Stella no longer stayed in the guest room.
She naturally moved into Adrian’s bedroom, but the very first day she entered, her face went pale.
Inside hung a large framed photograph—
a picture of me and Adrian kissing.
He used to love it, insisting on placing it in the most prominent spot in the bedroom as if to declare his claim.
But now—
when Adrian saw it, his own face turned white. He hurriedly hid the photo away.
“This isn’t real. Even if it was, it’s all in the past,” he said, rushing to soothe the pale-faced girl in his arms.
“Stella, I don’t even remember Lila Lane.”
Stella sobbed pitifully into his chest, murmuring, “I believe you.”
But when she lifted her head, her eyes toward me carried unmistakable resentment.
In the following days, Stella often stroked her pregnant belly and found subtle ways to provoke me.
For instance, she would clasp my hand warmly:
“Sister, the first time I met you, I knew you were kind. I’ve always thought of you as my real sister.”
“In five months, your little niece will be born. Why don’t you sew her a pair of baby shoes?”
I pulled my hand away coolly.
“My hands are made for killing, not for sewing.”
Stella withdrew, sulking.
A few days later, she dragged Adrian before me to discuss baby names.
“I said Lily sounds lovely, it means purity. But Adrian insists on calling her Grace…”
I went quiet for a moment.
“Sorry. Pick another name.”
They both stared at me in confusion.
I said flatly,
“That was the name Adrian once planned for our child. If you use it now—it will only bring bad luck.”
The room froze. Both of their faces turned ashen.
I ignored them and walked away.
Later, the new maid Mary rushed to me excitedly.
“Miss, I don’t think Adrian really forgot you. He still loves you.”
“Oh? And why do you think that?”
Mary chattered eagerly:
“The other day I passed by his study. I saw him staring at your photo, lost in thought. He must still be thinking of the past.”
I gave a bitter smile and shook my head.
“Don’t ever say that again. He’s about to be a father.”
And I was about to be married.
As the wedding drew near, the Lane Estate buzzed with preparations.
Stella stared in disbelief at the luxurious wedding gifts before her—rows of jewelry boxes, stacks of property deeds.
“These… these are all for me?” she gasped, covering her mouth.
Adrian, too, was surprised, his eyes filled with gratitude as he looked toward my father.
“Master, thank you for your generosity.”
He thought all this was dowry Mr. Lane prepared for his marriage.
He had no idea—
once the ceremony ended, he would be formally cut off from the Lane family.
From then on, his life would have nothing to do with us.
On the wedding day, I sat stone-faced as they exchanged rings and kissed.
Stella blushed shyly, rising on tiptoe to kiss him—
but Adrian turned his head away.
Instead, his gaze drifted slowly toward me, heavy with something complicated.
I lowered my eyes, sipped my tea, and ignored him.
Just then, my sixth foster brother burst into the hall:
“Master, Lucas Vaughn, heir of the Vaughn family, has arrived.”
Adrian’s head snapped up, his eyes clouded with confusion.
