Chapter 363

The scenery outside the car window blurred past. Stella Valentine studied Adrian Roland's tense profile and asked softly, "There's only one day left of our three-day agreement. What are your plans for tomorrow?"

His fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel. "I have personal matters to attend to tomorrow. Penny Anderson will help you pack."

Stella's smile froze. "...Alright."

"Rose Garden is scheduled for demolition. I've instructed Penny to move your belongings to Room 1231 at Houston Grand Hotel first." He paused. "Once you're settled, I'll arrange for them to be delivered."

"There's no need to rush. Grandpa Edward—"

"Stella," he interrupted gently, "just focus on your own happiness."

"But what about you and Grandpa—"

"I'll handle it."

Silence filled the car. Stella turned to gaze out the window without another word.

The Roland family estate glowed with warm lights, children's laughter carrying through the air.

"Blood pressure at 120/80!" Benjamin Langley announced cheerfully, holding up the monitor. "Sir, your readings keep improving!"

Ethan and Luna tumbled through a pile of toys like energetic bunnies. Grandpa Edward's eyes crinkled with joy. "With these two little angels around, any illness would disappear!"

"Great-grandpa!" Ethan bounded over, eyes sparkling. "When I grow up, I'll fly you around the world in my airplane!"

"I'll hold you to that!"

Luna toddled closer, her voice sweet and milky. "I'll bake you the yummiest cake ever!"

Grandpa Edward's beard quivered with laughter. "Such wonderful children. Your mother raised you so well—"

Noticing Adrian and Stella's return, the old man immediately looked at them questioningly.

"The surgery was successful," Adrian reassured him. "He'll be transferred to a regular room in three days."

"Wonderful!" Benjamin sighed in relief. "Sir, you see? Everything's getting better."

Stella watched as the children swarmed Adrian, covering his shirt in colorful marker stains while he played along without complaint. A faint smile touched her lips.

Late that night, Stella lay in bed scrolling through her phone. A series of messages from Mr. Alistair appeared:

[Stella, tomorrow's the final day]

[When will you come? Tomorrow night or the day after?]

[Tomorrow night, alright? I want to fall asleep holding you]

[I miss you so much it hurts...]

Frowning, she typed: [Tomorrow night. I'll be at Room 1231, Houston Grand Hotel]

Setting the phone aside, she soon drifted into sleep.

At that same moment, two text messages arrived simultaneously—one from Stella, the other from an unknown number:

[7 AM tomorrow. Mount Rainier summit. —Adrian Roland]

In a Rose Garden apartment, "Mr. Alistair" smirked coldly as he snapped his phone shut.

Dawn broke over Mount Rainier's peak.

"Good afternoon, my dear brother."

Adrian turned. Despite his preparations, his pupils contracted sharply at the sight before him.

An identical face. An identical build. The only differences were the stranger's uninjured left arm and Adrian's own right arm encased in plaster.

"Surprised?" The man's lips curved. "Never imagined there was another me in this world?"

Adrian quickly regained composure. "All these years... why didn't you come home?"

"Home?" A bitter laugh. "When the Rolands abandoned me, did they ever consider me their child?"

"Then why return now?"

"To reclaim what's mine." He adjusted his cuff casually. "Half the Roland fortune belongs to me."

Adrian's gaze sharpened. "So you approached Stella—"

"Stella?" He savored the name. "So that's what you call her. I'll adopt that too."

Though their faces mirrored each other, their contrasting auras made them seem like entirely different people.

"State your terms," Adrian said evenly. "You want the family assets? I'll give them to you—on one condition."

The man arched a brow. "I intend to take everything..."

"I know. That's why you orchestrated this with Stella."

"Clever." A slow clap. "You'd really surrender it all?"

"I only have one condition."

"Ah, here comes the catch." A derisive snort. "How much are you keeping? Five million? Shares? The estate?"

"Take it all."

"Then you—"

Adrian lowered his eyes, his voice nearly lost to the mountain wind.

"...She cries easily. Don't make her sad."