# Chapter 157: The Hypocrisy of a Restrained Heart
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 157 of "The Untouchable Ex Wife"—a chapter where sharp words cut deeper than knives, where two stubborn hearts clash like thunder and lightning, and where a man who rules the business world finds himself utterly powerless over one single, defiant woman. Let's not waste another second. Come closer and let's dig into the drama.
Stefan's voice was so eerily calm, so unnervingly practical, that Renee felt the words slip right through her fingers. There was no gap, no inconsistency in his logic—only the cold, infuriating truth of a man who believed he had every right to police her choices. He stood there, tall and immovable, as if he had already decided the course of her life for her.
"Cousin-in-law..." Renee let out a soft, bitter laugh, her eyes glazed with helplessness. She tilted her head, faking a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "You're so noble, aren't you? Look at you—standing here, bold as day, flirting with your own cousin-in-law, while in the same breath, claiming that you simply can't let her cheat on Jovan. How hypocritical. Really, I never knew a man's double standards could be so breathtaking."
The words hung in the air, sharp-edged, daring him to deny them.
But Stefan didn't flinch. He loosened his tie in one fluid, arrogant motion, letting the silk slip from his collar as his gaze turned razor-sharp. His voice dropped low and casual, as if he were discussing something entirely mundane. "That's different," he said smoothly. "Jovan and I share the same surname. If anything happens between us, my family won't be humiliated. But Justin—Justin is a Baldwin. He belongs to my family's enemy. A relationship with him would be a scandal of the highest order. There's no way you can get involved with him."
Renee's jaw nearly dropped. For a moment, words failed her entirely. Then fury lit up her eyes like wildfire. She pressed her palms against his chest and shoved with everything she had, but he barely moved an inch. Her voice cracked with raw disgust. "Why should I listen to you? Do I look like your slave? You have no right to meddle in my business!" She took a step back, pointing a trembling finger at him. "Let me make this crystal clear to you—Justin is trying to win my heart. I didn't feel anything for him before, not one single spark. But a guy like him ... he's so much kinder than an overbearing, arrogant, insufferable man like you. Maybe he's actually the right man for me. So yes, I want to give him a chance. I'm going to give him everything you will never deserve to see."
Stefan's eyes widened in pure rage. The vein in his temple pulsed dangerously. "How dare you!"
"That's right! I'll give him a chance—and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it!" Renee planted her hands on her waist, scowling at him like a warrior who refused to bow, before spinning around and sprinting away into the corridor.
Stefan stood there, rendered utterly speechless. For the first time in his controlled, impeccable life, he felt helpless as he watched her disappear around the bend. His chest tightened, and he exhaled a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
The strangest part wasn't her defiance—he'd faced plenty of that in his life. The strangest part was how much it wounded him. When a person you once valued stops caring about you, there is an unmistakable sting. But what tormented Stefan far more deeply was the question he couldn't escape: *Why do I care about her so much?*
Just then, a flustered group appeared at the end of the hallway. The hospital dean, red-faced and gasping for breath, rushed toward Stefan with a parade of attending doctors trailing behind him, their smiles plastered on with practiced devotion. Upon spotting Stefan, the dean's face lit up with unmistakable relief. He bowed his head slightly, still panting, "Mr. Hunt! Why are you here? When we learned you were coming today, we prepared a full welcoming ceremony. But you never showed up..."
The dean's tone was dripping with flattery—and why wouldn't it be? Hunt Group had recently donated a staggering two hundred million dollars to the hospital for its expansion. Naturally, they had to treat their investor like royalty.
Stefan straightened his posture, brushing invisible dust from his sleeve. "I just came to visit an old friend of mine. There was no need for such trouble," he said, his tone cold enough to freeze the dean's sycophantic smile. He sounded like a crown prince addressing his subjects—no, he sounded like a true king. Every word radiated a natural, oppressive aura that made lesser men tremble.
And yet, this same mighty man had just lost all composure over one defiant woman.
*What is so special about that woman anyway?* Stefan asked himself, his mind wandering even as the dean rambled about expansion plans and state-of-the-art equipment. *Why do I feel like our fates are bound together from the very first glance?*
It was strange. Extraordinary. And he yearned, more than anything, to untangle the mystery of her.
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Reader's Impressions & Star Rating
Oh, the delicious tension in this chapter! Stefan is absolutely infuriating—and somehow, that makes him all the more magnetic. Watching him justify his own flirtation while forbidding Renee from seeing Justin exposes his deep-seated hypocrisy and, at the same time, his growing, undeniable jealousy. Renee's fiery comeback is so satisfying; she refuses to be classified as anyone's property. But underneath all the shouting, we can feel his bewilderment. A man who controls an empire can't control his own heart—and that's both tragic and fascinating. The hospital dean interrupting with his groveling flattery truly highlights the contrast between the cold, untouchable executive and the conflicted man behind the tie. I loved this chapter's emotional intensity and sharp dialogue. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars
Next Chapter Prediction
What's next after Renee's devil-may-care confession? If she actually follows through and starts giving Justin the time of day, Stefan's jealousy will boil over in a way he won't be able to control. Expect him to suddenly appear wherever Renee goes, to "protect the family honor" ... but we all know that's just a mask for his raging possessiveness. Meanwhile, Justin may sense that he's being used as leverage to provoke Stefan, which could create an unexpected and dangerous love triangle. Layers of deception are being peeled away, and Stefan is one step closer to discovering why Renee feels so destined to his soul.
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