Chapter 333

"Stella, what if... Adrian could inherit all of Mr. Alistair's memories? Would you accept him?"

Joy's question made Stella's breath catch.

Mr. Alistair's face. Mr. Alistair's memories...

She pressed her lips together. "Their voices are different. I can tell."

"Right!" Joy clapped. "You can alter a face with surgery, but not a voice. Even identical twins have differences."

Stella lowered her lashes.

That day outside the private dining club, Adrian's entrance had mirrored Mr. Alistair's perfectly.

Every detail identical.

Could it really be coincidence?

"Let's not dwell on this," Joy changed the subject. "How are Celeste's surgery preparations going?"

"The liver donor match was successful."

"That's wonderful..." Joy's voice suddenly thickened. "If only Oliver could've waited for a match..."

The little boy who once sang "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" would forever remain seven years old.

Stella squeezed her trembling friend's hand. "He's reunited with his mother in heaven now."

"I just can't stand it!" Joy wiped angry tears. "That trash Lily gets to live happily while—just last week I saw her letting her son lift girls' skirts at the mall!"

"She actually has a child?"

"Unfortunately!" Joy scoffed. "The kid's got shifty eyes—must take after his father. But—" She lowered her voice. "Want me to dig up some intel?"

Stella arched a brow. "Using Victor as your informant again?"

"This time's different!" Joy's ears turned pink. "We're... getting engaged."

"Really?"

"He got drunk and dragged me to the Valois estate to announce it." Joy's eyes sparkled. "Said he'd marry me even if his whole family objected."

Stella smiled genuinely. "Congratulations."

"Funny how life works," Joy mused, propping her chin on her hand. "You had kids first, but I'll be the one wearing a wedding gown first."

"...I've worn one too."

"When?"

"That day."

Under the crabapple tree four years ago, with a white dress shirt for a veil and heaven as their witness.

That two-person wedding had been her closest brush with happiness.

Until blood stained the rain.

"Help! Emergency!"

A scream shattered the memory.