Chapter 245

That voice...

It was identical to Mr. Alistair's from her memories.

Stella Valentine froze.

She couldn't tell who stood before her now.

Or perhaps, she refused to.

The moment he spoke those words, the truth became undeniable.

"Daddy!" Luna Roland happily threw herself into the man's arms, nuzzling against his neck. "You're finally back! Mommy was getting worried."

Adrian Roland caught his daughter effortlessly, but his gaze remained fixed on Stella.

"Still awake at this hour?"

"I was waiting for you." Luna tilted her tiny face up, her voice sweet and childish. "Ethan said you went to fight bad guys. I was so scared."

Adrian's heart softened.

Daughters were different from sons.

His son admired him, saw him as a role model. But his daughter only cared if he would come home unharmed.

"Daddy is strong." He patted her back gently. "See? I'm perfectly fine."

Luna turned to her mother. "Daddy, can you hug Mommy too?"

The air turned heavy.

Stella instinctively took half a step back.

Adrian's eyes darkened. "Mommy doesn't need Daddy's hugs."

Confused, Luna blinked but soon drifted to sleep in her father's warm embrace.

"Have a seat." Stella broke the silence. "Would you like something to drink?"

Adrian was surprised.

He expected her to shut him out like she had during the day.

"No, thank you."

She had already poured a glass of water and set it on the coffee table. "You have stomach problems. Cut back on coffee."

"You remember?"

"Penny told me." Her tone was flat. "Did you eat dinner?"

Adrian shook his head.

"I thought so." Stella turned toward the kitchen. "Penny texted that you skipped your meal."

He gave a bitter smile. "I just didn't want to burden you with two kids to care for."

"Mom and Joy are helping. You don't need to worry."

The clatter of cooking utensils came from the kitchen.

Five minutes later, she returned with a plate of golden fried rice.

"Make do with this."

Adrian took the plate and devoured the food.

"Slow down." Stella frowned. "No one's taking it from you."

"It's delicious." He looked up, his eyes bright. "Better than any Michelin three-star meal."

Stella turned away, standing in the shadows.

"Stella." Adrian set down his plate. "There's something I need to tell you."

"Hmm?"

"I've spent three years thinking." He took a deep breath. "That car crash was too suspicious. Victor Lefèvre and Sophia Durand couldn't have orchestrated something that elaborate."

Stella arched an eyebrow. "What about your first love, Lily Savigny?"

"Back then..." Adrian ran a hand through his hair. "I wasn't in my right mind. Looking back now, Lily always appeared when I was agitated. She might have been drugging me."

"You're saying..."

"There's someone else behind the crash." Adrian's gaze burned with intensity. "Their target wasn't New Frontier Group."

"Then what was it?"

"You."

Stella's pupils contracted sharply.

"Mr. Alistair appeared far too conveniently." Adrian spoke each word deliberately. "Without that crash, we would have married the next day. He wanted to tear us apart—just to have you for himself."