Chapter 481

Stella Valentine froze when her fingertips brushed against the familiar wrapper.

Star Candy.

This long-discontinued treat had been the sweetest memory of her school days. Whenever her blood sugar dropped, Adrian Roland would magically produce one from his pocket.

"Isn't this..." Wendy Evans picked up a piece, examining it under the light. "My favorite candy from college?"

The dressing room buzzed with excitement. Stella shared the candies, watching nostalgic smiles bloom on everyone's faces.

Penny Anderson eagerly unwrapped hers. "If I could redo my youth, I'd memorize lottery numbers first!"

"I thought you'd say 'study harder.'" Stella chuckled.

"How boring!" Penny stuck out her tongue. "Don't you have anything you'd redo, Stella?"

Her smile faltered. While searching for tissues, her fingers grazed something cold and metallic.

A signature diamond-shaped jewelry box from New Frontier Group.

"What's wrong?" Penny leaned in curiously.

Stella snapped her bag shut, but the box tumbled out. Penny caught it deftly. "Wow! Isn't this our company's jewelry box?"

Wendy gave a knowing smile. "Mr. Roland certainly pays attention to detail."

Stella's ears burned. She knew exactly how these candies appeared—she'd left her bag in the study this morning. Adrian must have...

"Stella, you're blushing!" Penny teased.

"Nonsense." She forced composure. "It's just... warm in here."

Good-natured laughter filled the room. Stella clenched the jewelry box until its edges bit into her palm.

Just like her tangled emotions.

"Truth is..." Wendy said suddenly serious, "I've been through something similar. Some relationships defy outsiders' understanding."

Stella looked up into Wendy's perceptive gaze.

"Life is lived from the inside." Wendy patted her hand. "No one else tastes its sweetness or bitterness."

Stella stared at the candy dissolving on her tongue—sweet yet inexplicably bitter.

Like every piece Adrian had ever pressed into her palm.

"I should prepare for my next meeting." She stood abruptly, shoving the box into her bag.

As she turned, a single tear fell onto the candy wrapper, leaving a tiny damp circle.