Chapter 83

Stella held little Luna tighter.

The faint scent of medicine still clung to the child. Instinctively, Stella curled her body, shielding her daughter with the softest part of herself. Only when she heard the steady rhythm of Luna's breathing did the knot in her chest loosen slightly.

Mr. Alistair had told her to rest, but sleep was impossible.

Her thoughts kept circling back to old Benjamin Langley.

She remembered Adrian once saying how kind the old butler had been to him since childhood. How could the man who secretly slipped candy into Adrian's schoolbag ever harm Luna?

And the method was so clumsy.

Last time at the old mansion, she'd watched Benjamin adjust the angle of Luna's bottle with painstaking care.

Her phone vibrated.

[Stella, turn off the lights.]

Her fingers trembled.

[Mr. Alistair, are you here?]

[If you don't sleep, I'll come supervise you personally.]

A smile tugged at her lips.

Moving silently, she first drew the curtains tight, then switched off the hallway light. Darkness swallowed the hospital room whole.

The door hinges creaked softly.

"Mr. Alistair..."

Warm fingers enveloped hers, pulling her into an embrace. He carefully avoided her injuries, his voice low. "I'm here."

The familiar scent of cedarwood wrapped around her.

She buried her face in his chest, breathing him in like oxygen.

"Checking so thoroughly?" He chuckled. "Afraid someone might impersonate me?"

She shook her head, her voice muffled against his shirt. "Your smell makes me feel safe."

His hand stilled in her hair.

"Have you decided on your answer?"

She felt his muscles tense.

"Yes." Her fingers twisted in his shirt. "Mr. Alistair, I'm willing."

Tears soaked through the fabric.

"Whether it's one month or one year..." Her voice broke. "I want to be with you."

His breathing hitched.

"Good." His arms tightened. "I'll stay with you. And the children."

She trembled with silent sobs, biting her lip to keep from waking Luna.

Suddenly, he swept her off her feet.

"Close your eyes." His voice was rough. "We're going to the rooftop."

She obeyed instantly.

"Stella." He paused on the stairwell landing. "Can I trust you?"

She nodded against his chest.

When the night air brushed her cheeks, she burrowed deeper into his arms.

"Let it out." He kissed her hair. "No one can hear you here."

Years of pent-up sorrow came flooding out.

Tears drenched his shirt, cooling in the breeze. Only when exhaustion claimed her did she finally still in his embrace.

"Sleep." His arms were steel bands around her. "I've got you."

Under the moonlight, two lonely heartbeats slowly synchronized.