FAZER LOGIN(Evelyn's POV)At the sound of my voice, the man whirled around.When he saw it was me, his face went white."I'm... I'm sorry..."He turned to run.I lunged and grabbed his arm."Don't go!" I held on with everything I had. "How much did she give you? I can pay you too! Just tell me that woman was Vanessa, and I'll give you whatever you want!""Let go of me!"I had never begged anyone like that before."Please..." The tears came pouring out. "You're a father too. Your daughter was such a good girl, and my Stella was too... Just tell me, was it her?"His lips trembled, his gaze darting away. He couldn't bring himself to look at Stella's photo on the headstone.The next second, he wrenched himself free and shoved me away."I never said that!" He backed away, shaking. "You figured it out yourself!"I fell hard, and my elbow slammed into the edge of a stone step. It burned like fire.All I could do was watch him run down the hill and disappear through the cemetery gates.Bracing my hands a
(Evelyn's POV)When Adrian held out that clay figurine, I froze for a second.I thought he'd had someone buy a new one just like it.But when I looked closer, it was covered in fine cracks. The little girl's face had been pieced together bit by bit, and there was still a smear of glue on the man's shoulder that he hadn't wiped off.He'd really glued it back together, piece by piece.His eyes were bloodshot. He'd probably been up all night.He'd never done anything like this before.But what was the point of doing it now?When Stella's present shattered on the floor, the first one he rushed to protect was Vanessa's adopted kid.I dropped the figurine in the trash.I didn't need Adrian or this repaired present anymore.Neither did Stella.I said I'd take him to see Stella's grave, and to my surprise, he agreed.The car headed out of town.I didn't say a word the whole way.In my head, I talked to Stella. Baby, Daddy's coming to see you. He's so late, though.We were almost at the cemeter
(Adrian's POV)Daisy cried the whole way. Evelyn had scared her.Vanessa and I took her to the mall. Toy stores, kids' clothing stores, dessert shops. If she looked twice at anything, I had the clerk wrap it up.By the time we left, the trunk was crammed full.Daisy hugged her new stuffed unicorn, her eyes shining. "When I was at the orphanage, I never had this many toys. Or this many pretty dresses."She went up on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek."Thank you, Daddy!"I froze.Daddy.Stella hadn't called me Daddy in a long time.And come to think of it, I'd never once taken Stella to the mall. Her clothes, her toys, her backpack—Evelyn had bought all of it. I didn't even know her shoe size.What would Stella look like when she saw a new toy?I couldn't even picture it.She'd never asked me for a toy.When she wanted to go to an amusement park for her birthday, it was Evelyn who asked on her behalf.I said yes. And then I broke my promise.That day, I was at the vet with Vanessa's dog.
(Evelyn's POV)I woke up to the sound of a little girl laughing downstairs.I opened my eyes, and it took me several seconds to recognize the room. It was the bedroom Adrian and I used to share.Another laugh drifted up from downstairs, bright and clear.A little girl's voice.Stella?My heart leaped.I threw off the covers and ran out without even putting on shoes.Is it Stella? Has all of this been nothing but a nightmare?At the top of the stairs, I stopped.Down in the living room, Adrian was holding a little girl. She was about Stella's age, her back to me, wearing a pale yellow dress.It was Stella's dress.I'd helped her pick it out on her fifth birthday. She'd twirled around and around in it, then turned her little face up and asked, "Mommy, does Stella look like a little princess?"I held on to the banister, and for a moment, everything went hazy.Could that be my Stella?"Daisy, come have some pancakes!"Vanessa came out of the kitchen carrying a plate.She was acting like sh
(Adrian's POV)I took Vanessa to the hospital. After the healer examined her, he said she and the baby were both fine.I let out a breath, stepped into the hallway, and called Evelyn right away.If she'd hit Vanessa because she didn't get that jewelry, I could explain.I'd bid on those purple sapphires for her in the first place.I knew she'd gone to the auction today for that jewelry. Grandma loved collecting jewelry, so she probably wanted to win it as a gift for Grandma's 80th birthday.I'd planned to let her have it once she started bidding.But then I saw Caleb sitting next to her, leaning in to talk to her, raising his paddle for her."Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."Who does he think he is?Some outsider, making promises to my mate right in front of me?My temper flared.So I kept bidding against Caleb to the very end.After I won, I went to get the car, and Vanessa offered to hold the jewelry box for me. I didn't think twice and handed it to her.Evelyn's phone was off
(Evelyn's POV)"And I don't want custody of Stella either," I said.Stella was my whole life. But that life was already gone.Adrian froze.He looked like he hadn't heard me right. "What did you say?"Adrian stared at me for a long time, as if he were seeing me for the first time."You don't even want custody of Stella?"His voice was full of disbelief.I could see why.For six years, in his mind, I'd been a ruthless, greedy woman who would do anything for money and the title of Luna.He'd probably never imagined I wouldn't even "want" my own daughter.He didn't know that I still wanted her. I just didn't have a daughter left to want.He was quiet for a long time. Finally, he spoke."Fine. I agree to sever the mate bond."I froze for a second.For more than a month, those were the exact words I'd been waiting for.But now that I'd finally heard them, I couldn't feel happy at all.I'd loved him for six years. And in the end, he agreed to let me go without a second thought, all for anoth







