Chapter 96

Harry Vance finally gathered his courage to speak. "Mr. Roland, there's been a misunderstanding..."

Adrian Roland frowned deeply, remaining silent.

Joy Fairsprene waved impatiently. "Just leave already. Stella needs rest."

Adrian didn't budge, his gaze locked onto Stella Valentine.

Joy stomped her foot in frustration and pushed him. "Are you leaving or not?"

But Adrian stood firm as a mountain.

She gritted her teeth. "Since when does the great Mr. Roland resort to being a nuisance? Stella is already divorced from you!"

"No."

The single word rolled off Adrian's tongue with unsettling calm.

Stella whirled around, disbelief flashing across her face.

Joy's eyes widened. "No divorce? That's impossible..."

"Cooling-off period." Adrian's intense stare never wavered. "Stella, we're still married."

Her lips trembled. The words struck like lightning.

"Focus on recovering. Victor Lefèvre won't bother you again."

A nurse hurried over. "Sir, please keep it down."

Adrian nodded. "Stella, I won't give up."

With that, he turned and left.

Stella's legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the bed.

Joy rushed to steady her. "Damn this cooling-off period! Never getting married is clearly the smarter choice."

With shaking hands, Stella dialed Hugo Merovingian.

"Stella?"

"Mr. Merovingian, about the divorce..."

"I was just about to tell you. There's a mandatory one-month cooling-off period before finalizing it."

A bitter laugh escaped her.

Fate always seemed to side with Adrian.

"I have to return to the States in ten days. You'll need to handle the rest yourself."

Her heart sank. "Thank you for your help."

"Ethan keeps asking for you. A child needs his mother, even if just for a visit..."

Stella's grip on the phone turned white-knuckled.

"Stella?"

"...I'll think about it."

Hanging up, she closed her eyes in exhaustion.

Harry tugged Joy's sleeve. "Let Ms. Valentine rest."

Joy hesitated. "Stella, should I stay?"

"No."

Once alone, silence reclaimed the hospital room.

Her phone buzzed.

[Are you okay?]

[Managing.]

[Adrian came to see you.]

Her fingers froze mid-reply.

[Do you still love him?]

[No.]

[What about me?]

[Mr. Alistair, when can we meet?]

[Not yet.]

A self-deprecating smile curved her lips.

Everyone kept telling her to wait.

The divorce. The truth. Even her dwindling lifespan.

[I'm tired of waiting.]

Her phone rang abruptly.

"Stella, I'm downstairs." Julian Valois' voice sounded hoarse.

Her pulse jumped. "Did you see Adrian?"

"Yeah."

"Why bother?"

He sighed. "Some things can't be explained yet."

"Not even in daylight?"

"The truth is more complicated than you realize." His tone darkened. "Someone has sacrificed too much for you..."

Silence stretched between them.

"Let's get dinner. That underwater restaurant?"

"I'm exhausted."

"Then I'll wait."

The call ended, and Stella drifted into uneasy sleep.

Adrian's figure haunted her dreams, along with Mr. Alistair's shadow—but Julian was conspicuously absent.

A ringing phone startled her awake.

"Stella!" Joy's excited voice crackled through. "The Maybach's license plate from the surveillance footage doesn't match Julian's!"

Stella bolted upright. "What?"

"Julian might not be Mr. Alistair, but they must know each other! I'm tracking all Maybachs in the city now!"