# Chapter 571: A Shattered Heart Behind a Proud Mask
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 571 of *The Untouchable Ex Wife*. This chapter hits us right in the chest with a heavy, painful twist—one that will leave you breathless. So gather around, settle in, and let me take you through every raw moment, every silent tear, and every unspoken worry that unfolds within these hospital walls.
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The corridor outside Renee's ward had never felt so cold. It wasn't just the biting air from the hospital's ancient air-conditioning system—it was the weight of the words that had just been spoken, hanging in the air like an unavoidable storm.
Stefan stood rigid, his sharp eyes fixed on the nurse who had just delivered the devastating verdict. His voice, usually so commanding and composed, cracked with desperation as he pressed, *“If not?”*
The nurse hesitated. She could feel the tension radiating from the man before her, the dangerous glint in his eyes that told her he would not accept anything less than absolute truth. And so, reluctantly, she whispered, *“She may end up paralyzed for the rest of her life.”*
The words struck Stefan like a physical blow. His face drained of color, and for a single moment, the world around him seemed to blur into a haze of white noise. The nurse, terrified by the murderous expression that twisted his features, turned and fled down the hallway, her footsteps echoing against the sterile walls.
Behind Stefan, Elijah gasped. *“Paralyzed forever? That’s horrible!”* The shock in his voice was genuine. After a few seconds of heavy silence, he tried to offer some semblance of comfort. *“Don’t worry, Mr. Hunt. The medical staff always exaggerate and try to create worst-case scenarios. Miss Everheart is strong and healthy, so I’m sure she’ll recover soon.”*
But Stefan remained motionless. His entire body felt as though it had been carved from stone. In his chest, a war raged—pain, confusion, regret, and something else he refused to acknowledge. He thought of Renee's face, of her fiery spirit, of the way she had always defied every expectation. And yet here she was, lying in that hospital room, staring at a future that might never include the freedom of an independent body.
Swallowing hard, Stefan forced a calmness into his voice that he did not feel. *“Let’s go.”*
“Where are you going now?” Elijah asked, glancing nervously toward Renee's crowded ward. The room was filled with visitors—friends, family, well-wishers—all crowding around the woman who had once been the center of his boss's world. He added, “I don’t think we should go in since it’s so crowded.”
Stefan took a shaky step, his legs barely able to carry him. *“I’m feeling a little dizzy, so I want to go back and lie down.”* His words were hollow, detached. He ran a hand over his face, feeling the clammy sweat begin to form on his brow. It wasn't just his physical condition that had him off-balance—it was the horrifying news of Renee's potential fate. He stumbled slightly, his posture collapsing for just a moment, the proud and domineering Stefan Hunt looking utterly broken.
Where was this all going to lead? How could life be so cruel as to bring them back together in proximity, only to shatter the possibility of her ever walking again? His mind reeled with unanswered questions.
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Meanwhile, in the chaotic commotion that followed, Francine arrived at Renee's ward only to find that her son was missing. Panic seized her instantly. *“Where is he? How can he go missing?”* she demanded, her voice sharp as a blade. She berated the medical staff, her anger fueled by fear—the fear of a mother who had almost lost her son and couldn't bear the thought of losing him again.
Just as her heart was about to give out, Stefan and Elijah walked in through the doorway. Relief washed over her face, but it was quickly replaced by fury. *“Where did you go? You’re going to be the death of me!”*
Stefan scoffed dismissively. *“I’m not a baby. I’ll be fine.”*
“You...!” Francine stammered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You’ve only recovered a little, but you’re acting so smug. Why can’t you see sense?” She wiped at her tears helplessly, frustrated by her stubborn son.
Elijah, sensing the need to defuse the situation, took a step forward. *“Madam Hunt, blame me. Don’t blame Mr. Hunt...”*
“For what?” Francine looked at him in confusion.
“I didn’t investigate the situation well enough. Mr. Hunt wanted to see Miss Everheart but she’s actually here on the same floor as him... He went out for nothing,” Elijah admitted sincerely, his head bowed in shame.
The confession earned him a cold glare from Stefan. *“Don’t make me send you to North Zambawi for that mining project.”* The threat hung in the air with brutal finality, sending a visible tremor through Elijah.
“Mr. Hunt, please forgive me,” Elijah begged quickly.
“Okay, my head hurts. Just leave me alone.” Stefan, weary and defeated, changed out of his casual clothes and flopped back onto the hospital bed, turning his back to the world. He wanted silence. He wanted to bury his thoughts under layers of fatigue. But even as he closed his eyes, all he could see was Renee's face. All he could hear was the nurse's damning words.
*Paralyzed for life.*
And deep in his heart, beneath all the arrogance and pride, a stubborn hope refused to die. He would find a way. He would fight for her. Even if she never wanted him again, even if she hated him, he would make sure she walked again. That was a promise he silently made to himself in the darkness of that quiet room.
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Dear readers, this chapter is a gut-wrenching mix of despair and determination. Stefan's vulnerability, so carefully hidden behind layers of sarcasm and coldness, finally peeks through the cracks. Renee's fate hangs by a thread, and Stefan's own health is clearly not as strong as he pretends. The tension is thick, and we can't help but wonder—will Stefan overcome his own fragility to save the woman who once held his heart? Or is the damage already too deep?
As a reader, I felt every ounce of Stefan's pain. The chapter skilfully shows a proud man crumbling behind closed doors while still trying to maintain his composure in front of his family. Elijah's loyalty and Francine's frantic concern add layers to the story, reminding us that even the most powerful people have their breaking points.
**Reader's Rating:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars.
**Next Chapter Prediction:** In the upcoming chapter, I predict that Stefan, driven by guilt and lingering feelings for Renee, will secretly take charge of her treatment. Perhaps he will summon world-class specialists behind the scenes, without revealing his involvement. Meanwhile, Renee may wake up and face her grim prognosis, forcing her to confront her own feelings of despair and hopelessness. And with Francine watching her son's obsession grow, a clash between mother and son—or even between Renee and Stefan—seems imminent. Will the secret he carries finally come to light?
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