Chapter 349

His expression froze for a split second.

Then he forced a smile. "How forgetful of me. Wait here—I'll get you an iced drink."

He picked up the steaming teacup and disappeared into the kitchen.

The sudden silence in the living room made Stella exhale in relief.

She glanced around. The once-cozy cottage was now a mess. A thick layer of dust coated the furniture—no one had been here for a long time.

The door still used the same old-fashioned key. She and Mr. Alistair had planned to install a fingerprint lock, but life got too busy.

She removed the key and placed it gently on the shoe rack.

The bedroom was empty. That double bed had witnessed countless nights of waiting. She always fell asleep first. He always arrived late and left before dawn.

Sometimes, the only proof of his visit was the wrinkled sheets.

Joy Fairsprene once joked that Mr. Alistair's ability to function on so little sleep was almost supernatural.

He carried too much. Handled too much.

Now this house, like Room 1231 at Houston Grand Hotel, would be demolished—erasing every trace of their past.

"Stella, here." He returned with a glass. "I rinsed it with ice water for a while."

Condensation dripped down the chilled surface.

She took a sip. "Thank you. It's perfect."

"Stay tonight?" he murmured.

Her lashes fluttered. "The children are still young, and Grandpa Edward—"

He suddenly closed the distance, trapping her between the wall and his arms. "It's been so long. Don't you... miss me?"

His warm breath against her skin sent chills down her spine.

"Stop..." She shoved him away.

"Playing hard to get?" He gripped her chin. "I thought I was your favorite."

His thumb stroked her cheek. She stiffened.

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder," he whispered before leaning in.

Stella flung the water in his face.

"Ah!"

Ice-cold droplets slid down his jaw. His gentle facade shattered, eyes darkening with fury. "Have you lost your mind?!"

"I'm sorry..." Her voice trembled. "Mr. Alistair, we need time—"

"Time?" He sneered. "You didn't need time when you were acting lovey-dovey with Adrian Roland!"

"That was different!"

"How?" He seized her wrist. "Or have you fallen for him?"

"I haven't!"

"Then why reject me?"

Stella lifted her gaze. "Because you've changed. Your tone, your demeanor, how you treat me... It's all different."

He scoffed. "People change."

"But I loved the Mr. Alistair from before." Her voice was barely audible. "The kind, patient one. If it's just about looks, Adrian has those too."

"You're comparing me to him?" His grip tightened. "After everything he did to you—"

"I haven't forgotten!" She wrenched free. "But Grandpa Edward is innocent. The children deserve a complete family—"

"What's that to you?" He smirked. "What did that old man ever give you? Money? Or—"

"Mr. Alistair!" She recoiled. "He's your grandfather!"

"Enough!" She seized the chance to escape. "We both need to cool off."

Outside, the midday sun blazed, yet she felt frozen to the core.

Perhaps the gentle Mr. Alistair had truly died in that car crash four years ago.

Her phone rang.

"Stella?" Joy's voice was urgent. "Are you still at Rose Garden?"

"How did you—"

"Julian sent me to get you!" Tires screeched in the background. "I see you!"

A red car skidded to a halt. Joy yanked her inside and sped away.

"Julian said you were in danger." Joy white-knuckled the steering wheel. "He told me to tell you something."

"What?"

"That man back there... wasn't Mr. Alistair."

Stella's pupils contracted.

"Julian witnessed everything between you and the real Mr. Alistair." Joy floored the accelerator. "We're going to see him now."