Chapter 227
Adrian's breath hitched.
His fingers clenched into fists, knuckles turning white.
"Jealous?" He let out a cold laugh, eyes darkening. "I'm getting married soon. What would I have to be jealous about?"
Stella pressed her lips together.
She suddenly realized her mistake.
This man was about to enter a new marriage, and her words had been dangerously close to sowing discord.
"My apologies," she murmured. "I must have misremembered."
Adrian's gaze swept over her face.
She'd lost weight.
The dark circles under her eyes betrayed sleepless nights.
"So it wasn't Victor after all," he said abruptly.
Stella froze.
"I've told you repeatedly—Mr. Valence has nothing to do with this."
Adrian looked away. "The dead can't return. Focus on taking care of the children. If they suffer under your care, I'll bring them back to the Roland family."
"That won't be necessary." She shook her head wearily. "Your fiancée is waiting."
As she turned to leave, a thunderclap froze her in place.
BOOM—
Torrential rain poured down without warning.
Houston's weather was always this capricious—clear skies one moment, thunderstorms the next.
Stella instinctively flinched.
A warm hand suddenly closed around her wrist, pulling her into a solid embrace.
"Don't be afraid."
The gentleness in his voice made her dizzy with nostalgia.
"Little star, don't be afraid."
Memories flooded back.
"You're scared of thunder, so I rushed home to be with you."
"What's a little rain? I'll take a hot shower and hold you while you sleep."
"Stella, you'll never have to fear thunder again. I'll always be here."
Always?
Her heart ached dully.
Adrian's betrayal had been a knife to the heart, but Mr. Alistair's departure was sandpaper, grinding away at her soul day after day.
"Why the tears?" Adrian frowned. "Still that afraid?"
She shook her head, pushing away. "I'm fine."
"Is it because of the child's illness?" His voice turned venomous. "That was fraud. He knew about the genetic condition yet still had children with you! Thank God he's dead, otherwise—"
"Enough!" Stella's tear-filled eyes blazed as she looked up. "How dare you judge him? You're the last person on earth with that right!"
Adrian's face darkened. "Fine. Your bond was unbreakable, while what we had meant nothing!"
"That's not what I meant." She turned away. "You're getting married. You should be happy."
He sneered. "Now you sound like my elder."
Elder?
An absurd phrase popped into Stella's mind: a sister-in-law like a mother.
She nearly laughed at the ridiculous thought.
When she looked up, she saw Wendy and Penny's shocked expressions.
Sliding off her opal bracelet, she thrust it at Wendy.
"If I'm your elder, I should give a welcoming gift." She forced a smile. "May you have a lifetime of happiness."
Wendy didn't accept it. "What... exactly is your relationship?"
"Relatives." Stella's smile strained. "We likely won't see each other much going forward."
She hurried to the sales associate. "Is this the wedding dress?"
Grabbing the gown, she fled into the fitting room.
The dress fit perfectly.
When she emerged, everyone held their breath.
"Stunning!" Penny gasped.
The clerk marveled, "This gown looks tailor-made for you!"
After a quick spin, Stella changed back into her clothes.
Not daring to glance at Adrian, she bolted into the downpour.
"Adrian?" Wendy called uncertainly.
He finally looked away. "Hmm?"
"Those children you mentioned—"
"Some questions are better left unasked." His tone turned icy. "Remember our agreement?"
Wendy tightened her grip on the opal bracelet.
Gazing up at this towering man, she suddenly felt an impassable chasm between them.
"Mr. Roland, shall we reserve this dress?" the clerk asked timidly.
Adrian turned to Wendy. "Do you like it?"
"...It's beautiful."
"Let's find another. There must be one more suited to you."
Tears welled in Wendy's eyes. "Because she wore it first, so I'm unworthy?"
"That's not what I meant."
"I want this one!" Wendy insisted stubbornly. "No others!"
Adrian's expression frosted over. "Ms. Evans, you've changed."