Chapter 263

She knew better than anyone that they were ultimately two separate individuals.

Memories surged.

Stella Valentine recalled the awkward moment of mistaken identity, her fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of her blouse.

"I know my limits," she murmured.

Joy Fairsprene stomped her foot in frustration. "Stella, we agreed to move forward. No matter how wonderful Mr. Alistair was, he's already—"

"He's not dead," Stella abruptly interrupted.

"What?!" Joy gasped, covering her mouth. "Then where is he now?"

"I don't know." Stella shook her head, bitterness welling in her eyes. "Four years. If he's alive but hasn't come looking for me..."

"Could he have amnesia?"

Stella gazed out the window. "Maybe separation is the best ending for us."

"Nonsense!" Joy's eyes reddened with urgency. "After everything you've been through—"

"Precisely because I love him," Stella said softly. "If leaving is better for him, I'll disappear completely."

Joy blurted out, "What about the child—"

She cut herself off mid-sentence.

That was Stella's deepest wound.

Stella smiled faintly instead. "If I've decided to let go, there's no point bringing it up."

"You're going to shoulder this alone?"

"I can handle it." She straightened her back. "I've survived harder days."

......

Before leaving, Joy repeatedly reminded Stella of their Saturday appointment, her expression mysterious.

Houston had changed.

Four years had rewritten the city's landscape.

Harry Vance had risen from obscurity to become a top celebrity, climbing over Joy's back to get there.

That snowy night in the Alps, the desperate phone call remained vivid.

The fan's child, the cyberbullying, the family estrangement... until Julian Valois stepped in to mediate.

Celeste Roland's arrival felt like destiny.

The little girl innocently believed she was her mother's biological child.

A phone ringtone shattered her reverie.

"Mommy!" Luna Roland's cheerful voice chirped through the line.

"Why are you using Penny's phone?"

"Daddy's phone got stolen by Ethan!" The little girl giggled. "Daddy's really good at video games!"

Stella frowned. "He doesn't have work today?"

"Penny said Daddy's on vacation!"

New Frontier Group was no longer what it used to be.

The Roland family's innate business acumen ran strong in Adrian's veins.

"Daddy promised to tell me bedtime stories every night!"

Stella's voice turned stern. "Put him on."

A familiar baritone answered.

"You've been smoking again?"

"How did you—"

"Your voice is hoarse." Her tone was clipped. "The children shouldn't inhale secondhand smoke."

Adrian gave a wry laugh. "You always raise your thorns against me."

"I'm only thinking of the children—"

"I didn't smoke." Exhaustion laced his words. "I'm just tired from playing with them."

Stella fell silent.

She'd misjudged him.

"...Sorry."

"Don't be." He paused. "Move back in. Hotels aren't suitable for children."

"No need."

"Luna wants bedtime stories." He sighed. "The hotel room is too cramped."

Three bedrooms were indeed insufficient.

"I'll come pick you up."

"That's not—"

"Consider it picking up the children's mother." His voice unexpectedly softened.

Stella froze.

"What did you just... call me?"