Chapter 232

Adrian Roland's smile froze on his face.

Stella Valentine gently removed her suit jacket and draped it over their sleeping son.

"I'm their father."

"But Mr. Alistair raised them."

Adrian's breathing turned ragged. "I took care of Luna."

"You took her from the hospital without permission." Stella's voice was ice. "Left her with Benjamin Langley, then ran back to Lily Savigny."

"I—"

"Enough."

Adrian clenched his fists. "You let my children call another man 'Dad'? You could've told me."

"You knew." Stella frowned. "You even wished me happiness."

"Happiness?" Adrian scoffed. "That opportunist con artist deserves you?"

"Con artist?" Fire flashed in Stella's eyes. "And what are you? You never gave me a chance to explain."

"I was..." Adrian's voice cracked. "Not myself back then."

"And now you're cured?"

"..."

"But you were perfectly sane when choosing Lily?" Stella's voice trembled. "Your illness discriminates?"

Adrian's hands flexed. "I wanted to make things right, but you vanished."

"What about Miss Wendy Evans?" Stella's lips curled. "Should an engaged man be saying these things?"

"It's just a business arrangement."

"Really?"

"You walked away with that man without looking back. What was I supposed to do?"

"So you got engaged?"

Adrian gave a bitter laugh. "The overseas deal requires a married status. I've only met her three times."

Silence.

"Now you're back, and he's..." Adrian softened his tone. "Maybe we could..."

"There is no 'maybe.'" Stella's voice cut like steel.

"You'll mourn him forever?" Adrian looked stricken. "He's worth that?"

"Mr. Merovingian asked me the same question." Stella met his gaze. "He asked why you were worth it."

"That lawyer?" Adrian's face darkened.

"It doesn't matter." Stella whispered. "Mr. Alistair taught me—if you don't care, it doesn't hurt."

The words stabbed Adrian's heart.

"I'd rather you hated me."

"Not caring is how I survived."

"And now?" Adrian stepped closer. "Can you let him go?"

Stella shook her head. "No."

"Why?"

"He had nothing." Her voice broke. "If even I forget him, he'll truly disappear. I'll remember for him, until my last breath."

The car plunged into silence.

Thirty minutes later, they stopped before a villa.

Stella's pupils contracted.

Their former marital home.

"Let's go inside." Adrian stood by the car door, holding their daughter.

"This isn't home."

"A hotel is?"

"..."

"The children deserve proper beds."

Stella laughed coldly. "Your home is with Lily. Mine is..."

"Where?"

"Not here." She lifted the waking Ethan. "We'll take a taxi back."

"Wow!" Ethan blinked sleepily. "Such a pretty house!"

"Do you like it?" Adrian crouched to his level. "We're staying tonight."

Ethan burrowed into Stella's arms. "This isn't home."

"Home is where Daddy is."

"I want our real home." Ethan's voice quivered. "This place is too big."

Adrian reached out, but the boy flinched away.

"What makes a home?" Adrian rasped.

Stella tightened her hold on their son. "Wherever Mr. Alistair was—that was home."