Chapter 52

The moment Adrian Roland left, Lily Savigny's trembling fingers dialed her mother's number.

"Mom, something's wrong..." Her voice trembled with panic. "Adrian seems suspicious..."

Sophia Durand, woken in the dead of night, glanced at the sleeping Victor Lefèvre before tiptoeing to the balcony.

"What's he suspecting? The car accident or that maid incident?"

"Neither." Lily bit her nails. "It's Joy Fairsprene. She saw me... at the hospital seven years ago..."

"What?!" Sophia's voice rose sharply.

Lily dug her nails into her palm. "That bitch actually remembers me! Adrian warned me today not to lie to him. I'm losing my mind..."

"Calm down!" Sophia lit a cigarette. "The hospital records were destroyed long ago. What can she prove with just words?"

"But my fake pregnancy..." Lily's voice cracked. "Adrian keeps visiting the old mansion just for that little bastard..."

Exhaling smoke, Sophia narrowed her eyes. "Get rid of the child first. Did you get the old mansion's address?"

"Not yet..."

"Useless!" Sophia snapped. "Stella is the birth mother. We have to act before she does! Once you're married, half the Roland fortune will be yours!"

Lily fell silent for a moment. "What should I do?"

"Ignore him for a few days, then bring lunch to his office." Sophia blew a smoke ring. "Men are all the same—they only want what they can't have."

After hanging up, Sophia dispersed the smoke scent before returning to the bedroom.

"What's all the noise?" Victor grumbled, turning over.

"Just a nightmare..." Sophia softened her voice. "I dreamed Stella was trying to kill me..."

"She wouldn't dare!" Victor sat up abruptly. "How audacious!"

Sophia nestled against him. "With you here, I feel safe."

Stella Valentine stood outside the hotel room door, knocking until her knuckles turned red. No answer.

A passing attendant offered, "Shall I contact the guest for you?"

Glancing at the time—1 AM—she hesitated over disturbing Mr. Alistair.

Her phone vibrated.

[Use your fingerprint. Right index finger.]

The lock clicked open. The attendant smiled. "You could open it all along."

"This fingerprint..." Stella stared at her finger. "When was it registered?"

[Mr. Alistair, how do you have my fingerprint?]

[We'll talk when you're back.]

The suite was in disarray. A shirt draped carelessly over the sofa, documents scattered across the coffee table. She tidied silently before turning off the lights to wait.

When the lock sounded again, footsteps echoed sharply in the dark.

"Did you have fun today?" Mr. Alistair's voice held amusement. "You made quite a scene."

Stella clenched her fists. "Zachary is just a friend..."

"Stella." He stepped closer abruptly. "When men are kind to women, there's always an agenda."

"And you?" She met his shadowed gaze. "Is it nostalgia for the past, or...?"

"Both." He changed the subject. "Did you see your daughter?"

"Yes." Her voice was barely a whisper. "Getting custody won't be easy, will it?"

"Adrian won't relinquish her easily." He settled onto the sofa. "It'll take time."

"Mr. Alistair... can I work during the day?" Stella asked suddenly. "I need to prove I can support my child."

Silence engulfed the room. Only their breaths intertwined in the darkness.