Chapter 409

"Daddy always keeps his promises!" Luna's eyes curved into crescents as she giggled, only for her whole face to scrunch up after tasting the coffee in Adrian's hand. "So bitter! Didn't Mommy add sugar for you?"

Adrian gazed at his daughter's eyes—so strikingly similar to Stella's—and for a moment, it felt like traveling through time. "Because Daddy's all grown up now."

He hadn't always been this composed and steady. In those youthful, carefree days, traces of Stella were everywhere. The memories were so beautiful they almost hurt to revisit.

Exhausted from playing, Luna curled up in his arms and drifted into a deep sleep. Mimicking how Stella used to soothe their children, Adrian gently patted her back. Only when he was certain she was sound asleep did he carefully cradle her closer.

Of their three children, Luna resembled Stella the most—her bright eyes, long lashes, even the slight upward curve of her lips as she slept, all mirroring the Stella he remembered.

Adrian set aside his work completely. Memories surged like a tide—riding through campus with Stella, counting stars under the willow trees by the moat. She loved resting her head on his lap, pointing at the night sky and claiming a star bore her name.

Almost unconsciously, he pulled open the drawer to his right and retrieved an old leather-bound journal. The moment the clasp snapped open, Stella's delicate handwriting greeted him.

This was her diary from her teenage years. He'd only skimmed it before, vaguely recalling a bucket list inside. Tonight, though, he felt an inexplicable urge to read it properly.

January 29, 2016 - Sunny

New diary debut! Ran into Adrian at the stationery store—he was actually watching me pick out notebooks! Ugh, I hadn’t even washed my hair after gym class. What was there to look at? Those popular guys are the worst, especially with their fan clubs nearly shoving me out the door!

The words brimmed with a teenage girl's frustration. Back then, Stella hadn’t realized her own feelings but was already jealous of the attention Adrian received. It reminded him of that afternoon.

After P.E., he hadn’t planned to stop by the snack bar. But when he saw Stella walk in, his feet moved on their own. Too bad she never turned around, missing his chance to strike up a conversation.

His lips curved unconsciously as he flipped further. Teenage Stella was lively and whimsical, her diary filled with wild imaginings.

February 3, 2016 - Rainy

Got caught in the rain without an umbrella. Just as I was about to use my backpack as cover, Adrian showed up. That umbrella had to be a gift from some girl—it had cartoon prints! Okay, fine, he’s good-looking, gets straight A’s, and plays soccer well, but the way girls fawn over him is ridiculous!

This passage had been lightly crossed out but remained legible. That umbrella had actually been a deliberate purchase—he thought she’d like the cartoon design, only to realize it backfired.

Fate had a funny way of twisting things. With a wry smile, he kept reading until, dozens of pages later, he found the turning point.

May 5, 2016 - Sunny

Shocking! Adrian actually confessed to me! If the sun weren’t still up, I’d think he’d been struck by lightning. But... my heart’s racing so fast. If there really were a deer in my chest, it’d be dead from crashing around by now.

He remembered that day clearly. After countless failed attempts to win her over, he’d resorted to a direct confession. Stella’s face had turned tomato-red. Though she hadn’t agreed immediately, her diary betrayed her flustered heart.

From then on, his presence filled her entries. She didn’t just write about him—she sketched his profile, simple yet uncannily lifelike.

To let Luna sleep more soundly, he turned off the main light, leaving only the soft glow of a desk lamp. Reading these words in the dim light felt like stepping back into his youth.

A third of the way in, he finally found the pivotal date.

May 13, 2016 - Rainy

Rain again, no umbrella again, Adrian again. This time, he didn’t have one either. Said he’d walk with me in the rain, then took off his jacket to shield me. Ended up drenched himself. Suddenly, having a boyfriend like him doesn’t seem so bad.

May 17, 2016 - Sunny

First date today. Wearing that floral sundress he likes. Hope he says I look pretty.

May 20, 2016 - Cloudy

Riding on the back of Adrian’s bike is amazing. Worked up the courage to hold his waist. Next time, I’ll hold tighter... and maybe measure his waistline while I’m at it.