Chapter 304

The first aid kit was hidden deep inside the antique cabinet in the living room corner.

The Roland family estate retained old-fashioned furnishings. Moonlight cast dull reflections across the carved cabinet's surface.

Her fingertips traced the uneven patterns on the cabinet doors, like deciphering some ancient code.

She didn't dare turn on the lights, fearing to alert Grandpa Edward and Benjamin downstairs. The floral motifs under her fingers gradually revealed themselves as orchids.

Grandma Roland's maiden name contained "orchid," so the old man had filled the estate with them. This devotion persisted even in the furniture carvings.

Suddenly she remembered Mr. Alistair once promising to plant her an entire garden of roses.

As for Adrian...

She shook her head, forcing the memories away. The first aid kit's metal clasp gleamed coldly in the dark. After retrieving it carefully, she fetched a glass of warm water from the kitchen.

The aging stairs creaked softly with each step.

"Grandpa Benjamin, what's Mommy doing?"

"Shh—she's taking care of Daddy."

"Is Daddy sick?"

"Well..."

Benjamin's knowing smile recalled the old man's decades-old deer blood tonic. Apparently it worked—the young couple's tension had noticeably eased.

Stella missed the downstairs conversation. Climbing upstairs with the water, she found Adrian typing one-handed on his laptop.

"Wound doesn't hurt anymore?" She set down the kit, noticing complex architectural blueprints onscreen.

He closed the laptop. "It's nothing."

"The kids fell right asleep—no trouble adjusting." She teased deliberately. "Unlike certain people who can't sleep with a different pillow."

His low chuckle rumbled. "True. Remember when I took you stargazing on that Ferris wheel in high school? You fell asleep at the highest point."

"Three all-nighters before midterms—you'd have crashed too."

"But the stars were spectacular that night." His voice darkened abruptly. "If we'd just stayed friends..."

"None of what came after would've happened." She finished the thought. "And Lily wouldn't have orchestrated that car accident."

Adrian's gaze turned glacial. "New leads suggest someone else might've been behind it."

"Besides Victor and Sophia?"

"Maybe they didn't want the Roland fortune." He mused. "But rather..."

Her hands trembled while unwrapping the bandage. "Let's treat your wound first."

When the antiseptic touched his injury, his muscles tensed visibly. Seeing the angry gash, her voice shook. "I didn't realize I cut so deep."

"Did you really want to kill that bastard?"

"I just..." She bit her lip. "Couldn't bear hearing his disgusting words."

Adrian suddenly gripped her wrist. "Where did he touch you?"

"Just... my waist."

"Which hand?" His voice frosted over.

Stella froze. That tone, that expression—identical to Mr. Alistair's.

"Did I scare you?" His demeanor softened again. "Don't worry. I'll handle this. Victor's donation agreement will reach the hospital by tomorrow."

"Is this... repayment?"

"Penance." He met her gaze squarely. "For every wrong I've done you."

Moonlight through the curtains silvered his profile. For one fleeting moment, she couldn't distinguish which man sat before her.