Chapter 79

Stella Valentine bit her lower lip hard, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Hugo Merovingian's voice came through the phone. "This doesn't make sense. How did the package you sent end up in Adrian Roland's hands? Did he intercept it?"

Stella shook her head, then remembered he couldn't see her. "No," she said softly.

Joy Fairsprene chimed in. "I overheard at the emergency room that day. The package was returned because of a wrong address. Those USB drives were left unattended and just happened to be found by Adrian's assistant..."

Stella's breath hitched.

So that's what happened.

Fate could be so cruel.

Those recordings containing her deepest thoughts had still found their way to Adrian after all.

If this had happened before she gave up hope, everything might have been different.

But now...

"Stella?" Hugo's voice pulled her back to reality. "Leave the divorce to me."

She took a deep breath. "Okay."

"You've been separated for a year. Even if he refuses to sign, we can file for divorce in another year."

A year.

Stella smiled bitterly.

She didn't know if she had that much time left.

After hanging up, Joy suddenly gasped. "Stella! Adrian is still standing downstairs! He's been there in the rain for over ten days now..."

Stella picked up her phone and dialed a long-unused number.

"Ms. Valentine?" Damian Chamberlain's voice held surprise.

"It's been a while," Stella said, forcing calm into her voice.

"Congratulations on your improved health," Damian replied sincerely.

Stella gave a faint laugh. "Just temporarily not dying yet. Damian, I wanted to ask—do you still have that divorce agreement?"

Silence stretched for several seconds.

"Yes. Mr. Roland never revoked the authorization." Damian paused. "You...agree to the divorce now?"

"Yes. The sooner, the better." Stella tightened her grip on the phone. "I'll pay extra for your services."

Damian's voice dropped to a whisper. "Ms. Valentine, it's not that I don't want to help...but I can't see Mr. Roland right now."

"Why not?"

"I know too much." Damian laughed bitterly. "Someone told me about Martha Clementson's situation..."

Stella's pupils constricted. "Lily Savigny threatened you?"

"...I can mail you the divorce papers. But I'm afraid that's all I can do."

After hanging up, Stella felt icy cold all over.

So Damian's sudden disappearance was also Lily's doing.

"Still no luck?" Joy asked worriedly.

Stella looked out the window. "Another year then...if I can last that long."

......

New Frontier Group CEO's Office.

Vincent Astor frantically searched for Felix Roland's whereabouts but found nothing.

The phone rang abruptly. The receptionist sounded panicked. "Mr. Astor! Ms. Savigny and her mother are forcing their way upstairs!"

Vincent's temple throbbed.

Ever since his boss started his "vigil" outside the hospital, Lily had been causing daily scenes at the company.

The elevator dinged open.

A middle-aged woman with heavy makeup stormed in on high heels, her red nails pointing at Vincent's nose. "You must be Adrian's assistant? How dare you stop me!"

Vincent suppressed his anger. "Madam, this is a workplace."

"Enough! Get Adrian out here!" the woman shrieked. "He's been mistreating my daughter. He owes us an explanation today!"

Vincent's expression turned cold. "Mr. Roland isn't here."

"Not here? Where is he?"

"That's confidential."

The woman sneered. "Do you believe I can get you fired?"

Vincent remained composed. "That would require you actually being Mr. Roland's mother-in-law."