Chapter 5

Starla made time to visit the lab.

Professor Zimmer told her that to prevent any disturbances during cryogenic preservation, the freezing chamber would be stored at the bottom of the ocean.

“You can choose any sea you like,” he said.

“Really?” Starla thought for a moment before replying, “I want my chamber placed in the Arctic Ocean.”

“Why?”

She smiled, though a trace of sadness lingered in her eyes. “Because you can see the aurora there. And when the aurora lights up the sky, it hides the Milky Way from view.”

She was no longer Xavier’s brightest star. No longer his miracle.

The starry sky, once beautiful, was now nothing more than a painful reminder.

She was dying. And if nothing else, she wanted her soul to be free—free from this love that had broken her heart.

When she returned home, she found her bedroom door wide open. Clothes and shoes were scattered across the floor, as if someone had ransacked the place.

Even the medical report she had carefully hidden in her nightstand was gone.

“Who?” Starla stormed downstairs, her voice shaking with rage. “Who went into my room? I told you all—no one is allowed in there!”

The servants exchanged uneasy glances before one of them hesitantly spoke.

“Miss Xander, it wasn’t us.

“It was Miss Scott. She said Mr. Llyod gave her permission.”

A mix of grief and fury made Starla tremble. So many words fought to escape her throat, but she couldn’t even get them out.

Just then, Wendy strolled in, drawn by the commotion.

Seeing Starla’s expression, she smirked.

Starla pointed at the mess in her room, her hand shaking. “Was it you? Did you do this?”

Wendy let out a dismissive chuckle. “Oops, sorry about that, Starla.

“My nightgown got dirty, so Xavier told me to borrow one of yours. Once I buy a new one, I’ll wash yours and return it. You don’t mind, do you?”

Looking at the woman standing before her, the culprit who had torn through the last bit of privacy she had, Starla could no longer hold back her rage.

She lunged forward, grabbing Wendy by the throat, her eyes burning red.

“Who gave you the right to go through my things?” she demanded. “This is the last space I have in this house! What more do you want?!”

Her voice cracked, all the grievances she had endured over the past few weeks pouring out at once.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Xavier rushed over—only to find Starla gripping Wendy by the neck.

His expression darkened instantly. He stepped forward and shoved Starla aside, carefully cradling Wendy in his arms.

“Wendy, are you okay?”

Just moments ago, Wendy had been smirking. Now, tears welled up in her eyes as she clung to Xavier.

“I’m fine,” she whispered tearfully. “It’s just… Starla got mad at me again…”

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she pulled out a folded piece of paper.

“And… I also found this.”

It was Starla’s medical report.

“It says here that Starla has… breast cancer.”

She turned to Starla, her eyes shimmering with fake concern. “Starla, is this true? You’re not joking about something this serious, are you? You wouldn’t try to scare me and Xavier like that… would you?”

Her words sounded caring, but every sentence was laced with the implication that Starla was lying.

Xavier’s anger flared. He turned to Starla, his voice sharp.

“Starla, have I spoiled you too much? You actually dared to lay hands on Wendy again?”

Snatching the report from Wendy’s hands, he skimmed through it quickly before glaring at Starla.

“What is this?

“You were fine before. How could you suddenly have something like this?”

Starla clenched her fists and yelled back, “She was the one who invaded my space first! And as for that…”

She hesitated.

She wasn’t ready to tell him about her illness.

But then, a bitter thought crept into her mind. If Xavier knew, would he finally treat her better?

Xavier didn’t give her a chance to answer. His patience snapped. “I was the one who gave her permission to enter your room! She only borrowed a nightgown. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?”

Seeing Starla hesitate, his anger only deepened.

“So, is this medical report just another stunt to get my attention?

“You keep targeting Wendy. What exactly do you want?

“If you don’t want to stay in this house anymore, then get out!”

“I didn’t do anything!” Starla’s voice cracked with frustration, but before she could explain, Xavier had already made up his mind.

He pulled Wendy protectively behind him and gave Starla a hard, disappointed look.

“Enough, Starla. I clearly didn’t raise you well.

“Wendy and I have discussed it. Next month, you’ll go abroad. It’s time for you to leave this house.

“Take some time away and reflect. It’ll be better for both of us.”

Starla stared at him, feeling as though she had been doused in ice water from head to toe.

How could he say he didn’t want her anymore—just like that?

Weren’t they supposed to be the closest people to each other?

How could he be so blindly protective of Wendy to the point of kicking her out of his life?

A soft, self-mocking laugh escaped her lips.

“Fine, I get it.

“You don’t have to kick me out. I’ll leave on my own.”

After all, in just a few days, she would be gone from this world forever.

But before she could take a step, something warm dripped onto the floor.

Huh?

What was that?

She touched her face and realized that her nose was bleeding.

A sudden wave of dizziness hit her.

Her vision blurred.

Then her body gave out.

She collapsed.

Xavier’s face went pale in an instant. He lunged forward, catching her just before she hit the ground.

“Starla?” His voice wavered for the first time. “What’s wrong?

“Starla!”