Chapter 13
Alaric stood frozen.
“Gone? Gone where?”
Professor Lockwood answered plainly: “She’s joined a classified aerospace research project. She left early this morning.”
Alaric was stunned.
So Stella had actually fled town to avoid the wedding?
He felt a surge of anger.
This woman’s stubbornness was getting completely out of hand!
“When will she be back?” he demanded.
Professor Lockwood knew Alaric as Stella’s fiancé, which made the question all the more perplexing.
“Stella didn’t tell you? This is a top–secret research initiative with no fixed timeline. Even the most conservative
estimate puts her return at ten years from now, minimum.”
Ten years!
The color drained from Alaric’s face.
Meanwhile, at Stennis Space Center.
As the private helicopter landed, Stella stepped out to find a senior researcher waiting for her.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Rebecca Cruise. I’ll be your mentor here.”
Dr. Cruise showed Stella to her quarters, explained the cafeteria schedule and work protocols, then paused.
“I heard you’re the Forbes heiress–wealthy, beautiful, privileged. Our facilities are pretty basic. Think you can
handle it?”
Stella smiled.
“Absolutely. A simpler life suits me fine. We’re here for the science, not the amenities.”
Hearing this, Dr. Cruise smiled and extended her hand formally.
“Welcome to the Nebula Initiative.”
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Chapter 13
Stella shook her hand firmly.
“Thank you.”
The dream that had been broken in her previous life could finally continue in this one.
Meanwhile, Alaric barely registered the journey back to the Gilbert mansion.
He stumbled through the door in a daze, and Camilla rushed over immediately.
“Well? Did you find her?”
The question pulled Alaric back to reality.
“She’s… gone to a space research facility.”
“Research facility?” Camilla was confused. “For how long? A month? A semester?”
Alaric’s fists clenched involuntarily.
“At least ten years. Maybe… maybe she’s never coming back.”
Each word seemed to drain his strength.
“Never coming back?” Camilla’s face paled. She suddenly remembered something and murmured, “That explains
it…”
Alaric snapped to attention. “Explains what?”
“I heard she was signing long–term agreements with her business managers and placing some assets in trust. I thought it was wedding preparation, but she was actually planning her exit all along…”
Alaric jerked his head up, voice tight with anger: “Why the hell didn’t you tell me this before?”
Camilla exploded right back.
“I should be asking you! Why would Stella suddenly leave? She was crazy about you! For her to cancel the wedding and go so far away–what did you DO to her, Alaric?”
“I-”
Alaric’s first instinct was to defend himself, but the words died in his throat.
Recent events flooded his mind like a tidal wave-
After that night together, he had agreed to marry her, but had humiliated her at every turn.
Then he had outbid her for her mother’s artwork for Jenna’s sake, only for Jenna to break it.
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Chapter 13
Later, when Jenna was drugged, he had immediately blamed Stella, even drugging her in return, thinking he was
delivering justice.
And just days ago, during the fire, he had abandoned her…
Now, faced with his mother’s accusation, he realized that beyond years of neglect, he had wounded Stella deeply in just these past few days alone.
He turned abruptly and headed for the door.
“Where are you going?” Camilla called after him.
Alaric’s face was grim as stone:
“To bring her back!”
