Chapter 352

"Why wait three days?"

"I promised Celeste I'd take her to the amusement park. Her last wish before surgery. Victor could cause trouble anytime, and Stella can't handle it alone."

Julian raised an eyebrow. "Two days are enough. What about the third?"

"To meet Mr. Alistair."

"A duel?"

"Some questions need answers face-to-face."

......

The night was deep.

Stella tossed and turned in the wide bed, silk sheets crumpled beneath her.

She thought her restlessness came from seeing Mr. Alistair, but Adrian's pale face haunted her thoughts instead.

He leaned weakly against the headboard, his injured left arm hidden beneath the blankets.

Julian said that hand was useless now.

Outside, stars glittered, and a crescent moon hung in the sky.

Not a rainy day—no reason for old wounds to flare up.

At his current status, who could hurt him?

Stranger still, he hadn't sought revenge.

These questions tangled like vines, the more she thought, the more confused she became.

[Still awake?]

Her phone vibrated.

In the darkness, the screen glared brightly.

A second message followed: [Stella, I miss you.]

She stared at the screen, fingers hovering over the keyboard.

The reunion she'd once dreamed of daily, yet now she couldn't even type "I miss you too."

[The stars tonight are beautiful, like your eyes.]

[Will you come in three days?]

[I'll wait for you.]

Messages piled up.

She turned the phone off.

The bedroom sank into deeper silence.

By dawn, she gave up on sleep and switched on the nightlight.

The pillow beside her lay untouched.

When she first moved in, she'd resisted sharing a bed with Adrian.

Now, the empty space felt unsettling.

The realization made her rake frustrated fingers through her hair.

Could it be...?

No. Impossible.

She shook her head hard.

But her heart remained in turmoil.

Half-asleep, she dreamed Mr. Alistair had become Adrian.

Covered in blood, he gripped her hand tightly. "Don't leave me..."

Sunlight through the curtains woke her.

Muffled coughs came from downstairs.

She pulled back the curtains.

He stood in the garden, wearing that same black suit.

His left arm hung limp, his right hand wrapped in bandages.

To avoid David, he hadn't even gone to the hospital.

"Adrian," she called softly.

He looked up sharply, hiding his left arm behind his back.

"Did I wake you?" He forced a smile.

"What are you doing out here?"

"Walking. Ended up here without realizing."

"Why not come inside?"

"You were asleep." His voice was quiet. "The stars last night... were beautiful."

In the morning light, dark circles shadowed his eyes.

"Come in and rest."

He shook his head. "Mr. Alistair wouldn't like it."

"This is your house!"

"The stand-in should exit now." He kicked at fallen leaves, his smile bitter.