Chapter 473

Stella Valentine lifted her gaze.

She nodded slowly.

"You know better than anyone how much he loves you."

"Mom..."

"I understand." Grace Laurent stroked her daughter's hair. "I know the barriers in your heart."

Stella buried her face in her mother's warm embrace. "It's not about forgiveness. I just don't know how to face him. We've both changed. There's too much unresolved between us—even being together feels like walking on eggshells."

"But you helped bathe him earlier?"

"That was..."

"Why?"

"He got hurt protecting me. I couldn't abandon him."

Grace's fingers combed through Stella's long hair. "I only want your happiness."

"..."

"Let the past stay in the past. You're still young. If you still love each other, why torture yourself?"

Stella pressed deeper into her mother's arms.

"Go to bed now."

She mumbled an agreement.

Warm light spilled through the study door onto the hallway.

Two small figures crouched by the corner eavesdropping. Celeste nearly jumped with excitement upon hearing they'd see their father tomorrow. "Yay!"

Ethan hastily covered her mouth.

The lights flicked on.

The siblings flushed, caught red-handed.

"We came to check on Luna," Ethan fidgeted with his fingers.

"Big sister had a nightmare and ran out," Celeste stuck out her tongue, hiding behind her brother.

Grace set Luna down. "Take your sisters to bed."

Ethan's eyes sparkled as he looked at Stella. "Mom, can we wake up early tomorrow? Visit Dad before school?"

Three pairs of hopeful eyes left her no room for refusal.

"Fine. But if anyone sleeps in..." She made tickling motions.

The children shrieked and scattered.

Silence reclaimed the study.

Stella gazed at the empty hallway, her smile fading. She always felt she wasn't doing enough.

At dawn, all three children miraculously woke early.

Stella took a cab to the Roland estate. Benjamin Langley rushed out in delight the moment she stepped out. "Madame is home!"

His shout echoed through the mansion.

In the study, Vincent Astor waited for Adrian Roland to sign documents. Both men turned toward the window.

Stella stood in the courtyard, the children chattering around her.

Vincent glanced at his boss's frozen stare and teased, "Not going down?"

"Unnecessary." Adrian's refusal contradicted his locked gaze.

As Benjamin ushered the family inside, Vincent suddenly gasped. "Madame, watch out!"

Adrian shot up. "What happened?!"

Everyone below looked up.

He abandoned his cane, stumbling to the staircase—only to find Stella perfectly unharmed.

Their eyes met. Both froze.

Vincent's mutter floated from behind. "Dry weather, watch your temper..."

Stella frowned in confusion.

Adrian turned to glare—but Vincent had already slipped downstairs. "Madame, let me brew some throat-soothing tea!"