Chapter 284

Stella Valentine flung the door open and rushed out without looking back.

Behind her, Adrian Roland's muffled groan cut through the silence like a dull blade twisting in her chest.

"Benjamin!" Her fingers trembled as she dialed. "The bedroom lock is broken. I can't get out..."

The old butler's hesitant voice came through. "Perhaps you should both rest? I'll call a locksmith tomorrow. Is the young master alright?"

"I'll handle it myself." She hung up abruptly, rummaging through the living room for tools.

The wrench clanged against the lock with a grating screech.

From the bedroom, Adrian's pained growls grew more desperate.

Her gaze dropped to the weeping crabapple brooch pinned to her dress—her most cherished keepsake.

But the man behind that door... was Mr. Alistair's own brother.

Click. The lock gave way.

"Stella!" Benjamin arrived in haste, his robe hastily thrown on. "What's happened to the young master?"

"Call an ambulance!" Her voice shook. "He's in bad shape."

The butler paled. "That shouldn't be... There was only a small amount of deer blood tonic in the pear soup..."

"Deer blood tonic?" Her pupils constricted.

"The master thought you two were reconciling and wanted to... help things along." Benjamin rubbed his hands awkwardly.

Stella pressed fingers to her temple.

What fresh hell was this?

"The young master now—"

"The tonic took effect." She turned away, the tips of her ears burning. "Benjamin, please check on him."

"So you really have been fighting." The old man sighed. "Before, the young master couldn't keep his hands off your waist. Now he won't even step into the kitchen."

Stella froze.

So that's where she'd slipped up.

Another groan echoed from upstairs.

"Mommy!" Little Luna stood rubbing her eyes at the staircase landing. "Is Daddy fighting bad guys?"

Benjamin quickly scooped up the child. "Back to bed, sweetheart."

"I wanna kiss Daddy's boo-boo!" Luna kicked her chubby legs. "He promised me a story!"

Seeing her daughter's stubborn pout—a miniature version of Adrian's—Stella softened.

"Mommy will take care of Daddy," she promised gently.

Only then did Luna settle down, allowing Benjamin to carry her away.

Suddenly, the upstairs fell silent.

Stella pushed the door open with a glass of water in hand.

The rumpled sheets lay empty.

Behind the frosted bathroom door, water cascaded over a hunched silhouette pressed against the shower wall.