Chapter 36

Lily Savigny's nails dug deep into her palms.

She looked at her mother Sophia Durand with anxious eyes. "Mom, I feel like things are spiraling out of control."

Sophia grabbed her daughter's wrist. "Stay calm! The priority now is keeping Adrian Roland stable."

"But he's already suspicious!"

"So what?" Sophia sneered. "Stella Valentine won't last much longer. Once she's gone, everything will fall into place."

Lily bit her lip. "That child..."

"Must be dealt with immediately." Sophia lowered her voice. "A one-year-old is starting to talk. If he keeps crying for his mother..."

Victor Lefèvre's impatient shout came from downstairs. "Sophia! What's taking so long?"

Sophia called back before whispering a final instruction. "Remember—find out the address of the old mansion."

The grand hall buzzed with clinking glasses.

Victor waddled through the crowd, his beer belly straining against the ill-fitting tuxedo like an overstuffed penguin.

"What a fortunate man you are, Mr. Lefèvre!" someone fawned. "Such a beautiful daughter."

"Naturally." Victor puffed his chest. "My daughter is destined to marry into aristocracy."

Guests exchanged glances. "Surely not... Adrian Roland?"

"Impossible," another muttered. "Not with the feud between the Rolands and Valentines..."

Lily's smile froze as she descended the staircase.

Sophia smoothly intervened. "We parents shouldn't interfere with young love." She turned to a young man with practiced charm. "You must be the third son of the Merovingian family?"

The young man waved modestly. "Who dares claim to be a rising star in Mr. Roland's presence?"

In the corner, Adrian stood alone.

His fingers absently traced the silver banister, eyes distant.

This marked only his second visit to the Valentine estate in six years. Last time, he'd come seeking Grace Laurent only to find her gone.

Victor had transformed the entire mansion into a gaudy display of new money—gold trimmings assaulting the eyes—yet this single banister remained untouched.

Memories surfaced: Stella in her floral sundress, sliding down this very railing. Her dark hair streaming behind her like butterfly wings as she launched into his arms.

"Adrian?" Lily's voice snapped him back.

She offered a frosty glass of orange juice. "Try some?"

He set it down with a frown. "My stomach."

"Sorry, I forgot..." Lily flushed.

Adrian's gaze returned to the banister. "Those shoes suit you."

He hadn't even looked at her.

Lily forced a smile. "We'll install a banister like this in our future home, yes?"

Adrian gave no reply.

His thoughts had already drifted to the girl who once slid down banisters—now lying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life.

While he stood here, at his enemy's celebration.