Chapter 334

Stella Valentine stood frozen in place after hearing those words.

She exhaled slowly. "Now I understand why that memory means so much to you."

Tears welled up in her eyes. "Such beautiful moments would stay with anyone forever."

Adrian Roland pulled a tissue from his bag and handed it to her. "Dry your eyes. Why are you crying now?"

"This story breaks my heart!" Stella took the tissue, but her tears fell harder. "Who is this Uncle Xavier anyway? Does he have some royal throne to pass down? And if he values Mr. Alistair's abilities so much, how could he think emotions would hinder his career? It makes no sense!"

Adrian chuckled softly.

Time had passed, and they were no longer young, yet Stella still retained that innocence.

"I don't know the details. Mr. Alistair only mentioned that Uncle Xavier helped him."

"Helped him?"

"Yes." Adrian nodded. "He rarely speaks of his past. I suspect Uncle Xavier took him in after he was abandoned."

Stella frowned. "That... If it's both a life debt and raising him, it's complicated."

"So I understand why he chose to leave now."

"But how could Uncle Xavier risk Mr. Alistair actually dying in that car crash? It was a rainy highway!"

Adrian shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe the driver was highly skilled?"

"By the way, Uncle Xavier must be quite old now, right?"

She thought for a moment. "I've seen him a few times. He's frail and uses a wheelchair."

"Then it's simple!" Stella suddenly perked up. "It's not the nicest thought, but we can just wait until he... passes. Then no one can stop Mr. Alistair!"

A knock sounded at the door.

Stella called out, "Who is it?"

No answer came, but the door opened gently. Julian Valois slipped inside, nodding first to Stella—only to be met with a glare.

He turned to Adrian. "It's time for Grandpa's cake. The kids are waiting."

Adrian stood. "Let's go."

Stella grabbed her arm. "Don't! What if Mr. Alistair misunderstands and thinks you're with Julian? He doesn't know this is just an act! We agreed—once Uncle Xavier is... gone, you can be together!"

"Uncle Xavier?"

Julian whirled around. "Did you just say 'wait until who... is gone'?"

Stella rolled her eyes. "None of your business! Julian, Adrian is only humoring you out of kindness. Don't get any ideas! When Mr. Alistair returns, they belong together! Hey—what are you doing?!"

Julian stepped forward abruptly, making Stella yelp in surprise.

Adrian immediately shielded her, meeting Julian's sharp gaze. "Stella means well. Touch her, and you'll regret it."

Julian gave a bitter laugh. "Regret what?"

"You—"

"Little Star," he said softly, "we've known each other over a decade. Do you really see me that way?"

Adrian pressed her lips together, arms still outstretched protectively. "The old you wasn't like this. But you have bipolar disorder. I can't take the risk."

He froze, then covered his eyes with a hand, laughing mirthlessly. "Right. I have bipolar disorder..."

"You..." Adrian softened her tone. "Just calm down and talk."

"I am calm. Stella helped you. I remember that. Besides, she's with Harry Vance. What could I possibly do to her?"

"Then why did you—"

"I just need to confirm one thing." Gently, he moved her arm aside and locked eyes with Stella. "You said Mr. Alistair will return once someone... is gone. Who is this person?"

Stella hesitated, then blurted, "Uncle Xavier! Some old man in a wheelchair! He's the one keeping Mr. Alistair away. Once he's... gone, Mr. Alistair will come back, and you're out of the picture!"

Julian's expression shifted drastically. "Uncle Xavier... How do you know about him?"

"Why do you care—"

"Answer me!"

"Stop yelling! You're the one who asked—"

"Stella!"

"What?!"

"Please..." Julian's breathing grew ragged, his voice pleading. "This matters to me. Tell me."

Caught off guard by his sudden vulnerability, Stella stammered, "I... heard it somewhere."

"From whom?"

"From—"

Adrian intervened. "From me. Is there a problem?"

Julian looked as if struck by lightning. "You know Uncle Xavier?"

"Not well. I've met him a few times." A realization dawned on her. "You know him too?"

His silence spoke volumes.

Adrian was stunned. "Since when?"

"Long ago. After my parents' accident, when you went abroad, Uncle Xavier gave me the seed money to rebuild New Frontier Group."

"Then... do you know about the young man he favors? Around your age, similar height..."

"Does he also look exactly like me?"

Adrian went silent.

Julian smiled, but his eyes glistened. "Now I finally understand why you mistook me for him."

"..."

"At Rainier's peak, under the crabapple tree—those fragments in my dreams were your memories with Mr. Alistair. You consulted a psychologist to figure out why I could dream them, didn't you?"

"..."

"How laughable." His smile was more painful than tears. "I tried so hard to become him, thinking it would bring me closer to you."

"..."

"In the end... I lost to my own twin brother."