Chapter 7

A child's innocent singing drifted from the hospital entrance.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star..."

A little boy sat alone on the steps, swinging his short legs.

Stella Valentine crouched beside him. "Sweetheart, why are you out here by yourself?"

"Waiting for Mommy." He lifted his face. "She's cleaning inside."

"Why not wait indoors?"

The boy lowered his head. "Mommy says her job is dirty. She doesn’t want me to see."

Stella's heart ached.

She pulled out all the cash from her bag. "Give this to your mother."

The thick stack of bills made the boy's eyes widen. "Really?"

"Consider it payment for your lovely song."

The boy immediately straightened his back and sang "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" with earnest focus.

His clear voice was like sunlight piercing through the shadows in her heart.

On her way home, Stella kept replaying that pure child's melody in her mind.

Money was a double-edged sword.

Some killed for it. Others used it to save lives.

A woman in a pink dress stood waiting at the villa's gate.

"Miss Valentine, I'm Lily Savigny."

Stella narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?"

"To deliver an invitation." Lily held out a crimson wedding card. "Adrian and I are getting married."

Stella scoffed. "Aren't you afraid I'll crash your party?"

"You wouldn't dare." Lily stepped closer. "Unless you want your son to die."

Stella froze. "How do you know—"

"My mother delivered him, of course." Lily smiled sweetly. "That poor child, born with septicemia..."

"It was you!"

"Correct." Lily shoved the invitation into her hand. "I also arranged that car accident five years ago."

Stella felt as if struck by lightning. "Three lives..."

"They were in my way." Lily patted her cheek. "Since you're dying anyway, I thought you should know the truth."

A piercing scream tore through the night.