chapter1225

"But the information released so far was just a smokescreen," Stella continued. "Soon enough, those rumors will become fact."

The file Harland had sent her contained proof of several double-crosses.

Once that evidence was made public, even if Leonard wasn't responsible for this particular incident, he wouldn't be able to clear his name. He was going to have to swallow this loss.

As she was thinking through her next steps, Stella realized Neville was watching her with a peculiar expression.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, breaking from her thoughts.

Neville smiled faintly. "It's been a while, and you seem to have changed a lot." ? find?novel.net

It wasn't the first time someone had said that to her. "And do you think this change is for the better, or for the worse?" she asked.

"People are always changing," he said, seeming to understand her inner conflict. "Whether for better or worse, it's all a part of who you are. Don't dwell on it, Star. You've made your decision, so don't look back. Just keep moving forward."

His words were like a gentle breeze, clearing the fog from her mind.

Stella picked up her glass and said softly, "Neville, thank you."

"There's no need for thanks between us."

Neville was the one who had helped

her most when she was at her

lowest, and she trusted him completely. She knew that if he asked she would tell him anything. But he didn't press for details about Leonard Instead he simply said, "Star, if you ever need anything, I'll be there for you without question."

Stella didn't demur. "The same goes for you. If you need my help with anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Actually, Star," Neville said suddenly. "There is something I was hoping you could help me with."

Neville had done so much for her over the years, and Stella had always wanted to repay him but had lacked the power and ability. Now, hearing that he needed her help, her expression turned serious.

"Anything I can do, I'll do my best."

For once, Neville seemed hesitant. Seeing this, Marvin chimed in from the side. "Stella, the reason Dad and I were in Aetheria for so long was because Great- Grandma kept setting him up on blind dates."

Stella looked at Neville in surprise. "Blind dates?"

Neville let out a low sigh. "Grandma knows she doesn't have much time left. She's worried about me and about Marvin. She wants to see me get married before she passes, to find a mother for Marvin."

Marvin's cute little face scrunched

up. "We had to go on blind dates every single day. It was so annoying! I didn't like any of those ladies. But Great Grandma, said she wont b able to rest in peace unless Dad finds me a mother, so we had to keep meeting different women."

Marvin adored Stella and couldn't imagine anyone else as his mother. Neville, too, had his heart set elsewhere, making his mother's matchmaking efforts doomed from the start. But the daily parade of different women was becoming unbearable for both father and son.

Neville looked at Stella, his gaze intense. "So, I was hoping... before she passes, that you would pretend to be my fianc e. Just to give her some peace of mind in her final days."