Summary
Highlights
Ethan constantly torments his wife, Stella, frequently demanding a divorce for trivial reasons. He is influenced by Ivy, who pretends to be kind while manipulating him. During an incident where Ethan gives away Stella's sentimental bracelet to Ivy, and then allows Ivy to force Stella to drink alcohol despite her severe allergy, Stella comes to a realization: Ethan wishes her dead. This act of cruelty, coupled with past betrayals and the revelation that her father made her deaf, pushes Stella to finally agree to the divorce.
After the divorce, Stella struggles financially, using her savings for a new hearing aid. She takes on a photography gig where she encounters Ethan and Ivy. Ethan's continued disdain for her photography skills and his public declarations of love for Ivy reinforce Stella's decision to move on. Meanwhile, Stella's best friend, Tina, connects her with a potential investor for her mother's charity project, hinting at a new romantic interest: Liam Mo.
Ethan, oblivious to Stella's true feelings, believes she's playing hard to get. He dramatically announces his engagement to Ivy, hoping to provoke Stella into begging him to withdraw the divorce petition. Unbeknownst to Ethan, Stella has found a new life and a fiancé in Liam Mo. Liam, who was sponsored by Stella's mother for his education, deeply admires Stella and is determined to give her the happiness she deserves. He plans a grand wedding at the Starry Garden, the venue Stella had always dreamed of.
Ethan arrives at the Starry Garden, expecting Stella to beg him. However, he witnesses Stella marrying Liam Mo. During the confrontation, Ivy's past lies are exposed through surveillance footage, revealing that Stella was the one who saved Ethan from a fire years ago, and that Ivy had manipulated the situation to take credit. Ethan realizes his grave mistake and begs Stella for forgiveness, but she refuses, determined to move forward with Liam, who has shown her unconditional love and support.
Ethan's desperation grows, as he apologizes profusely and even tries to harm himself to gain Stella's sympathy. Stella confronts him again, recounting all the pain and humiliation he inflicted upon her, pointing out his hypocrisy and the depth of his betrayal. She clarifies that her previous efforts to save their marriage were born out of guilt, not love, and that his apologies are now too late to mend their broken trust. She asserts her independence and her new life with Liam.
Ethan continues his desperate attempts to win Stella back, orchestrating dramatic scenarios and even publicly slandering her through fake videos to make her return to him. However, his tactics backfire, leading to his own family's downfall and public humiliation. Stella, supported by Liam, remains firm in her decision to move on. In a final emotional confrontation, Stella makes it clear that there's no future for them and that she has found genuine happiness and respect with Liam, leaving Ethan alone with his regret.