He had seen through all this. She was not a person who would give up everything. At that time, he had a glimmer of hope that she would still refuse. What surprised him was that she agreed. Maybe he had expected such a day to come. Thus, When Stella said "I am sorry", he did not feel surprised or sad. Instead, he had a kind of relief.
Sometimes, if you force others, you may not be so happy. People would always be bound by their consciences and can't get rid of them.
He remembered that the first time he saw Stella was that day when Isabella moved with him and Sophia into the Richard family's house. The little girl carried a big school bag on her back. She had a stubborn look on her face and her hair was tied into a ponytail. The ponytail swayed when she walked, making her look like a carefree and simple child.
Later, he gradually becomes more and more familiar with her...