Chapter 1

The lost star was the most beautiful one of all; it was the pride and glory of all the heavens!

…

"Stell, did you ever love me?" The man's voice was extremely hoarse as he whispered weakly in Stella Fairchild's ear. He pleaded, "Can you please love me, Stell?"

His voice grew fainter and fainter, and his once-warm lips were turning icy as he pressed them to her ear. He murmured, "My little star. You're the most beautiful star of all. And you're mine…"

Stella saw only red as she felt the person hugging her grow stiff and cold. Her heart throbbed painfully as if thorny vines were twining around it, bringing tears spilling down her cheeks. "Rowan…" She mouthed the man's name, her voice lost to the fire that had ruined her larynx. "I do love you. I love you…"

She loved him and told him this countless times, but he would never hear it again. She had lost her star as well.

…

"Rowan—" Stella cried as her eyes flew open, her heart thundering in her chest and her breathing rough. She stared at the ceiling with hollow eyes, still seeing red.

She could feel death's suffocating grip on her, but then someone suddenly smacked her on the head and said exasperatedly, "Don't you know what time it is? You shouldn't be sleeping! And stop pretending; you don't have the acting skills for it."

Stella abruptly looked to the side, and her eyes widened when she saw the woman in black office wear, whose wavy hair was pulled into a ponytail. It was Erin Lowry, Stella's manager and only friend.

But didn't Erin become Stella's collateral damage and end up behind bars after she was framed for selling company secrets?

Stella's lips trembled slightly as she muttered, "Erin?"

Erin rolled her eyes and pulled Stella upright. "Stop lazing around. The styling team is here. Hurry and get dolled up. We've got a crowd to impress today and haters to shut up!"

Stella's head throbbed painfully when Erin pulled her up. She looked around her in a daze. She could tell they were in a no-frills lounge-slash-styling room.

The styling team members surrounded her and helped her into new clothes. They exchanged opinions among themselves before asking Stella if she liked the outfits they pulled for her.

An intense roaring filled Stella's head, and her mind was blank. It wasn't until the stylists shoved her in front of the full-length mirror and she looked at her reflection that her eyes widened in shock.

The pink, strapless ball gown was made of tulle. Crystals had been sewn into the skirts, and they sparkled like tiny stars. Stella's long, dark hair cascaded past her slender shoulders like a smooth, velvety curtain before curling at the ends.

The woman in the mirror looked young, her brows delicately arched and her lashes framing a pair of alluring doe eyes. Her nose was finely chiseled, and her shell-pink lips glistened.

Stella's trembling fingers grazed her face. She didn't have any makeup on, which explained her slightly colorless complexion, but her skin was smooth and soft. No hideous burn from a fire marred her face at all.

Realization dawned upon her, and her long, curled lashes fluttered as tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

She was looking at her 22-year-old self in the mirror. She remembered the ball gown clearly. It was the one she wore to an award ceremony she attended at the age of 22. It was a couture number that she'd bought with all her money in a show of resolve.

But the 300-thousand-dollar ball gown was torn in half by Rowan Mansfield on the night of the award ceremony.

At this point, she despised Rowan with a passion, and they were known as archnemeses. She'd hated him even more after the night of the award ceremony and wished he were dead.

Stella's breathing grew shallow. Was she dreaming, or had she been reborn?

The next second, she was shoved in front of the vanity, whereupon someone pinned her down in the chair. The hairstylist started on her hair while the makeup artist began dabbing product on her face. The whole process felt chaotic yet systematic.

Beside Stella, Erin said, "Try to look spirited while you're on the red carpet later. We might not be receiving an award today, but we have to look proud all the same. We can't look bad in front of that trashy sister of yours, can we? Otherwise, you'd have spent all that money on this dress for nothing!"

The trashy sister in question was none other than Celina Fairchild, the adopted daughter of the Fairchild family and Stella's non-blood-related younger sister.

Stella and Celina had joined the entertainment industry at the same time and landed the roles of the female leads of the same movie. However, only Celina was nominated as the best female lead, and Stella and Erin had already caught word that the award would go to Celina.

Erin thought Stella was still upset about this, hence the latter's absentmindedness. "Besides, if you do well during the award ceremony today, some director or producer might just notice you and offer you roles. Got it?"

But Stella's mind was already in too much of a mess for her to register anything Erin said. She simply stared at herself in the mirror, her gaze blank as she beheld her young, beautiful self.

She felt like she was looking at a stranger, and the face staring back at her was so unfamiliar that she wanted to cry.

She had truly returned. She had come back from hell. It was as if she'd woken up from a long dream in which she endured a lifetime of painful suffering.

Was this a blessing from the heavens? Did they bring her back to life because they knew she and Rowan had died wrongful deaths?

Stella remained in a daze until she arrived at the waiting area just outside the award ceremony red carpet. She was meant to walk the red carpet with the movie crew. In other words, she was slated to walk alongside Celina.

It was also the reason why Erin had told her to keep her head up and not to be overshadowed by Celina during the livestream.

When Stella reached the waiting area, Celina was already chatting with the director and producer.

They appeared to be in the middle of a happy conversation, but the warm atmosphere grew tense when they saw Stella. Odd looks flashed across their faces, and their smiles began to slip as they eyed Stella with disdain.

Celina glanced in Stella's direction, and her eyes flashed wickedly when she saw Stella's pink ball gown. A smile then curved her lips as she greeted Stella sweetly, "Why did you come so late, Stella? We're two groups away from our turn on the red carpet. I thought you wouldn't show up."

Erin furtively rolled her eyes and immediately launched into pleasantries, apologizing to the director and producers.

Meanwhile, Stella's eyes widened slightly when she saw Celina, and her hands curled into fists at her sides.

Celina was Stella's younger sister. She stole Stella's parents, friends, and fiancé, then started a fire that disfigured Stella's face and ruined her larynx. She framed Erin, had the latter thrown behind bars, and then used Stella to kill Rowan.

Rage filled Stella's eyes. She quickly closed her eyes just as the tears were about to spill down her face.

It wasn't long before it was their turn to walk the red carpet.

Celina approached Stella and linked arms with her like they were best friends as they stepped onto the red carpet with the rest of the crew. Countless cameras pointed at them, or more accurately, at Stella and Celina. The camera lights went off all around them.

Celina beamed sweetly at the cameras and waved in greeting.

She was dressed in couture as well, her ball gown a similar pink tulle number but without the crystal embellishments on the skirts. Her hair had been styled in an elegant coiffure and adorned with a small, crystal tiara. With her light makeup, she looked sweet and pure.

The fans watching the livestream couldn't help gushing over their sweet "Princess Celina".

Celina looked like a bona fide sweetheart, but in truth, Stella was the prettier one. Her wavy hair had been swept into an elegant up-do as well, and with her doe eyes and red lips, she had the face of a delicate doll. Her makeup was lightly done, too, but it did not conceal her natural beauty. The ball gown made her look sweet yet sultry.

Unfortunately, she was expressionless and did not look lively before the cameras. Her eyes were hollow as well.

The audience watching the livestream commented, "As beautiful as she is, she looks soulless."

Someone else said, "What good is beauty when she's so wicked?"

"Celina is an orphan, and Stella's been using her position in the Fairchild family to pick on Celina since they were children. People like her make me sick. Only Celina is kind and naive enough to continue treating Stella like an older sister."

"Those who say Skanky Stella is beautiful must not have seen the photos of her and Princess Celina when they were in their teens! She looks completely different now. It's obvious she's had plastic surgery!"

"We're wasting this fine evening by talking about the skank who's trying to get her five minutes of fame by walking the red carpet. Our Princess Celina might be getting an award today! Let's shower her with more praise!"

"After tonight, Celina will no longer be a princess but a queen! Heh!"

"Don't jinx it, guys. She hasn't gotten the award yet, not that I think she's up against any competition. Haha."

The red carpet photoshoot was followed by an interview session. While the director and producers were being interviewed, Celina angled her head to the side and whispered in Stella's ear, "Mom, Dad, and Randy are throwing me a party tomorrow to celebrate my winning the Best Actress Award."

Stella lowered her gaze and said nothing.

Celina smiled and said in an even softer voice, "Do you think you're still a princess just because you put on a fancy ball gown, Stella? Mom and Dad already kicked you out. Shouldn't you have more self-awareness by now?"

Stella's lashes fluttered as she turned to look at Celina. She called the latter hoarsely, "Celina."

Celina glanced at Stella, smiling sweetly as she asked, "What—"

At that moment, Stella raised her hand and slapped Celina hard across the face. A resounding crack rang through the air, and the hubbub on the red carpet ground to a halt.

Celina cupped her cheek, her sweetheart act crumbling. The air around them grew still, and even the cameras stopped flashing.

The red carpet host, who was about to hand the microphone to Celina and Stella for their interview, froze. Even the comments on the livestream stopped pouring in for a second.

The world went quiet.

But the next second, the comments flooded the livestream as everyone on the red carpet went wild. The reporters aimed their cameras at Stella and Celina as the flashes went off at a frenzied pace.

Celina snapped to her senses. Her cheek ached from the slap, and she was so furious that she wanted to strangle Stella.

However, now was not the time for her to fight back, so she put on a dejected expression as fat teardrops rolled down her face. "Stella, why did you do that? Did I do something wrong and make you angry?"

Everyone else came to Celina's defense and confronted Stella about her sudden show of violence.

Stella ignored them and fixed her gaze on the scene beyond the red carpet. She had noticed an expensive, silver Rolls-Royce pulling up outside the red carpet at the same time she raised her hand and slapped Celina on the face earlier.

The car door opened by itself, and an elegant, handsome young man ducked as he got out of the vehicle. He casually shoved his hands into his pockets as he stood before the car, looking indifferent.

He cut an imposing figure in a tailored silver-gray suit that perfectly accentuated his tall silhouette and lean waist.

The man beheld the debacle on the red carpet impassively, though he frowned slightly when his gaze fell on Stella.

Sensing this, Stella glanced in his direction.

When their eyes met, her heart tightened, and her mind went blank. She could still hear the man's hoarse voice ringing in her ears as he begged her, "Stell, did you ever love me? Can you please love me? My little star. You're the most beautiful star of all. And you're mine…"

Rowan. Her Rowan.

In that instant, Stella forgot about everything. She only cared about Rowan. Everyone saw how her hollow eyes lit up and looked as dazzling as the galaxy. She picked up her skirts, ignoring the flashing cameras that tracked her as she bolted down the red carpet toward Rowan.

Everyone watched in shock as she threw herself into Rowan's embrace, her arms snaking around his lean waist. She was shaking as she hugged him tightly, then tipped her head up to kiss him.

When their lips touched, tears trickled down her face. Two lifetimes seemed to intertwine as she told him what he never got to hear before, "Rowan, I love you…"

Chapter 2

Once again, the air went still. The entire crowd was stunned, including the viewers watching the livestream, because everyone recognized the man Stella was kissing and embracing as Rowan Mansfield, the heir to the prestigious Mansfield family in Londale.

Rowan was born with a face that looked like it had been crafted by angels. He came off as nonchalant and flippant, but in truth, he was cold and ruthless. He was so high-born that he was untouchable. Everyone knew he was dangerous, but they couldn't help falling for him nonetheless.

At that moment, the noise on the red carpet died down to a hush. Only the cameras were flashing nonstop. In contrast to the silence on the red carpet, the online comments were like a torrential storm.

"Has Skanky Stella lost her mind?" someone demanded.

"Ahhh! What the hell is she doing? How dare she kiss my Mr. Mansfield!"

"Is she so desperate to go viral? First, she slaps Celina on camera, and now she's forcefully kissing Mr. Mansfield? She must have read too many cheesy novels if she thinks doing this will make her famous!"

"Everyone knows Rowan has no interest in women! Not even someone like Celina can catch his eye! Who does Stella think she is? Does she have a death wish?"

"I heard she and Rowan have never gotten along since they were children. Grab your popcorn, everyone, because we're in for quite the drama!"

"I don't care! She kissed my hubby, damn it! Why can't she just drop dead?"

"Relax. Rowan won't let her off easy. Just kick back and enjoy the show!"

The viewers aside, even Erin—Stella's good friend and manager—was so shocked that her eyes nearly bugged out of her head.

Erin was one of the few who knew about Stella and Rowan's history. They had known each other since childhood, but they weren't close. On the contrary, they were on such bad terms that anywhere Rowan appeared, Stella would deem the air so polluted that she would disinfect it with air freshener.

Their sour relationship was because Stella had been crushing on Randy Morse since she was a child. But Randy disliked Rowan, who was superior and adored by everyone, and Stella disliked Rowan because of Randy.

So, what the hell was going on now?

At that moment, Erin and the netizens shared the same thought—Stella was so desperate for fame that she'd gone mad!

Nearby, Celina cupped her cheek and stared at Stella with wide eyes. However, wicked amusement flashed in her eyes. Stella must have lost her mind if she'd worked up the nerve to piss Rowan off! Wasn't she even the slightest bit worried that the ruthless man would kill her?

The bodyguards escorting Rowan were also at a loss as they exchanged looks. After all, they had seen the kiss from up close. They'd actually made to stop Stella when she charged at Rowan earlier, but Rowan had signaled them to stand down with a single look.

What in the world was happening now? Had Stella changed strategies and decided to use her good looks to ensnare Rowan and further her wicked ploys? Or had she hidden poison in her mouth and was now giving Rowan a kiss of death?

But no one was as shocked as Rowan.

When he saw Stella charging toward him, he thought she wanted to slap him. With a barely noticeable sneer on his face, he told his bodyguards to stand down. He was curious about what the disgraced young lady, who had been thrown out of her family, would do.

Was she going to such lengths for Randy? What an idiot!

The contemptuous thought had just crossed Rowan's mind when a pair of arms snaked around his waist, and Stella's sweet, feminine scent filled his nose.

He tensed, wondering if she had meant to strangle him but ended up wrapping her arms around his waist instead. Was she that dense?

Rowan lowered his gaze. He was about to mock Stella when she suddenly looked up and pressed her soft lips against his without a hitch.

A roaring filled Rowan's ears as he wondered stiffly if she had meant to bite his neck but ended up biting his lips instead.

His throat bobbed. Just as he thought he should point out to her that she was biting him in the wrong place, he tasted salt. He then heard Stella whisper hoarsely, "Rowan, I love you…"

She spoke so softly that the breeze could have drowned out her words. Rowan felt his heart tighten. He narrowed his eyes as he gripped her cheeks and shoved her away.

His gesture had the viewers screaming.

"He's going to slap her! He's going to slap her!"

"Slap her hard, damn it! Make her pay for what she did to Celina!"

Rowan lowered his gaze and stared at Stella. Tears streaked her pretty face, and her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. With a blink and a flutter of those long lashes, her tears fell like rivulets.

Rowan's brows furrowed. Just as everyone held their breaths and waited for him to slap Stella, he pursed his lips and curled his slender fingers around her face. He brushed the tears from her cheek, scoffing as he asked in a cold, crisp voice, "What are you crying for? You look like hell."

Everyone gaped at him.

For some reason, what should have been an outright insult came off as affectionate teasing. What was happening? Shouldn't Rowan, who had no interest in women, slap Stella for accosting and taking advantage of him?

The crowd exchanged looks as the camera lights flashed relentlessly. Comments poured in like a tidal wave as the viewer number kept climbing. At some point, the livestream crashed.

One of the netizens wrote in alarm, "Oh no! The livestream crashed, damn it!"

"Stupid platform! Fix the livestream right now! I won't be able to sleep tonight if I don't see Rowan slapping that skank!"

The world seemed to fade away for Stella at that moment. She saw only Rowan. She bit her lip and, unable to control her tears, mumbled in a hoarse voice, "I miss you. I'm only crying because I miss you…"

Her arms were still wrapped around his waist, and she tightened her hold as if afraid he might disappear.

She stared at him with misty eyes. "I miss you so much, Rowan. I mean it."

Rowan fell speechless. She called him by his first name, but he couldn't help wondering if she meant to say "Randy" instead. Had she made a mistake?

He paused for a moment and suddenly looked around. Everyone who had been staring in their direction, waiting for the next kernel of gossip, immediately looked away and suddenly grew very interested in their surroundings.

Clutching Stella's slender arms, Rowan tried to pry them off his waist so he could take her to the car, where they could talk. However, Stella panicked at this and quickly tightened her arms around him even more, sobbing, "Please don't go, Rowan. Please don't leave me. I'll be good and listen to you, I promise…"

Rowan's hands froze on her arms. Exasperation colored his handsome face. "I'm not leaving you, but can we get into the car first?"

Stella did not believe him. She eyed him tearfully. "I'm scared that you'll disappear if I let go."

All of this was like a dream—one so wonderful that she couldn't bear to let go.

Rowan's gaze softened. "What do I have to do for you to let go of me?"

Stella's tearful eyes lit up. "Kiss me," she said softly and carefully. "Kiss me so that I know you're real, Rowan. Please?"

She hadn't kissed him long enough to know that he was real before he shoved her away. She wanted to kiss him and feel the warmth of his lips. She didn't want to recall how cold his lips had been when he pressed them to her ear and begged her to love him.

Rowan's lips pressed into a thin line as his dark gaze trailed from her eyes to her red lips. She had only ever run that pretty mouth of hers to get under his skin, her words often cold and heartless.

What had come over her today and made her say such sweet things to him? Had she decided to employ the honey trap? Was she seducing him in front of the audience to collect evidence of his being bewitched by her beauty and mock him for it later?

Rowan narrowed his eyes slowly as his lips curled. Unfortunately for Stella, he had never been afraid of a honey trap, not even as a child!

With that in mind, he remained composed and chuckled. His slender fingers cupped her cheek as he dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers.

All he could think about at that moment was how soft and sweet Stella's lips were. As such, she was the one on the losing end for choosing to use the honey trap on him!

The livestream was back on just as Rowan lowered his head to kiss Stella. The camera was pointed at the handsome man in the silver-gray suit kissing the beautiful young lady in his arms.

Stella's pink tulle ball gown fluttered gently in the breeze, grazing Rowan's silver-gray trousers. The crystals on her gown shimmered like starlight. It was a picture-perfect moment straight out of a fairytale—a prince kissing his princess.

The anxious netizens who didn't take a good look at the scene began to flood the livestream with comments. "Has he slapped her yet?"

Those who got a good look at the kiss could only sigh in despair. "Yeah, he slapped her with a kiss on the mouth."

Chapter 3

The trending topics were bombarded with Stella and Rowan's stunt on the red carpet.

Everyone stopped caring about who would win the Best Actress or Best Actor Awards at the ceremony. Instead, Stella dominated half the trending topics simply by being on the red carpet.

All the major news platforms were flooded with posts about Stella and Rowan. Having witnessed Rowan, the proud heir of the Mansfield family, teach Stella a "lesson" by kissing her on the mouth, the netizens were buzzing with commentary on the gossip forums.

Some people thought that Stella had some kind of leverage over Rowan and had blackmailed him into kissing her. Others believed she'd seduced him with her looks. There was even a group of people who suspected that Stella might have used some sort of witchcraft or voodoo to manipulate Rowan.

In any case, no one believed Rowan genuinely wanted to kiss Stella.

To the netizens, Rowan and Stella were like two parallel lines that should never cross, their statuses worlds apart.

One person even commented harshly, "Just wait. Once Rowan comes to his senses, Skanky Stella will die a painful death! If she doesn't, I'll do a backflip and eat shit!"

While the Internet was in chaos, Stella leaned against Rowan in the spacious backseat of his silver Rolls-Royce and stared at him longingly.

Rowan lazily stretched out his long legs, looking relaxed as he leaned back in his seat. His slender fingers gripped his phone as he dismissed yet another call from someone concerned for him. Annoyed, he switched off his phone.

He then turned to look at the young lady beside him, his voice casual but cold as he asked, "All right, talk. Did you lose your memory, or did you get confused and mistake me for someone else?"

"I didn't make a mistake." Stella quickly shook her head, her slender fingers instinctively curling around his arm as she made to clutch him.

Rowan raised a brow. "No hugging. Stay in your seat."

It had been hard enough getting her to let go earlier, and now that they were in the car, she was back at it again. There was no one else around, and Rowan’s face darkened as he told her to stop. Only then did Stella obediently release her grip.

He wondered what had gotten into her. Why was she so eager to throw herself at him? Was she like this with Randy, too?

Rowan's gaze hardened as he thought about it.

Stella froze, and her fingers curled slightly upon grazing Rowan's sleeve. Her lips were lightly bitten, and her eyes were misty as she gazed at him piteously.

Rowan frowned, his eyes narrowing. He held her clear, steady gaze. There was hurt in her sparkling eyes, and she looked so forlorn that one might think Rowan had abandoned her.

Something was off, he realized. Something was wrong with the troublemaking young lady before him! His eyes narrowed into slits, his dark gaze unreadable as he asked, "You said you didn't make a mistake, but do you even know who I am?"

Stella's lashes fluttered like delicate butterfly wings as she answered softly, "You're Rowan Mansfield." In a voice barely above a whisper, she added, "You're my Rowan."

Rowan's heart careened from beat to beat. His brows furrowed as he suddenly raised his hand, curled his fingers, and lightly pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. He asked pensively, "Are you sick? Are you delirious from a fever?"

The back of his hand was cool against her skin, and she suddenly flashed back to the cold embrace he'd given her during his last moments. She clenched her fists and said in an even quieter voice, "No."

Rowan drew his hand back and crossed his arms. He lifted his brow and stared at her questioningly, "Then what is it? Did you come up with a new trick to mess with me?"

As he said this, he suddenly thought of something, and his expression hardened. "If I remember correctly, the Fairchilds are throwing a party tomorrow. I heard that loser Randy bought a ring and plans to propose to Celina tomorrow. The Morses and the Fairchilds seem inclined to proceed with the engagement."

A month ago, Stella was thrown out of the family because all the evidence pointed to her staging Celina's kidnapping, which nearly ended with the latter getting assaulted. Stella's parents were so disappointed in her that they publicly disowned her. Because of this, Stella and Randy's engagement was called off as well.

Rowan scowled, and there was no warmth in his gaze as he leveled a sharp look at Stella. "Are you planning to use me to spite Randy, Stella?"

Rowan had seen Stella slap Celina before he got out of the car earlier. He had panicked at that moment. He'd always known Stella had a foul temper, but he never expected her to abandon all sense of decorum at a public event like that.

At the time, Rowan figured Stella had blown her top because of Randy.

Worried she would get into trouble, Rowan hurriedly got out of the car, thinking he could step in if anyone gave her hell for slapping Celina. But he never thought that by showing up, he'd given Stella the chance to mess with him instead!

Rowan thought about the two light kisses Stella had planted on his lips. He could still taste the sweetness of them. A cold gleam flashed in his eyes. "You don't hold back when it comes to Randy, do you, Stella?"

He was still considering shoving the silly young lady out of his car when Stella asked him, "Who's Randy?" She added. "I don't know him."

Rowan was quiet for a couple of seconds, then leaned forward to tap the glass divider as he ordered Vincent Rhodes, who was in the driver's seat. "Take us to Lionheart Hospital."

Lionheart Hospital was a psychiatric hospital.

"Yes, Mr. Mansfield," Vincent said slowly. Without hesitation, he steered the car toward Lionheart Hospital.

Stella bit her lip as her brows knitted together. Rowan must truly think she'd gone mad. She had recovered from the shock of being reborn and was certain she had returned to the past. She saw no harm in feigning memory loss if it could make Rowan believe her. After all, she couldn't care less about anyone else but him.

He was the only person in this world she needed to remember and love.

She was still pondering this when Rowan warned icily, "This is your last chance, Stella. Come clean about whatever game you're playing. Don't expect to come out of Lionheart Hospital once they take you in."

In the car's dim lighting, Stella studied Rowan's indifferent expression and pursed her lips.

Before she was burned in her previous life, she always thought his gaze was as cold as an iceberg that would never thaw. But later, she realized that beneath Rowan's icy exterior was a heart that burned so fiercely that it could melt even the hardest ice.

She lowered her gaze and said softly, "I'm not playing games. I only want to love you."

Rowan had kept a cool and collected front until he heard those words. She said she wanted to love him, but how? His lips pressed into a thin line, and he suddenly sneered, "Stella, do you think I'm stupid?"

Stella looked up and saw a wry smile curving his lips. "Need I remind you what you said about me when we met at the hotel lobby this morning?"

Stella blinked. Memories from that morning seemed so distant that it took her some effort to recall what had transpired.

She did see him that morning at the hotel lobby. He had come out of the elevator just as she was entering. When they brushed past each other, she'd told Erin pointedly, "Take out the perfume and start spritzing. The smell of pretentious fools is stinking up the whole elevator!"

With that, Stella even glared at Rowan and scoffed. "What a bad start to the morning!"

Stella's gaze flickered as the memory played in her head. Rowan snorted. "Judging from the look on your face, I take it that you remember now?"

The next second, Stella shook her head in confusion.

"No, I don't remember." She tipped her head to the side, her doe eyes so full of puzzlement that it was as if she had truly forgotten. She asked innocently, "How did I speak to you this morning? Did I tell you how handsome you looked, that you smelled wonderful, that I like you a whole lot, and that I love you very, very much?"

Shit! As Rowan cursed inwardly, he prodded the roof of his mouth with his tongue. His fingers twitched, and he gave Stella a hard flick on the forehead. "Don't bother acting dumb, Stella! Your tricks won't work on me!"

Damn, had she worked her charms on Randy just like this, too?

Stella blinked as she pressed her palm to her forehead. She stared at him blankly and asked, "Then what will work on you, Rowan?"

Rowan scoffed. "Nothing will work on me—"

But before he could finish speaking, Stella had launched herself at him with another kiss. His eyes widened, and their faces were so close together, Rowan could feel her lashes brushing against his skin. The ticklish sensation made him close his eyes instinctively.

The kiss lasted for three seconds before Stella pulled away and asked in a soft, silky voice, "Does that work on you?"

Rowan swallowed hard and pressed his lips. "No—"

She leaned forward again and captured him in another kiss, her soft, warm lips brushing against his. Rowan could practically feel the delicate texture of his lips.

He suddenly snapped to his senses and gripped her face, shoving her away. He gritted his teeth. "Stella—"

"If that still doesn't work, open your mouth and let me kiss you for real, Rowan," Stella cut him off and met his gaze, her eyes sparkling. She inched closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she tipped her face up to look at him. Starlight glittered in her eyes as she whispered expectantly, "Please?"

Chapter 4

In the driver's seat, Vincent perked up his ears and grew excited. He cursed inwardly, "Damn it, Mr. Mansfield, just open your mouth already! This is your chance at romance!"

Rowan's gaze uncontrollably fell on Stella's lips. His throat bobbed. Should he open his mouth and let her kiss him? The word "yes" was on the tip of his tongue, but he parted his lips and spat through gritted teeth, "Hell no!"

The hope in Stella's eyes fractured as she pouted unhappily.

Rowan took a deep breath, refusing to let Stella pull one over him. Did she think she could play the victim just because she batted her eyelashes and feigned innocence?

He pushed her forehead with his fingertips, putting some distance between them as he snapped stiffly, "Who taught you these tricks? Randy? Are you so incompetent that this is all you learned from him after sticking with him for over a decade?"

Stella frowned. "I told you I don't know who Randy is. Why do you keep bringing him up? Who is he?"

Besides, she learned all her tricks from Rowan. It wasn't as if Randy ever liked her.

Rowan's patience was running out. His brows furrowed as he demanded icily, "How long are you planning to keep up the act?"

Dejection filled Stella. "I'm telling the truth, Rowan. You're the only one I love and want to love. Why won't you believe me?"

Rowan was harder to persuade than she expected. She thought he'd accept her the moment she confessed her feelings for him. Could it be that he still hadn't fallen in love with her at this point?

Rowan eyed her evenly. "You don't know who Randy is?"

"No," Stella answered with a firm shake of her head.

A smile curved Rowan's lips. He asked breezily, "And I'm the only one you love and want to love?"

"Yes," Stella said with a solemn nod this time.

"Fine, then." A cold chuckle escaped Rowan as he seemingly thought of something. "I'll believe you, but only if you can prove your words."

"How shall I prove them?" Stella blinked, her ears growing hot as she asked teasingly, "Is kissing not enough for you, Rowan? Shall we take this to the bedroom?"

Shit! Vincent nearly lost his grip on the steering wheel. Stella was more forward than he expected! How would the pure-hearted Rowan handle such boldness?

Sure enough, Rowan's ears turned redder than Stella's. He was lucky he could still put on a cool, collected front as he clenched his jaw and growled, "Stella!"

She stared at him with wide, innocent eyes. He resisted the urge to throw her out of the car and prodded her head with the cold underside of his fingers. "Get your mind out of the gutter right now!"

Stella's head was pushed to the side. She frowned as she held her head and muttered, "Okay." In her defense, Rowan was the one whose mind was in the gutter!

Rowan took a deep breath and ordered Vincent in a low, deep voice, "To the Astoria."

The Astoria was a hotel owned by the Mansfield family and the host of the award ceremony that evening. There would be an after-party at the hotel once the award ceremony ended, and Rowan agreed to attend the ceremony because his family organized it.

Naturally, and most importantly, he agreed to attend the ceremony because he knew Stella would be there. He didn't want her to get picked on and chose to look out for her.

But he received no thanks for his good intentions. He should have known the silly woman didn't deserve his kindness! He gritted his teeth.

Vincent smiled wryly as he turned the car around and headed for the Astoria.

Baffled, Stella asked, "Why are we going back?"

Rowan closed his eyes and leaned into his seat. He crossed his arms, looking like his nonchalant self again. But when he spoke, his tone was cold and filled with wicked amusement, "So you can prove how much you love me, of course."

Stella frowned. She remembered being drugged in her previous life when she attended the after-party at the Astoria. She later woke up in Rowan's bed with his arms wrapped around her, the expensive, couture gown she'd splurged on, and his suit and trousers lying in a tangled heap on the ground.

At the time, she was so distressed that the first thing she did after her mind cleared was to slap Rowan across the face. He had stared at her calmly and promised to marry her, but she only wept as she told him to get out of the room.

Randy had been the one to hand her the spiked wine.

Stella lifted her gaze and glanced at Rowan under the dim lighting. He'd closed his eyes and leaned into his seat, his side profile a portrait of fine angles and indifference. In the silence of the car, he seemed unapproachable.

In the past, courtesy of Randy's influence, she always thought Rowan was aloof and intimidating. It wasn't until later that she realized it wasn't that she didn't want to get close to him, but that she was afraid to.

And the reproach she harbored for him was nothing but resentment.

The award ceremony was still ongoing when Stella and Rowan returned to the Astoria. Those who couldn't be bothered to watch the ceremony had gathered in the hall where the after-party was, and many heirs and heiresses were among those present.

Those heirs and heiresses hadn't come to applaud the actors who won awards but to join the party. While there were a few of them who dabbled in entertainment, nameless actors were simply playthings they could use for their pleasure.

However, the atmosphere in the hall seemed off, for everyone kept shooting subtle looks at Randy.

It was no secret that Stella was like Randy's shadow growing up. She stuck to him like glue for over a decade. Randy, on the other hand, hated Rowan the most. After all, Rowan was the only one in all of Londale who could keep him in check.

For this reason, Stella treated Rowan like he was the enemy as well.

But that was before she kissed Rowan on the red carpet under the watchful gaze of the nationwide audience. After that, she fled the scene with him in his car!

Although Randy never liked Stella and had called off their engagement, her feat on the red carpet might have inevitably rubbed him the wrong way. As such, all the heirs and heiresses treaded carefully around him to not set him off.

Indeed, Randy seemed pissed as he leaned into the armchair and loosened his tie. He'd undone the top two buttons of his shirt, too, as he scrolled through the news on his phone.

He watched the trending footage of Stella kissing Rowan multiple times. The more he watched it, the more he wanted to kill Stella.

After scrolling through the trending topics for a while, he tossed his phone on the coffee table and snapped at the person beside him, "Have someone take down all these trending articles!"

The man beside him was his childhood friend, Warren Menzie. Warren had also been scrolling through the trending topics when he heard Randy's order. Surprised, he asked, "Why? Don't tell me it's because you don't bear to see Stella getting all the backlash."

Randy frowned. "Her getting backlash won't do me any favors."

Warren clicked his tongue. "Yes, but it'll work out in Celina's favor! The worse Stella's reputation becomes, the better Celina's will be. Why concern yourself with Stella's problems when Celina's the woman you're into?"

The crease between Randy's brows deepened. He kicked Warren. "Have you lost your damn mind?"

Warren froze and heard Randy ask, "When did I ever say I was into Celina?"

Warren gaped at him in shock. "Hold up, what do you mean by that, Randy? Are you suggesting that you're into Stella instead?"

Randy made no reply, but the problem lay in his silence.

Warren swore inwardly and lowered his voice. "Randy, you and Celina have been getting close these years, and I've never seen you be nice to Stella. You can ask any of our friends if there's anyone who thinks you don't like Celina.

"Everyone sees her as your future wife! And now you're telling me you're into Stella?" He couldn't help asking incredulously, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You don't know anything." Randy shot him a warning look, then angled his head to the side. "Stella has always had a short fuse. I only did this so she'd understand that just because she's the heiress of the Fairchild family, it doesn't mean she gets to lose her temper around me!"

Randy pulled a cigarette from the box and continued, "She needs to know her place and learn to please me."

Slipping the cigarette between his lips and lighting it, he narrowed his eyes and took a drag. "The more indifferent I am to her, the more she'll cling to me like a lapdog. Besides, now that her family's kicked her out, she has no choice but to turn to me for help.

"I doubt she'd throw hissy fits around me anymore. She'll have to listen to me and do as I say. I'm simply teaching her how to behave. What do you know about it?"

Warren was so stunned by Randy's explanation that his eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "So you've been nice to Celina all these years and cold and distant to Stella because you wanted to teach Stella how to become more obedient?"

What a cruel douchebag!

Gulping, Warren asked, "But aren't you proposing to Celina tomorrow?"

Randy bit his cigarette and said nonchalantly, "The only woman I'll take for a wife is Stella."

Warren fell speechless upon hearing this. After a long pause, he pointed out, "But it seems Stella has decided to go to Rowan instead of crawling back to you." Would Randy end up being the loser? He'd taught Stella to behave, but it seemed Rowan would reap the benefit of it.

Randy narrowed his eyes and sneered. "Like I said, she still needs to be taught. She isn't obedient enough yet. She probably heard I was proposing to Celina tomorrow and decided to use Rowan to rile me up."

A smirk curved his lips as he scoffed. "She should know Rowan wouldn't give her the time of day because she's mine. She's just asking for trouble at this point."

He tossed the cigarette butt away and drawled, "She'll come crawling back to me soon enough and beg me to take her back."

And when she did return, he'd ruin that mouth of hers that Rowan had kissed.

Seconds later, the heavy doors to the hall opened slowly. The guests in the hall glanced at the entryway, only to go still with shock when they beheld the couple who had arrived.

The towering silhouette of a man in a silver-gray suit strolled into the hall. He had one hand casually shoved into his pocket, looking perfectly at ease, if not indifferent.

His presence alone was intimidating, and he looked so untouchable that those in the hall fell silent. Even their breathing grew quiet.

Then, everyone noticed the young lady walking alongside him. She wasn't short, but she reached only the man's shoulders and looked petite beside him. With her pink tulle dress and delicate features, she looked like a princess from a fairytale.

Randy suddenly bolted upright and stared at Stella.

Rowan smirked. Under Randy's mutinous gaze, he reached for Stella's soft and slender hand. He curled his fingers around hers and held her hand, then led her to an empty couch. There was no telling if he'd chosen the seat on purpose, for Randy was sitting a few feet across from them.

A pin-drop silence filled the hall. Randy gritted his teeth and snapped, "Get over here, Stella!"

Rowan's lips curled as he leaned into the couch and asked casually, "Want to go over?"

As he said this, he set his and Stella's intertwined hands on his thigh and gently squeezed her fingers. He found it curious that she was soft everywhere, even her hands.

Stella lowered her gaze. His fingers were curled around hers. Shaking her head, she replied quietly, "No, I don't want to. I don't know him."

Everyone heard this, including Randy. He clenched his jaw as his expression hardened. "Stella, this is your last chance. Get over here right now!"

Rowan narrowed his eyes and inched close to Stella, putting his lips close to her ear. "Stella, you said you loved me and wanted to kiss me, right?"

His breath felt hot against her ear, the tips of which turned red. Her heartbeat grew wild. Just then, she heard him chuckle as he purred, "In that case, do you dare to kiss me in front of Randy?"

Chapter 5

Stella finally understood what Rowan meant when he mentioned proof.

She realized that he didn't believe she loved him. He still thought she was using him, all to make Randy jealous.

He probably thought she wouldn't dare kiss him in front of Randy, which was why he made such a flippant remark. But he was wrong.

Stella wasn't afraid.

Rowan looked down at her and saw her beautiful eyes blink. In that instant, the light in her eyes seemed to shimmer like starlight, and he suddenly had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, the next second, Stella lifted her chin and kissed him on the lips without hesitation.

A sharp gasp filled the air as the already quiet banquet hall grew even quieter.

Rowan's mind went blank, and he couldn't think straight. He couldn't even count how many times this had happened today.

She really dared to do it. Even if she wanted to provoke Randy, he wondered if she realized that this move might be too much. He wondered if it would anger Randy to the point where he would lose control.

Rowan's thoughts were a mess, but Stella didn't stop. She wrapped her slender arm around his neck, her soft lips lingering against his as she gently kissed him, then parted her lips and softly bit his bottom lip.

She whispered, "Rowan, open your mouth."

Rowan suddenly snapped back to reality. His throat tightened, and his lips twitched. For a brief moment, he truly had the urge to open his mouth.

However, the sound of a man's low, mocking laugh reached his ears. "Mr. Morse, what are you trying to do?"

Rowan's gaze flicked to the side. He saw that Randy had stood up and seemed to be heading their way, but another man was blocking him.

The man standing in front of Randy was Joseph Snee, one of Rowan's friends.

When Rowan walked in, Joseph and a few of his friends were about to stand up and greet him, but when they saw Stella standing beside him, they hesitated and decided to wait and observe first.

Everyone had seen the trending topic. They all wished they had been at the red carpet to witness the drama in person.

But they didn't expect to see Stella kiss Rowan in front of everyone again.

The crowd was in shock. Meanwhile, Joseph was stunned but still kept an eye on Randy.

As soon as Randy saw Stella kiss Rowan, his pupils constricted. He suddenly stood up and made his way toward them.

Joseph immediately got up as well, stepping in front of Randy to block his path. With his hands casually tucked into his pockets, he looked at Randy with a calm and almost bored expression.

He said, "What are you trying to do, Mr. Morse?"

He wasn't about to let Randy ruin Rowan's good moment. That wasn't going to happen.

Randy's expression darkened as he clenched his fists. "Move aside!"

Joseph chuckled. "You think just because you tell me to move, I will? Do I look like I have no pride?"

Randy gritted his teeth, his gaze cold as he snarled, "I'll say it again—move aside!"

Joseph shrugged, his grin smug. "What are you going to do if I don't?"

Randy's expression turned even darker. He raised his fist, ready to punch Joseph in the face.

But Joseph didn't flinch. With a sneer, he tilted his head, sidestepping just enough to grab Randy's fist. He twisted it downward with force, making Randy gasp in pain.

The scene immediately erupted into chaos.

Randy's friends rushed forward, and Joseph's side wasn't far behind, with seven or eight people joining in.

These were the heirs of powerful families in Londale, known in elite circles. The others stood frozen, too afraid to make a move, not wanting to get caught up in the mess.

Amidst the noise and pushing, a voice cut through the tension. "Are you trying to start a fight?"

"Damn, Joseph just twisted Randy's arm out of place. Get him!" another voice yelled.

"You guys? All of you? Come on then!"

Just as the situation threatened to spiral further, Rowan's cold voice rang out. "Enough."

With just one word, the chaotic scene instantly fell silent. A dozen people rolled up their sleeves and turned to look at Rowan.

Rowan leaned lazily against the couch, his legs casually crossed. Stella was beside him, her head lowered, seemingly lost in thought.

Seeing them look over, Rowan smiled faintly, his voice cool and calm. "If you want to fight, take it outside. Not here."

The crowd was momentarily confused, wondering why they were even about to fight in the first place.

But once Rowan spoke, the impulse to act fizzled out. After all, this was the Fairchild family's territory, and no one wanted to risk the consequences of a fight here.

A few people shot Randy a questioning look, waiting to see what he would do.

Randy's face was pale from the pain, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead as he clutched his injured wrist. However, his eyes were fixed on Stella.

Beside him, Warren quickly glanced at Randy and then back at Stella. "Stella, didn't you see what happened to Randy? His hand is practically broken.

"Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and take him to the hospital."

Everyone turned to look at Stella, including Rowan.

Just moments ago, when Stella had asked him to open his mouth, he had nearly lost control. Fortunately, the commotion caused by Joseph and the others had snapped him back to his senses.

He told her to let go. "Enough. Do you want to put on a show in front of everyone?"

She froze for a second, then lowered her head.

Rowan glanced at her, noticing that she still had her head down as if she hadn't heard Warren's words. His brow furrowed.

He wondered if he had been too harsh with his words.

Randy had already reached his limit. Ever since Stella had entered the banquet hall, he hadn't even gotten a glance from her. This wasn't like her.

Whenever he was around, her eyes would always follow him.

Suddenly, Randy felt a wave of unease. It was as if something was slipping out of his control.

He gritted his teeth and spoke through clenched jaws, "Stella, when you're done causing a scene, come over here. I won't hold today's actions against you."

His tone was almost like a concession.

Stella finally raised her head and looked at Randy. It was the first time she had looked at him tonight.

After a brief moment, she stood up and walked toward Randy. The darkness in Randy's eyes faded, replaced by a slight smirk.

He knew it.

Stella had done all of this to provoke him, to get under his skin.

The others exchanged glances but remained silent, instinctively stepping aside as Stella approached.

Joseph hesitated for a moment, but when it came to Randy, he could stop him. There was no reason to stop Stella.

Reluctantly, Joseph stepped aside, shooting Randy a glare before shaking his head at Stella.

He couldn't believe it. Stella's taste in men was terrible. Rowan was far better than Randy.

Rowan's eyelashes fluttered as he lowered his gaze. His hands were clasped casually on his lap, though his knuckles turned white from gripping them tightly. He restrained himself, fighting the urge to pull her back.

Every time he said something even slightly harsh, she would put on a cold expression. But when Randy said a word, she was eager to rush over.

He sneered.

It had been so many years, yet he still couldn't get used to it.

It was just that Stella had used him too thoroughly today. She played her part so well, so daringly, that he was left momentarily confused. He even found himself secretly pleased, believing that she had finally come to see him.

He sighed inwardly. He would help her one last time.

Rowan sneered lightly. As Stella reached Randy, Rowan stood up, too tired of the whole scene, and walked toward the exit.

He had only taken a few steps when he heard a string of exclamations—"What the hell?", "Damn!", "Fuck!", and a low groan that sounded like it came from someone in unbearable pain.

Rowan frowned and turned around. He saw Randy bent over, his body trembling with pain.

The men around Randy instinctively took a step back, wincing as though they felt his pain.

Meanwhile, the girl in front of Randy was retracting her leg. She turned to Rowan and asked, "That's Randy, right?"

Her lips pressed together in a playful yet innocent expression. "Rowan, you don't like him, right? So, I thought I'd prove it. Does this prove it, Rowan?"

Rowan's brows tightened. He couldn't help but wonder if Stella really had amnesia.

Seeing that he didn't respond, Stella blinked at him, her delicate brow furrowing slightly.

She reached out to him, her voice soft and almost sugary. "My leg feels like it's cramping, Rowan. Could you carry me?"

The banquet hall fell dead silent, except for Randy's painful gasps.

Rowan stared at Stella for a few seconds, his gaze as dark and intense as an abyss. Then, without saying a word, he walked toward her.

He stopped right in front of her.

He didn't say a word. He bent down, his strong arms effortlessly wrapping around her shoulders and the back of her knees, lifting her with ease.

Stella wrapped her arms around his neck and looked at him with sparkling eyes. Her smile was sweet, her gaze full of warmth.

Randy, perhaps finally recovering from the pain, gritted his teeth and looked up. His expression twisted with fury as he saw Rowan holding Stella.

"Rowan, put her down. She's mine…"

He had a bad feeling. If Rowan carried her away, he would truly lose her.

Rowan simply tilted his head and looked at him. His eyes radiated a chilling coldness, yet his lips curved into a smile. "From now on, she's mine."

Stella had made her choice. Whether she had amnesia or was using him, there would be no turning back now.

With a smile, Rowan tightened his hold on her, and with steady, confident steps, he walked out of the room.