Chapter 10

At exactly seven o'clock, Adrian pushed open the front door.

"You're here."

Stella sat at the vanity, having spent three hours meticulously applying makeup to conceal her pallid complexion.

A storm brewed in Adrian's eyes. "Stella, you deserve to die."

Her heart skipped a beat. "What?"

"Lily had a miscarriage."

Stella froze for a second before letting out a cold laugh. "You think it's because I hit her today?"

"Obviously," Adrian's voice was icy. "Take it out on me if you must. Why hurt Lily? She's so kind!"

Stella shook her head. "Adrian, you don't understand women at all."

"I don't need to."

"You do," Stella stood up, meeting his gaze. "Every mother would protect her child with her life. If she knew she was pregnant, she wouldn't have risked provoking me."

Adrian sneered. "You've never been a mother. What gives you the right to say that?"

Stella's eyes burned with conviction. "I have more right than Lily! She knew she was pregnant and still came to pick a fight. She wanted to miscarry!"

Adrian suddenly exploded with rage, gripping her throat. "Stella, if anything happens to Lily, I'll make you pay with your life!"

As her breath grew shallow, she managed a smile. "Oh?"

"I mean it."

"Fine." Stella pointed at the hand around her neck. "Can you let go now?"

Adrian didn't budge. "What do you really want?"

Stella curled her lips. "You might not believe me, but all I've ever wanted... is you."

Adrian flung her onto the bed. She coughed violently as his cold voice cut through the air. "In your dreams."

The metallic taste of blood rose in her throat. Gritting her teeth, she stood and reached for his hand. "Come on. Let's go see the stars."

Adrian jerked away. "Don't touch me."

The night sky stretched above them, the moon a polished mirror, the stars scattered like diamonds.

Adrian said, "The forecast says it'll rain starting tomorrow."

Stella nodded. "So?"

"No stars for the next six days."

"The stars are always there," Stella murmured. "They're just hidden behind the clouds."

Just like her, always waiting for Adrian to turn back.

All these years, she'd fantasized countless times—just one glance, one word of concern from him, and she'd run into his arms without hesitation.

But—

Not once.

His heart had long belonged to someone else.

Adrian's voice was frigid. "What I mean is, you don't need to come for the next six days."

"You don't want to watch the stars with me anymore?"

Adrian scoffed. "What do you think? If it weren't for Lily, why would I waste time stargazing with the viper who killed my parents?"

The wind on the rooftop was fierce, whipping her dress around her as she sat on the edge.

Adrian stood behind her, his right hand slightly raised.

Suddenly, she spoke as if reading his mind. "Do you really want to push me off?"