# Chapter 20: The Dumpling Mystery Deepens
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing today? I hope you're ready for another emotional rollercoaster as we dive back into the captivating world of "The Untouchable Ex Wife." Today, we're unwrapping Chapter 20, a chapter filled with suspicion, secrets, and a heartwarming mystery that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about our characters. So sit back, relax, and let me guide you through this intricate web of hidden kindness and stubborn pride.
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Stefan's mind was a battlefield of doubt. As he sat in his sterile hospital room, the memory of those delicious seafood dumplings kept resurfacing, taunting him with an impossible truth. His intuition screamed that something was off, and he was determined to uncover the source of this Aeos delicacy that had been appearing before him like clockwork.
With grim determination, Stefan marched to the hospital food court during the dinner rush, the fluorescent lights harsh against his brooding expression. The familiar scent of various cuisines filled the air, but his focus was singular. He approached the counter where meals were served daily, his eyes scanning the area.
"I'd like some seafood dumplings," he said to the staff member behind the glass window.
The employee blinked, clearly confused by the request. A heavy silence hung between them before the staff finally responded with a puzzled expression.
"Do you guys not have seafood dumplings?" Stefan pressed, his voice carrying an edge of impatience.
"No," the staff member replied, glaring at him as though he had lost his mind. They pointed emphatically to the menu. "Everything's on that menu. Order anything you want."
Stefan's eyes swept across the laminated paper, and a cold realization crept into his bones. The menu was filled with foreign dishes—nothing from the Aeos region, and certainly no seafood dumplings could be found anywhere. His jaw tightened as the truth settled over him like a heavy fog.
*So that nurse was lying after all.*
With a surge of determination, Stefan made his way back to the main hospital building, his strides purposeful and his mind set. He found the nurse who delivered those dumplings to him every single day, and he wasted no time with pleasantries.
"I think we need to talk," he said, his tone carrying an undeniable weight.
The nurse's expression immediately stiffened, guilt flickering in her eyes like a nervous flame. "Mr. Hunt, what... what would you like to talk about?"
"You know why I'm here," Stefan replied, his gaze piercing through her defenses like a knife.
"I don't know. I don't know anything at all," the nurse shook her head frantically, pretending to be oblivious to the topic at hand. But deep down, she knew exactly what Stefan was fishing for. He wanted to uncover who had been sending him those mysterious dumplings.
Yet she had sworn to Joan that she would carry this secret to the grave. She had made a divine vow, and no amount of pressure could make her break it now.
"Come on, be straight with me," Stefan pressed, his hands slipping casually into his pockets as though negotiating some business deal. "Where did those dumplings come from? I'll make it worth your while—a handsome reward for your honesty."
"No way!" The nurse's head shook violently, her voice wavering with panic. "I swore to God that I won't tell you."
A dark, amused smile tugged at Stefan's lips. "It's fine! Just donate some money to Him. I'm sure He'll forgive you."
The nurse's face flushed with indignation. "Oh! What blasphemy! Please stop asking! I can't tell you!"
She scurried away after muttering a quick prayer, her heart hammering in her chest like a wild animal caught in a trap. She needed to find Renee immediately.
The nurse discovered Renee quietly smoking underneath the stairwell, the dim lighting casting dramatic shadows across her features. A cloud of smoke swirled around her like a mysterious aura as she sucked on her cigarette, unaware of the storm about to break.
"Hey, I finally found you!" the nurse panted, her voice trembling. "I'm so sorry, but I can't help you anymore!"
Renee's calm expression didn't waver as she inhaled deeply, releasing a perfectly smooth swirl of smoke. "What's wrong?"
The nurse wrung her hands nervously, her confession tumbling out in a rush. "Mr. Hunt and Miss Murphy are starting to get suspicious about your dumplings. Especially Miss Murphy! She thinks I made them for Mr. Hunt to seduce him! You have to either tell them the truth or stop sending him those dumplings. Please, you have to understand what pickle you've put me in!"
For a long moment, Renee simply stood there, the weight of the situation resting quietly on her shoulders. Then she shrugged, stubbing out her cigarette with practiced ease.
"Alright, then. Let's stop."
The decision surprised even the nurse. But Renee had thought it through in that brief moment of silence. Seraphina was out of danger now. The man wouldn't be so consumed by worry that he'd forget to eat or sleep. And without that desperation, without those sleepless nights and anxiety-ridden days, the dumplings no longer served any purpose.
She didn't need to feed him anymore. He didn't need her comfort. That chapter, however brief, had served its course.
"By the way, Joan..." the nurse's curiosity got the better of her, overriding her earlier panic. "Do you know them? What's your relationship with them anyway? Don't tell me you have a crush on Mr. Hunt?"
The question hung in the stale air like smoke, waiting for Renee's response. She denied it quickly—a little too quickly, some might say.
"No way!" The words rushed out of her mouth with a defensive edge she immediately regretted. She forced her features into a mask of nonchalance before elaborating. "I just thought he looked very pitiful when he couldn't eat or sleep because his fiancée got into an accident. Since we're from Aeos, I intended to give him a taste of home—you know, to boost his appetite for a while."
The explanation sounded reasonable enough, even to her own ears. Helping a fellow Aeos native during a difficult time. Nothing more, nothing less. It was an innocent act of kindness, devoid of any romantic undertones.
"Is that so..." the nurse nodded slowly, accepting the explanation with a gentle expression. Then, with a knowing glance, she added thoughtfully, "Right, what would Van do if you had a crush on him? Mr. Hunt has everything—wealth, reputation, a fiancée. But Van only has you. He'd be devastated if you were to leave him."
Renee's heart clenched painfully at those words. For a fleeting moment, the mask she wore threatened to crack, but she held it together with the steely composure she had perfected over the years.
"That's why I won't be leaving him," Renee replied with a soft smile—a smile that seemed to be trying to convince both the nurse and herself that what she was saying was the truth. "I have to go see Van now, or he might throw another tantrum."
With that, Renee walked away, leaving a cloud of smoke and suspicion behind her. But as she disappeared into the hospital corridors, one couldn't help but wonder: Was she running toward Van, or running away from the truth?
After all, some vows are spoken aloud while others are written in the silent beats of a wounded heart.
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## Reader's Impressions & Star Rating
What a beautifully layered chapter! This installment reveals the delicate complexity of Renee's character in a way that will genuinely tug at your heartstrings. Despite her words of denial, her actions sing an entirely different tune—one filled with quiet compassion for a man who has no idea that his ex-wife still watches over him from the shadows. The scene with the nurse provides much-needed comic relief from the emotional tension, but it also showcases Renee's internal struggle to move forward while her heart clearly clings to pieces of the past.
I particularly loved the contrast between Stefan's wariness and Renee's selflessness, and the heartbreaking line, "He'd be devastated if you leave"—which ultimately reveals just how trapped Renee feels between her present obligations and the hidden depths of her heart. This chapter asks the question that will haunt every reader: Is Van simply a safe harbor, or is Renee's heart secretly anchored elsewhere?
**⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.7 / 5 Stars**
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## Next Chapter Prediction
Oh, readers, the drama is only just beginning! Now that the dumplings have stopped, Stefan is sure to become even more suspicious—and perhaps more desperate to uncover the secret identity of his mysterious guardian angel. But something tells me that when he discovers the truth, fireworks will fly! Given Renee's forced smile as she mentioned Van, and Stefan's relentless pursuit of answers, I predict the next chapter will ignite the long-awaited confrontation. And when Stefan finally realizes that his secret admirer is none other than the ex-wife he let go—who famously swore she'd never touch a stove for him again—his world is about to be turned upside down!
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