Chapter 42

Stella Valentine's voice softened involuntarily when she mentioned her daughter.

Yet a pang of sorrow welled up in her eyes.

It had been a full week since she last saw the little one.

Newborns needed their mothers most. Adrian Roland wouldn't neglect the child, but what did a man know about caring for an infant?

A dull ache spread through her chest, as if an invisible hand were squeezing her heart.

"Mr. Alistair, when can I see my daughter?"

Silence lingered on the other end of the line. "Be patient."

"Can you give me a specific time?"

"Why the urgency? The child isn't going anywhere."

Stella's throat tightened.

Of course she was desperate.

The doctors had said she could leave this world at any moment.

If she died without seeing her daughter one last time, she would never close her eyes in peace.

The man exhaled deeply, his voice low. "Don't worry. You'll get your chance."

"...Alright."

At seven in the morning, Stella woke up right on time.

The other side of the bed was already cold.

She often found Mr. Alistair's behavior contradictory.

If he had to leave early every day, why not choose a place closer to stay?

Then again, this was likely part of his identity concealment tactics.

Choosing a distant meeting spot ensured she couldn't guess who he really was.

Ring—

Her phone blared abruptly.

"Stella!" Joy Fairsprene's voice trembled with panic. "Can we meet?"

Stella immediately knew something had happened to the Fairsprene family.

She swallowed a painkiller and grabbed her coat. "The usual place."

Inside the café, Joy fidgeted nervously.

"Stella!" She shot up from her seat, waving frantically.

"Trouble with the Fairsprenes?" Stella cut straight to the point. "Is it my uncle—"

"No!" Joy grabbed her hands excitedly. "Someone injected fifty million into Fairsprene Group!"

Stella's pupils contracted.

"Dad was worrying about the broken capital chain yesterday, and this morning, a mysterious donor wired the money!" Joy lowered her voice. "Who in Houston could casually throw around that kind of cash?"

Stella closed her eyes briefly.

She would never be able to repay Mr. Alistair in this lifetime.

"Stella? Do you know who it is?"

"Probably... Mr. Alistair."

Joy's eyes widened. "That man you mentioned?"

Stella gave a slight nod.

"Can I meet him? Dad wants to thank him in person."

Stella typed out a text and sent it.

Her phone vibrated instantly: 【No thanks necessary. I only intervened because of you.】

Joy peeked at the screen. "Wow, this Mr. Alistair is intense!"

"He doesn't want his identity revealed."

"Definitely a VIP!" Joy suddenly clutched Stella's hands. "Stella, he's way better than Adrian! Fifty million, just like that!"

Stella smiled bitterly. "He's kind to me for a reason."

"What reason?"

"I resemble someone he loved."

Joy's expression froze. "So you're just... a substitute?"

"You could say that."

"That's so..." Joy looked utterly scandalized. "I'll never understand the rich."

Stella squeezed her hand. "At least he helped your family."

Joy's eyes reddened. "I wanted to help you, but once again, you're the one helping me..."

"Weren't you going to introduce me to a job?"

"Yes!" Joy slapped the table. "You studied jewelry design, right? I know—"

Stella interrupted. "I never graduated. Only have a high school diploma."

Joy froze. "Because of Adrian?"

Stella's gaze darkened.

At twenty, her world had turned upside down.

Her father died. The family assets were seized. She gave birth to Ethan alone overseas, only to return and see Adrian holding Lily Savigny...

By the time she woke from that nightmare, the late-stage lung cancer diagnosis was already on the table.