had refused , choosing instead to care for Nathaniel . Now that she was leaving Nathaniel , she needed a job . Finished Hearing her words , Selene was thrilled . " That's great , Estella ! I've been hoping you'd join us . When you got married so young and became a full - time housewife , I always thought it was such a waste of your talent . " Three years without working , yet Selene was still willing to take her in . Estella's eyes warmed . " Thank you , Selene . I'll treat you to a meal later . " " Sounds good ! I'll be waiting . " After hanging up , Estella began organizing her documents . She found her marriage certificate . Seeing the photo of her and Nathaniel , she felt dazed for a moment . Back then , Madeline had introduced her to the Hartwell family to take care of Nathaniel . Nathaniel had resisted her , let alone considered marrying her . Later , he attempted suicide multiple times , and she stopped him each time . During countless sleepless nights , she stayed by his side , preparing calming aromatherapy and music for him . No matter how he hit or cursed at her , she never left . Finally , one day , he agreed to marry her . During their early days as newlyweds , Nathaniel had been gentle with her . Back then , she liked him a little . She thought , if Nathaniel could always treat her that well , she would stay by his side , even if he had to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair . But later , she learned from Naomi that Nathaniel had only married her because Isabelle had started dating someone new , which had provoked him . At that moment , she found her feelings for Nathaniel utterly ridiculous . Now that the contract had ended , it was time for her to leave . He had never belonged to her . Their marriage had always been a contract . Letting go meant letting go . Spending three years of her youth in exchange for a villa in downtown Javerton wasn't a total loss .