Chapter 239

Stella Valentine remained silent.

"She may not be my biological child, but I raised her since she was little. She is my daughter," she said softly.

For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw Adrian Roland's lips curve into a faint smile, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

The pain in her wrist brought her back to reality.

It must have been her imagination.

What did he have to be happy about?

He was still worried that her love for Ethan and Luna would be divided.

"Every child is equally important to me," she murmured. "A thirty-year-old man in his prime—if it's not Miss Wendy, it'll be someone else. But Ethan and Luna are my life. I can't lose them."

The concert ended, and fans poured out of the stadium.

Young girls excitedly shared photos of their idol. One lucky fan had managed to take a picture with him and was crying tears of joy.

Youth was beautiful.

They could love recklessly and cry without restraint.

Young love was always so pure and passionate.

But life would eventually wear down their edges. These girls would one day be busy with mundane chores and family responsibilities. Tonight would become a cherished memory.

And what about her?

She had given all her youth to Adrian.

After finally escaping and meeting Mr. Alistair, she thought she had found a new beginning.

But fate had nailed shut even that last window of hope.

The little hope Mr. Alistair had left her was cruelly snatched away.

A sharp pain suddenly shot through her abdomen.

The memory of cold surgical instruments resurfaced, crushing her last shred of hope.

"Little Star?" Adrian leaned over, touching the cold sweat on her forehead. "Are you in pain? Is it your old illness acting up again?"

No.

She had once thought the pain of cancer was unbearable.

Until that rainy night three years ago, when she knelt on the floor of a foreign hospital, begging, only to be forcibly wheeled into the operating room.

That was when she realized—

There was pain worse than death.

"Let's go to the hospital," he said, reaching to carry her.

Stella pulled away. "Let me out."

"Stop being stubborn."

"If I hadn't been stubborn, I wouldn't have survived this long," she said, her voice trembling. "Ethan would have died overseas, and you would never have known you had a son!"

Adrian gave a bitter smile. "You hate me."

"My heart is too small. There's only room for one person."

His eyes darkened. "You won't even spare hatred for me, is that it?"

As the pain gradually faded, she replied calmly, "Yes."

"Even if he's dead, you'll remember him forever?"

"Yes."

"What about Victor?"

"We're just friends."

"Why accept him but reject me?" His voice tightened. "If we're both insignificant, why the difference?"

Stella whispered, "Because the motorcycle he rides... Mr. Alistair rode one just like it."

"That's the only reason?"

"That's the only reason."

Adrian laughed at himself. "Losing to a dead man, I can accept. But losing to a motorcycle..."

Silence filled the car.

She looked up at him.

His tall frame seemed cramped in the confined space. The once-arrogant CEO now looked utterly defeated.

And the way he lowered his gaze reminded her so much of Mr. Alistair.

"Little Star," he suddenly looked up, "why are you looking at me like that?"

She averted her eyes in a panic. "You're imagining things."

"Am I?"

"Yes."

Adrian slumped back into the driver's seat and unlocked the door. "Go."

Her hand rested on the door handle.

"That child..." he suddenly said, "I'll find a way."

"..."

"Ethan and Luna have been raised well by you. If Grandpa sees them, his condition might improve."

"What's wrong with Grandpa Edward?"

"Old illness. He's been bedridden since he found out about our divorce." His voice was hoarse. "I moved back to the old house to take care of him. All of this... is my fault."

Stella's heart ached.

"I'll bring the children to see him."

A shrill phone ring suddenly pierced the air.

Adrian answered. "Benjamin?"

"Young master! The old master saw you with another woman on TV and had a fit!"

The car was so quiet Stella could hear every word clearly.

"Did you call an ambulance?"

"It's already on the way! Go straight to the hospital!"

Before hanging up, Benjamin sighed. "The old master has been depressed about the young mistress. Even if you're seeing someone else, did you have to make it public...?"

"It's my fault."

Adrian gripped the steering wheel, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. "Are you leaving?"

"..."

"If you're leaving, get out now. If not, stay put."

He closed his eyes and waited.

The expected sound of the door opening never came. Instead, he heard her soft voice say, "Drive."