Chapter 4

A bitter smile tugged at Stella Valentine's lips.

Moonlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, elongating her frail shadow across the floor.

Illness had whittled her down to mere bones, leaving even her shadow faint and insubstantial.

"Where were you today?" Adrian Roland's voice was glacial.

She lifted her gaze to meet his. "Do you care?"

"Damian came to discuss the divorce papers. You weren't here."

"I was at the hospital."

"For what?"

"A hymen repair," she said with a hollow laugh. "You already knew, didn't you?"

His eyes darkened instantly. "Stella, I'll never understand you... Everything in the Roland family was yours after marriage. Why kill my parents? They treated you like their own daughter. Was there anything I wouldn't have given you?"

"What if I told you I knew nothing about it?"

A cold sneer twisted his lips. "Both parents dead, left with nothing, I nearly drank myself to death in the gutters. And what did your family do? Seized the Roland assets while you vanished without a trace... How could I possibly believe you?"

"Adrian..."

"If Lily hadn't appeared, I'd have been finished." His expression softened momentarily. "She's intelligent, kind... she understands me."

"She loves you?"

"Of course."

Stella nodded faintly. "Good."

At least after she was gone, someone would truly love him.

The wall clock chimed midnight.

"I promise," she said, meeting his eyes, "I'll sign the papers after tonight."

Adrian studied her with a frown.

She stepped closer, rising on her toes to brush her lips against his. "Consider this... my last dream."