Chapter Four

Peter sat motionless, the soft hum of the office air conditioning the only sound breaking the suffocating silence. His mind raced, replaying every word that had passed between them, every hurtful sentence.

He had known from the moment he met Stella that she was unlike anyone he had ever encountered. She wasn't dazzled by flashy cars or expensive gifts. Stella had fallen for the version of him he had chosen to present, the humble store owner, the ordinary man who could live without the burden of wealth. But now, all of that had come crashing down. In trying to hide his identity, he had broken the one thing that mattered most—trust.

Peter stood up quickly, his eyes on the coffee spilled across the marble floor, the dark liquid slowly spreading. The broken pieces of the porcelain mug looked like the broken pieces of his heart. He stared at the mess, breathing heavily, as guilt weighed on him.

Meanwhile, as Magnus, Peter's personal assistant, walked down the hallway towards Peter's office, he caught sight of Stella just ahead. Her usual bright expression was gone, replaced by a furrowed brow and a sadness that seemed to weigh heavily on her shoulders. She walked past him towards her office, eyes downcast, and Magnus instinctively sensed that something was wrong. The tension in the air was palpable, and he couldn't shake the feeling that there was a serious issue between Stella and Peter.

But what could have happened so suddenly? Today was Stella's first day at Mars Corporation, and she was already having problems with the CEO? Could it be that they knew each other before now? Were they having a lover's quarrel? No, it couldn't be. Sir Peter was always so cold, not the type to fall in love. I've never heard him talk about any woman, he thought, shaking off the idea.

He hesitated as he approached Peter's office door. He knew something was definitely wrong, though he wasn't sure what. The frosted glass kept the interior hidden, but the silence was heavy, almost suffocating. He could feel the tension in the air as he knocked softly, his instincts telling him that whatever had happened wasn't good.

'Sir? Are you all right?' Magnus asked cautiously. He stood still for a moment, listening for a response, the unease in his gut growing stronger.

Inside the office, Peter was lost in the swirl of his emotions, the weight of guilt and regret pressing down on him. He heard the knock but didn't respond immediately. He waved his hand in the air, a dismissive gesture, without looking up.

'Just… give me a moment,' Peter said, his voice tight with emotion, barely a whisper.

Magnus sensed the moment wasn't right for business. He hesitated, glancing at the file in his hand that needed Peter's signature before quietly retreating. The documents would have to wait. Whatever had happened, it was clear that Peter needed time.

'If you need anything, sir, I'm here,' he offered quietly, leaving Peter to his thoughts.

Peter couldn't let this be the end. There had to be a way to fix this, to make Stella understand that his intentions had never been to deceive her. She had to know that he loved her—not his wealth, not his status, but her.

With shaky hands, Peter picked up his phone and stared at her photo on his screensaver, one she had sent him days ago, when everything had seemed normal, before his identity as the CEO was revealed. In the picture, Stella was smiling softly, her beautiful face framed by cascading waves of dark hair. Her dark eyes sparkled with warmth, and there was a natural glow to her smooth skin that radiated joy. She was wearing a simple white blouse, the sunlight gently highlighting her features, making her look effortlessly stunning.

His finger hovered over the keyboard, ready to text her a message that might comfort her, but the words refused to come. How could he explain the complexity of his feelings in a message? How could he ask for forgiveness when he wasn't sure he deserved it?