Chapter 82

"Please verify guardian identity. We need a signature for the gastric lavage procedure."

Stella Valentine struggled violently to break free from Adrian Roland's embrace, but his arms remained immovable like steel clamps.

"Let go! I need to sign for Luna!"

Adrian took the pen with an impassive expression, signing the consent form with a flourish. "I'll sign."

He handed the completed form to the doctor. "Thank you."

The doctor hesitated. "Should we call the police? From what I overheard, the alcohol poisoning doesn't seem accidental. Could it be the nanny—"

"Call them."

Though reluctant to suspect the old butler, Adrian needed the truth.

Sirens soon pierced the night.

Benjamin Langley looked distraught during questioning. "I swear I don't know how liquor got into the bottle... I never drink, and there's no alcohol in this house! Even if there were, I'm not so senile I'd mistake water for liquor!"

Adrian leaned against the wall, observing coldly.

Benjamin had served the Roland family for decades with unwavering loyalty. Harming Luna was impossible.

"Sir, think carefully—did you notice anything suspicious this afternoon?"

"Suspicious..." The old man racked his brain before shaking his head.

Adrian showed photos of Lily Savigny and her mother. "Recognize them?"

Benjamin squinted. "Never seen them."

"Certain?"

"Master Adrian, we were in the garden all afternoon. We didn't encounter anyone."

The detective frowned. "That leaves you as the only person who handled the bottle."

Benjamin clutched his head in anguish. "Why would I hurt Luna...?"

The interrogation stalled until Benjamin suddenly recalled something. "Wait! I heard a loud noise in the nursery and went to check—I was gone maybe a minute... But that's not enough time to tamper with the bottle..."

True.

The narrow bottle neck would require at least five minutes to pour out water and replace it with alcohol.

"We'll keep investigating," the officer said, closing his notebook.

Adrian spoke abruptly. "Unless someone replaced the entire bottle."

Both Benjamin and the detective froze.

Swapping bottles would take thirty seconds.

"Collect fingerprints from the bottle."

"Citywide database matching takes a month—"

"I'll provide comparison samples tomorrow."

The detective's eyes lit up. "You have suspects?"

"Yes."

"Then we'll have results by tomorrow."

A heart-wrenching wail suddenly cut through the hallway.

Adrian sprinted toward the sound, taking his daughter from the nurse.

The nurse sighed. "Gastric lavage is hard on adults, let alone infants..."

Stella's heart shattered as tears flooded down her face.

"Breastfeeding would be gentler on her stomach these next few days."

"Understood."

"Let's move her to recovery."

Stella requested softly, "Can she stay in my room? I'm on the sixteenth floor."

The nurse blinked. "That's the oncology ward..."

"I have lung cancer."

"Oh..."

"Will it affect nursing?"

"Theoretically no..."

"Good."

Stella's eerie calm unsettled the nurse, who finally nodded. "I'll arrange it."

Stella kissed her daughter's tear-streaked cheeks.

Luna's cries gradually quieted into hiccuping whimpers at her mother's touch.

"Mommy will protect you..." Stella's voice broke. "For... as long as I can..."

The child's trusting obedience was a knife twisting in her chest.

"Stella..."

"Get out."

"I—"

She looked up with glacial eyes. "Adrian, this is the daughter I nearly died bringing into the world—who almost died today because of you. She stays with me now. Always."

Adrian closed his eyes in defeat. "Can I... ever see her again?"

"Only if you want to watch her die. You know what Lily is capable of."

"But I'm her father—"

"Are you?"

He froze.

"You're not worthy."

Each word struck like a hammer. "I'm begging you—never come near us again."

"..."

"Should I get on my knees to convince you?"

Adrian wiped his face. "That won't be necessary. I understand."

"No secret visits either."

"...Fine."

"File for divorce tomorrow. Give Lily her security, and Luna stays safe."

"...Fine."

Midnight found them in the recovery room.

Luna slept fitfully in Stella's arms, dried tears still glistening.

Stella gently wiped her daughter's face with a warm cloth, refusing to leave her side.

She dared not sleep.

Fear clutched her heart—that her child might vanish if she blinked.

Her phone vibrated.

[Sleep. I'll watch over her.]

Mr. Alistair's text unleashed fresh tears.

[I'm terrified.]

[She's safe with me. Rest—your daughter needs you strong.]

[But what if—]

[Stella, look outside.]

She raised her eyes to the starry sky.

[Right now, we're sharing this same constellation.]

The inexplicable message soothed her frayed nerves.

Of course. He was here.

[Trust me. Let me handle everything. Close your eyes, darling.]

[...Okay.]