Chapter 163

The sunlight was warm as Stella Valentine stepped out of the hospital.

She tilted her face toward the clear blue sky and took a deep breath. With Edward Roland under professional medical care and Adrian Roland keeping constant vigil, her presence would only be redundant.

Her phone buzzed.

[Don't blame yourself. This isn't your fault.]

Mr. Alistair's messages always arrived at the perfect moment.

Her fingers tapped the screen. [I just feel regretful. Mr. Roland was always kind to me, but his wish will never come true now.]

[If you want, you can always remain his granddaughter-in-law.]

Stella froze.

[Is that a proposal?]

[Stella, marriage isn't defined by a piece of paper. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.]

The words unlocked something inside her.

That marriage certificate had trapped her for five years—yet in the end, it had held nothing together.

[Mr. Alistair, how are things on your end?]

[Progressing. And you?]

She exhaled slowly. [The divorce is finalized. Now, I'm taking back the Shi family.]

[Need my help?]

[I want to do this myself.]

[Understood.]

[Will you be home for dinner tonight?]

[Dealing with some complications. Probably not.]

As she pocketed her phone, she saw a nurse approach Adrian.

"Mr. Roland needs overnight care."

"I'll stay," Adrian said, rising to his feet.

——

The sunlight glared harshly outside the Shi family villa.

Charlie Macmillan rolled down the car window. "Miss Valentine, Mr. Alistair asked me to remind you to stay safe."

"When is he coming back?"

"Unclear."

"Tell him to contact me when he returns."

"Of course."

The house was eerily silent.

Stella marched upstairs and pushed open Lily Savigny's bedroom door.

A basin of cold water crashed over Lily's head.

"Ah—!" Lily shrieked awake, her soaked nightgown clinging to her skin. "Stella?! How did you get in?!"

Stella set the empty basin down and picked up another—this one filled with steaming water.

"One more scream, and this one's boiling."

Lily paled. "You wouldn't dare! This is my home!"

"Look again. This is the Shi residence." Stella's smile was icy. "Your phone is in the garden. Shattered."

Lily lunged for the door—only to find it locked.

"Get back in bed." Stella's voice could have frozen hell.

"You're insane!"

"Three. Two—"

Lily scrambled back onto the drenched sheets.

"You poisoned Luna with alcohol."

"So what? You have no proof!"

"You pushed Martha down the stairs."

"She knew too much!" Lily sneered. "Just a servant!"

Stella nodded and clicked off the recorder.

Lily's pupils shrank. "You recorded that?!"

"My father's car accident six years ago." Stella stepped closer. "You tampered with the brakes."

"Guilty!" Lily spat hysterically. "That car's scrap metal now! What can you possibly do?!"

Sophia Durand's voice suddenly rang outside the door. "Lily?"

"Mom! Help!" Lily threw herself against the door. "Stella's trying to kill me!"

Sophia pounded frantically. "Stella! What are you doing to my daughter?!"

Stella leisurely pocketed the recorder and smirked at Lily.

"The game has only just begun."