Chapter 468

Memories blurred like watercolor paintings soaked in rain. Stella Valentine struggled to piece together the complete picture, but only vague color blocks remained.

The once sharp-edged man had been smoothed by time.

The last time she saw him was the day she moved out of the Roland mansion. Penny Anderson was busy loading luggage into the car while the children sat obediently inside. For some reason, Stella suddenly turned to look at the second floor.

Behind the floor-to-ceiling window, a figure hastily retreated behind the curtains.

But the cane left visible silently declared—he was no longer the proud and ambitious Adrian Roland of the past.

"Miss Stella, shall I take you back to the Roland residence?" Vincent Astor's voice pulled her back to reality. "The old house has plenty of empty rooms..."

"No need," she interrupted. "My mother is waiting at home to help."

Vincent took the hint and bid farewell, turning to report back to Adrian.

In the study, Adrian set down a document, listening intently as Vincent recounted the kindergarten incident. When he heard the children had been bullied, his grip on the cane tightened abruptly.

"Contact the principal," his voice strained.

Vincent quickly stopped him. "It's already resolved. We just used your $10,000 check..."

"Reimburse it from my personal account." Adrian's knuckles whitened before slowly relaxing. "How is... little Stella?"

"Mrs. Roland handled it perfectly."

Adrian's lips twitched. "I wish she hadn't handled it so perfectly."

He remembered the Stella who used to whine and act spoiled around him, like a feisty little kitten. Now, she had become a self-reliant mother.

"Luna gave her Ultraman to the child who bullied her," Vincent suddenly added.

Adrian froze. His youngest daughter, who always hid in his arms begging to be carried, had learned to repay cruelty with kindness?

"Celeste was even more impressive," Vincent chuckled. "That child didn't even blink while putting the bully in his place."

A phone vibrated. In the photo Vincent sent, three children held hands, with Ethan standing tall in the middle like a slender poplar.

Adrian's fingertips lightly traced the screen. They would grow into better people than he ever was.

The thought filled him with both warmth and sorrow.