Chapter 11

Adrian's hand froze midair as if paralyzed.

"Push me down," Stella whispered. "With me gone, nothing stands between you and Lily."

He jerked his hand back and turned away. "I'm not as cruel as you. I could never harm those who raised me. I hate you, but I won't resort to murder."

Stella tilted her face upward, her smile bittersweet. "Adrian, I'm giving the Roland family back to you."

"What?"

"I never wanted the Rolands." Her voice was feather-light. "Losing your parents hurt me more than anyone. Whatever you want, I'll give it."

Adrian scoffed. "You can't give me what I want."

"What if I can?"

"I want to marry Lily immediately."

Stella nodded. "In six days, you'll have your wish."

"I want the Valentine family ruined. I want you kneeling before my parents' memorial to confess your sins."

Her lashes fluttered. "...I'll kneel. They treated me as their own. I owe them that."

She deserved to kneel.

If she hadn't loved Adrian, if the Rolands hadn't cherished her like a daughter, Lily wouldn't have killed them.

The memory of their kind faces made her chest ache as if sliced by a dull blade.

"Anything else?" she asked.

The wind swallowed his words: "I want you to jump now. Can you do that?"

Stella swayed her dangling legs. Five stories up—certain death.

Her answer came without hesitation: "If you want me to, I'll jump."

"Another six-day delay?" Adrian crossed his arms mockingly. "What can six days of stargazing change?"

She tucked wind-tossed hair behind her ear. The starry sky glittered like diamonds, heartbreakingly beautiful.

"Nothing will change."

Precisely because nothing could change, she wanted to clutch these last fragments of light.

Adrian turned away. "I've seen enough. I won't stay another second."

His footsteps faded decisively.

Watching his car disappear into the night, Stella suddenly coughed up blood. The crimson splatter looked grotesque under the moonlight.

Before losing consciousness, she felt a twisted relief.

At least he'd left. At least he hadn't seen.

Otherwise, he'd accuse her of acting again.

Him leaving... was for the best.

"Stella! Wake up! Why are you sleeping here?"

Who...?

Had Adrian returned?

Stella forced her eyes open to daylight. The stars had transformed into a downpour, drenching her completely.

A gust of wind made her shiver like a leaf.

A warm coat enveloped her.

Recognizing the newcomer, her lips curved into a complicated smile.

"...You came."