The very first thing Emily Dawson did upon her return was to purge every photograph of Stella Dawson from the house.

Big or small, she couldn't stand the sight of that interloper lingering in the Dawson home.

The Dawsons had never warmed to that rebellious girl. Discovering she wasn't their biological daughter only hardened their hearts. They had even supported Emily when she boxed up and discarded Stella's belongings.

Emily hadn't even bothered to learn what she looked like.

Now, facing her for the first time, she was finally confronted with this so-called sister's appearance.

"So you're Stella, right." Emily forced a saccharine smile and approached, arm outstretched as if for an embrace.

She tried desperately to bury her envy beneath a facade of warmth.

But Stella smoothly sidestepped her reach. "We're not on a first-name basis."

Emily froze, her smile stiffening into a grimace.

"I'm no longer a Dawson. There's no need for the lady of the house to demean herself for an outsider."

The woman before her was breathtaking, her smile polite yet utterly detached.

Emily pursed her lips, maintaining the gentle tone. "Don't be like that, Stella. The Dawsons raised you all these years."

"And you and Mr. Sterling, you're still-"

"Oh, Alexander?" Stella interjected with a light, airy laugh. "He's my ex-husband now. Officially."

She casually stepped around Emily, avoiding any contact, and headed upstairs toward her former room.

Emily stood rooted to the spot, struggling to process the revelation.

Upstairs, a bedroom door creaked open. Laura Warner rushed out.

"Who was at the door?"

She scanned the area until Emily tilted her chin pointedly in Stella's direction.

"Mom, it's just Stella."

"Did Mr. Sterling come with her?"

"He did not."

Laura clicked her tongue, her disappointment palpable. "Then what good is her coming here?"

"I just heard her say Alexander is her ex. Did they actually get divorced?"

"So soon?" Laura's eyes widened in shock.

Emily's expression said it all-she was ecstatic. "Why not? Didn't Dad check yesterday? Alexander's been buried at the company, no travel in sight! She was lying all along!"

Their hushed whispers didn't reach Stella.

She stood inside the room, now converted into a storage closet, her gaze icy as she surveyed the jumbled mess.

They really couldn't wait to erase her.

As if they never expected her to cross this threshold again.

She let out a short, derisive laugh, then crouched to sift through the pile of discarded items. Soon, she retrieved her student ID.

Next, she moved to a corner, picked up a small black box, and opened it to reveal a necklace.

It was a simple string of wooden beads on a red cord, each bead intricately carved.

Stella tucked the necklace into her pocket, student ID in hand, and strolled out as if she owned the place.

Her footsteps, light as a cat's, carried her silently toward the entrance. Just as she opened the door-

"Oof!" Laura stumbled back in panic, losing her balance and landing hard on the floor.

She and Emily had been eavesdropping and were caught off guard by Stella's sudden exit.

Emily, startled, braced herself against the wall.

Stella gave a cold chuckle and regarded them calmly. "My, my. To what do I owe this... reception?"

"For an elder to be kneeling before me... it's a bit much, don't you think?"

"Mom! Are you okay? Let me help you up-should I call a doctor?" Emily rushed over, fussing over Laura with performative concern, a stark contrast to Stella's cool detachment.

Laura instantly bristled, pointing a trembling finger at Stella Dawson. Just as she was about to unleash her fury, Emily stepped forward to block her path.

"Stella, you didn't bring Mr. Sterling?" Emily chirped, smiling brightly. "Ever since the wedding, you haven't attended a single family dinner!"

"Yeah, well, we're divorced now-that particular obligation is void," Stella replied coolly.

Leaning against the doorframe, she dusted her hands off from the storage room. "Now that you're officially installed, this placeholder should make her exit. I won't be returning, and frankly, you can drop the pretense of civility."

"Divorced?!" Laura nearly shrieked, her eyes bulging. "What did you do to mess it up?"

She and Emily were stunned, clearly not anticipating this turn.

Laura frowned, shocked. "You had a little spat and just called it quits? How could you be so rash?"

"A matter this significant, and you don't inform your parents? What about the settlement?"

"Mr. Sterling must have given you something, right? Hand it over..."

"He's fully aware of the Dawson family circus," Stella cut in, her patience clearly spent. "He knows I'm not the real granddaughter. Whatever promises the old man extracted, they weren't meant for a stand-in like me."

"We're divorced. No money, no shares-don't waste your energy scheming."

That silenced Laura for a moment. She stared at Stella and snapped, "You got nothing? Then what use are you, showing up here?"

She rolled her eyes, not even attempting to hide her contempt.

Stella chuckled softly, tilting her chin toward Emily. "Why not? Mr. Sterling is still up for grabs. I'm just returning him to sender-if you're interested, go claim him."

"Just make sure she brings her ID. They can get the marriage certificate sorted straight away..."

Emily's face lit up with barely contained excitement.

"Truly?" she asked eagerly, wringing her hands.

Stella took a step back, grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from the room, scribbled down Alexander's address, and handed it over.

"There you go," said Stella with a smirk. "And don't forget to get that certificate, Mrs. Sterling."

"...You'd better not be playing games with me," Emily said warily, though her hand shot out to snatch the note.

Stella crossed her arms, gave a slight, mocking pout, then spun on her heel to head downstairs. "Do I strike you as someone who'd joke about him?"

"We're talking about Mr. Sterling. You think I'd bluff using his name?"

"Oh, almost forgot-he's got a meeting this afternoon, so you'd better hustle over there."

"My part here is done. I'm leaving."

And with that, she departed, not sparing a glance for Laura and Emily's gleeful celebration.

Emily darted into her room, the precious address clutched in her hand, while Laura retreated to her bedroom. Both were giddy, already picturing the glittering future as part of the Sterling dynasty.

Emily's head spun with visions of high society as the future Mrs. Sterling, while Laura practically glowed at the thought of announcing Alexander as her son-in-law-the envy of all.

As Stella stepped out of the villa, she spotted a family of five arguing vehemently with the security guards at the gate. They'd clearly made an effort to dress up, but their tacky fashion sense betrayed them.

"Hey! I'm her real father-how dare you block me!"

"That's right! She's my biological daughter!"

They had raised Emily, after all. Now that she was back with the Dawsons, they had come for the usurper.

No one seemed to realize Stella had always been merely a pawn.

She scoffed quietly and walked right past the commotion.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Unhurried, she pulled it out and answered.

On the other end, Kevin Porter's voice rang out, teasing as ever: "Stella, you're a bloody genius! Just got the paternity results back-turns out Emily's so-called parents aren't related to you at all. Zero genetic overlap."

"Wait, what? If Emily is their biological daughter, then what does that make you, Stella?"

"There's no accidental baby swap story here, is there?"

Stella narrowed her eyes, remaining silent for a beat. Kevin, sensing the shift, gradually lowered his voice.

After a pause, she finally said, "I'm starting to think. maybe the Dawsons aren't the only players who messed up. Perhaps another family is involved. Their real daughter could be living someone else's life right now."

"Wait, are you going to dig deeper?"

"If." She trailed off, pensive.

But Kevin jumped in again, "You know what just occurred to me? What if you turn out to be the long-lost daughter of the richest man in the capital?"

She blinked, surprised, then chuckled, playing along. "Why not aim for the stars? Let's start with the capital's wealthiest. Stranger things have happened."

"Alrighty, let me check. So, guess who topped that list last year?"

"Spit it out."

"Fine, it's Alexander Sterling. Stella, are you secretly his long-lost daughter?" Kevin cackled.

Stella rolled her eyes. "Oh, piss off."

She hung up promptly and flicked open the group chat that had been blowing up.

Someone was showing off-again: "Just acquired a private jet today. This is what substantial wealth looks like. Unlike poor little Stella, still counting pennies."

Stella's eye twitched. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she replied with mock outrage: "Just you wait. This divorce will fund my new lifestyle. I'll buy TWO jets-one for travel, the other just to crash into your overinflated ego."

Her dramatic declaration instantly ignited the previously silent group chat.

"What?! Stella, since when are you divorced??"

"Oh my god, you finally dumped that iceberg?"

"Damn girl, power move!"

Then, a rarely active member suddenly dropped a message: "Send me the divorce papers. I'll unfreeze your bank card."

"Relax," Stella typed lazily, "the formal documents haven't arrived yet."

"Heh." That was his only reply.

She could practically picture his deadpan, smug face.

Feeling the need to reassure him, she added, "I'm making the call now to follow up. Give me a moment."

"Deal. The moment I see proof, the card is active. I'm practically broke waiting!"

"Haha, fine. Just hold tight."

After that, he went silent again.

The rest of the group kept buzzing with questions about the divorce details, while Stella exited the chat and called Jack Holden directly. With zero direct access to Alexander Sterling, his assistant was her only conduit.

She called Jack frequently to nag about the divorce. Her persistent badgering had undoubtedly cemented her image in Alexander's eyes. This time was no different.

Jack stared at the caller ID, frowning, his enthusiasm nonexistent. But his mind flashed back to the fierce woman at the club-was that really. Stella?

Distracted by the memory, he still answered, "Ms. Dawson."

"Hey, Jack," she said, her voice sweet. "Any progress on those divorce papers?"

Jack Holden was silent for a long moment.

He truly hadn't expected Stella Dawson's call to be solely about the divorce certificate.

"It's still processing," he muttered, his lips twitching slightly. "Things have been hectic. I haven't had a moment to chase it down."

What surprised him more was the impatience in her voice. "Jack, this is unacceptable. A divorce decree is a time-sensitive document. I need it, urgently. Can you please expedite it?"

"Urgently?" He blinked.

The woman on the other end didn't hesitate. "Absolutely."

So she was in a hurry to finalize the divorce from Mr. Sterling. Was it to marry that male model?

His mind went blank.

"You're in such a rush for. him?" Jack asked, awkwardly.

"Sharp as ever, Jack. Yes, the same one from the club."

Her tone was casual, bordering on flippant.

"Is this a serious relationship or just a. fling?"

"Serious, of course. He's young, handsome. A far cry from your Mr. Sterling-pushing thirty, practically ancient."

Her voice took on a teasing lilt. "I'm not a fool, you know. Before, I had no basis for comparison. But now that I have fresh, vibrant company, why would I glance back at a relic like him? Don't you agree?"

Jack quickly covered the phone receiver, a bead of sweat forming on his temple.

The last thing he needed was for her voice to carry.

"Jack." A cold, distinct voice cut through the air.

He jerked upright and ended the call instantly. Stiffly, he turned. "Mr. Sterling."

Alexander Sterling stood a few feet away, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.

"This is company time," he stated coolly.

He did not appreciate his staff handling personal matters during work hours.

And Jack had clearly not been working.

"It was Miss Dawson," Jack admitted, lowering his head.

Alexander's brow furrowed. "What did she want?"

Before Jack could formulate a response, Alexander let out a short, sarcastic laugh. "Trying to change my mind? Pleading for reconciliation?"

"No," Jack shook his head. "She was inquiring about expediting the divorce paperwork."

"What?" Alexander's eyes narrowed further.

"She mentioned she needs it to marry that. model. She wants the certificate as soon as possible."

"She plans to marry a model? Has she completely lost her senses?" His voice was sharp with sheer disbelief.

"Mr. Sterling, she said. she's found someone younger."

Jack didn't dare finish, sensing it would only ignite Alexander's temper.

Still, he had to relay the message to prove the call's legitimacy-and that he wasn't slacking off with a fabricated story.

But clearly, Alexander had zeroed in on the "younger" part. His expression darkened instantly.

"She's calling me old?" he scoffed, his jaw tightening. "I'm 'ancient,' am I?"

Jack hesitated, then gritted his teeth and shook his head. "No, sir."

Internally, he was groaning.

Mr. Sterling is at least seven or eight years older than that model. So, technically. he is getting on a bit. And Miss Dawson wasn't exactly lying.

"She wants the divorce certificate that badly, does she?" Alexander's lips curled into a cold, mocking smile.

But before he could say more, a cloyingly sweet voice interrupted.

"Mr. Sterling." A woman, dressed as if for a gala, swayed toward them.

Jack instinctively moved to block her path, preventing her from throwing herself at Alexander. "Ma'am, maintain some decorum, please!"

While Alexander never lacked for female attention, and many women dreamed of getting close to him, such a brazen approach was still rare.

"What do you think you're doing?" Emily frowned and tried to push his arm away-unsuccessfully.

She had arrived today in a custom-made white mini dress, her makeup perfectly applied, and drenched in what was undoubtedly an expensive, overpowering perfume.

The cloying scent made Jack want to sneeze immediately. He rubbed his nose.

What an assault on the senses. And she thinks this is the way to the boss's heart? Is she trying to asphyxiate him?

"I'm here to see Alexander," Emily cooed, shooting Jack a sharp glare before flipping her hair and stepping forward with saccharine sweetness. Her eyes locked onto Alexander behind Jack. "Alexander, I came to see you. Let's go get our marriage license!"

She took another step, completely missing the way Alexander's expression iced over completely.

Jack stared at her, utterly dumbfounded. A bizarre mix of the urge to laugh and sheer disbelief churned inside him.

Where did this lunatic come from? He had genuinely never encountered someone so audaciously delusional.

"Jack," the woman following Emily spoke up, moving to the front. "This is Emily, the true heiress of the Dawson family. You wanted to marry the legitimate Dawson descendant. Well, here she is."

"She even brought her ID. Since we're all here, let's just go and make it official!"

Laura gave Alexander a look of supreme satisfaction, her tone brimming with confidence and pride.

Emily nodded eagerly. "Alexander, even though this is our first meeting, I've admired you for so long!"

"Believe me, I will be the perfect Mrs. Sterling."

She reached out affectionately, aiming to link arms with him, but Alexander casually shifted his shoulder, evading her touch.

Her hand closed on empty air. She blinked, momentarily disoriented, but quickly recovered, looking at him with a wounded expression. "It's okay... I understand you're not used to me yet."

"Once we're married, we'll have plenty of time to grow closer..." A contrived blush spread across her cheeks.

Alexander's face turned thunderous. He locked eyes with Emily, his voice glacial: "Where did you crawl out from?"

"What?" Emily's eyes widened in confusion.

"And who gave you the authority to proclaim yourself my wife?" His tone dripped with contempt.

She wasn't even in the same league as Stella-not in looks, not in intellect.

Sure, both women were shameless in their own ways, but at least Stella was aesthetically pleasing.

Emily's hands clenched the fabric of her skirt. Tears welled up in her eyes, as if she couldn't believe his words. Her voice trembled, "But. don't you want me? I mean. I'm the real Dawson daughter."

Laura reached out protectively, clasping her daughter's hand with a pained expression. "Sweetheart, let me handle this."

"Jack, how can you speak to your future wife like that?" Her gaze turned accusatory as she faced Alexander. "You."

But Alexander let out a heavy, frustrated sigh and shut his eyes briefly. "I have no further business with the Dawson family."

"I've fulfilled the old man's request. From this moment on, I owe you nothing."

"Do not appear at Sterling Group again. This is the only warning you'll receive."

His words were low, final, and carried unmistakable threat.

Laura frowned, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Jack, you call that fulfilling his wish? He wanted you to marry my daughter. Why won't you go get the marriage certificate?"

"I am married. To Stella Dawson."

"She's a fraud! She stole Emily's rightful place! Isn't that why you're divorcing her? You're supposed to marry the true Dawson lady-our Emily. How can you renege now?" Laura's voice rose in frustration.

Alexander Sterling fell silent for a moment before letting out a low, cold laugh.

"Oh? Is that what Stella Dawson told you?" he asked lazily, a flicker of sarcasm in his eyes. "Figures she'd stir the pot."

"Exactly! At least she still feels some gratitude toward the Dawsons!" Laura Warner nodded vigorously, completely missing the storm gathering in his expression. "Otherwise, that country bumpkin who was switched at birth-how could she ever be worthy of you? Right?"

"Thank heavens you divorced her. Now Emily is the one who should be Mrs. Sterling."

"My address-did she give that to you as well?" Alexander suddenly interrupted, his voice turning sharp and dangerous.

Laura finally sensed the shift in his tone and froze, hesitating to answer.

"Of course not! I'm here because I care about you-I went through great lengths to find you." Emily Dawson looked at him with pitiable eyes, like a wounded creature begging for belief.

But before she could finish, Alexander's demeanor shifted-calm on the surface, but radiating danger. A chilling smirk played on his lips as he narrowed his eyes slightly.

"So you've been stalking me?"

Emily's body went rigid, frozen in place, completely unnerved by his suddenly terrifying aura.

"Get them out of here," Alexander said in a low, impatient tone, tugging at his tie as he addressed Jack.

He didn't raise his voice, but the command was clear. Jack nodded silently and turned to signal the security personnel outside.

Without a backward glance, Alexander strode away, giving them no opportunity to react further.

Emily panicked, yelling after him, "Alexander. Mr. Sterling! This is a misunderstanding!"

But the stone-faced bodyguards, caps pulled low, marched in and unceremoniously began ushering both women toward the exit.

"Ah!"

Laura stumbled backward, nearly tripping over her own feet. Both women landed hard on the ground outside the building.

The commotion instantly drew stares from passersby.

Laura clutched her wrist, wailing dramatically. Emily knelt on the pavement, shaking with fury, her fists clenched white around the hem of her dress.

That wretched Stella Dawson. That viper!

She must have said something to Alexander-why else would he react like that?

Emily scrambled to her feet, the hatred twisting her features into something truly frightening.

Meanwhile, Alexander was in no better a mood.

He sat down, jaw clenched, his expression dark. "Put the divorce certificate on hold," he ordered coldly.

"Let's see if she's truly desperate enough to come begging me for it-all for the sake of some boy toy."

His face was set in a mask of frosty amusement, but his eyes were icy. The rage simmering within him showed no signs of abating.

Jack stood to the side, swallowing hard. He didn't dare speak, simply bowing his head in silence.

Miss Dawson, you'd better brace yourself.

Once you've angered Mr. Sterling to this extent, no one can save you.

The next day-

Stella waited all morning, but there was no sign of Jack delivering the divorce papers.

Frowning, she opened her phone to follow up, only to discover-she was blocked.

"What the hell is this?" She furrowed her brows. "Don't tell me he's having second thoughts?"

Kevin Porter scratched his head, clearly confused. "Wait, Stella. if you don't have the divorce certificate, does that mean you're single or still married?"

"Don't even say it. The thought of being called his wife makes my skin crawl," Stella snapped, her tone thick with irritation.

She waited a while longer, but no matter how many times she tried, Jack wouldn't answer.

"That bastard!" she finally exploded, thrusting her hand toward Kevin. "Give me your phone."

Kevin didn't hesitate, handing it over immediately. She snatched it and quickly redialed.

This time, instead of a disconnected tone, the call connected-after a few rings.

"Hey! Jack, what the absolute hell is wrong with you?!"

Jack Holden paused, then asked, "May I ask who's calling?"

"Are you serious? You can't recognize my voice? It's Stella Dawson. Have you lost your mind?"

"Oh, Miss Dawson." He responded swiftly this time.

"Where is the divorce certificate?" Her voice wasn't loud, but the quiet room amplified her icy tone.

Kevin Porter kept his mouth shut-he knew better than to provoke her in this mood.

Ever since Stella had finally secured the divorce from Alexander Sterling, she had been euphoric. But now.

Alexander had better pray she didn't decide to unleash her full wrath.

Kevin muttered silently to himself, trying to blend into the background.

"Miss Dawson, as I said, my schedule has been overwhelming. Let's discuss this next month, shall we?" Jack was clearly brushing her off, his tone dismissive over the phone.

Right after saying that, he hung up. When Stella redialed, she discovered-no surprise-he'd blocked the number again.

"Whoa, careful, Miss Dawson! That's my only phone!" Kevin clung to her arm, terrified she was about to hurl it across the room.

Stella stood rigid, hands clenched into fists, trembling with suppressed rage.

"I found out something important!" Kevin blurted out hastily.

"Spit it out," her tone was sharp and demanding.

"Alexander used his connections to process the divorce without both parties being present. It's a fast-tracked, legal procedure. Since he can do it, so can we!" Kevin explained, now serious. "You already signed the agreement, so can't we just go collect the certificate ourselves?"

"Alexander's lost his mind," Stella stated calmly. "He won't allow it, and no one dares defy him."

Her phone buzzed. Distracted, she glanced down at the screen.

Another taunting message popped up in the group chat: "Stella, it's been days. Still counting pennies?"

She took a deep breath, suppressing her irritation.

"Listen up, everyone. Alexander signed the papers but is now withholding the certificate. He's doing this on purpose, keeping me in legal limbo to force me to beg. Who the hell can tolerate that?"

She fired off a rapid series of messages, her fingers flying over the screen.

Sure enough, the group chat erupted.

"What a disgusting piece of work."

"Does he think he's some kind of godfather?"

"Don't you dare beg him, Stella. I'll go teach him a lesson for you."

"If he kicks the bucket, no certificate needed, and you inherit everything, right?"

"Now that's an idea."

The comments flooded in, and Stella began reading them with newfound interest.

She typed quickly into the group: "The guy's worth billions, sure, but we had a prenup."

Meanwhile, the contact helping her with the bank cards messaged again.

"I'll make a call shortly. Have the divorce agreement ready and go collect your certificate."

"Once it's in your hands, contact me. Your card will be reactivated."

Stella Dawson stared at the two brief texts, her face instantly brightening. She gave Kevin Porter a quick, excited pat on the arm.

"Come on, Kev! To the courthouse!"

The entire errand took barely thirty minutes.

Stella stepped out holding two copies of the divorce certificate, beaming as if she'd won the lottery.

She made a quick call, waited a moment, and sure enough, a notification popped up: her bank card was officially active again.

"Perfect." Stella's eyes remained fixed on the screen, a triumphant smile plastered on her face.

After a moment, she waved a hand. "Kev!"

"What's the plan, Stella?"

"I'm officially wealthy enough to be your sugar mama now."

"Hey now, watch it-I'm premium merchandise!"

"Oh please, whatever the price, I can cover it!" She laughed, her eyes sparkling with glee.

Hooking her arm through his, Stella declared, "Let's go car shopping. Sports cars."

"Newly rich and ready to splurge-I deserve a reward!"

Later that day, Stella made a grand entrance at the mall, rolling up in a soft pink Lamborghini.

She'd been eyeing an upscale restaurant for ages-today was the day.

"Stella, your university starts tomorrow. Want me to drive you?" Kevin asked casually, playing with his chopsticks.

Leaning back, beer in hand, Stella took a slow sip and gave a slight nod.

"I have some credits to make up this semester. Need to wrap that up before I fully dive back into work."

"You'll drop me off, then link up with Rex. We need someone reliable to manage daily operations at the company."

"Don't worry, I'll transfer the necessary funds right after this."

She downed the last of her beer like a pro, radiating smug satisfaction.

Kevin nodded as if it were routine. "Understood. I'll finalize the remaining reports while I'm at it."

They refilled their glasses and clinked them together.

"To Stella's freedom!"

...

The next day-City University, the premier institution in the capital.

It was registration day. Luxury cars were casually parked near the entrance, the sons and daughters of the elite making their appearance.

Even in this gathering of brilliant minds, the scions of powerful families were ubiquitous.

No one felt the need to show off-it was unnecessary.

The three most influential families in the capital-the Sterlings, the Mitchells, and the Campbells-all had descendants enrolled here.

The Sterling Group, for instance, frequently recruited directly from City U's talent pool.

These three families held an unshakeable grip on the city's power structure, a status even other old-money clans couldn't challenge.

The capital's wealth rankings updated every three years, but these three dynasties? Untouchable.

Amusingly enough-their cars arrived almost simultaneously.

Evan Sterling and Liam Sterling stepped out, their valet waiting patiently nearby with the luggage.

"Well, what a coincidence. Seems we're all early birds," Evan said, his gaze drifting toward the Campbell family's vehicle.

Liam glanced over lazily but offered no comment.

A moment later, Lindor Mitchell strolled out of his car at a leisurely pace, also turning to look toward the Campbells' parking spot.

While they were still observing, the door of a sleek black sports car opened smoothly.

Lucas Campbell hopped out with a grin and pulled open the passenger door. "Cathy, we're here."

That single line acted like a catalyst.

Liam's face brightened, and he and Lindor both hurried in that direction. "Cathy!"

The girl wore a simple white dress, a delicate fish-shaped earring dangling beside her cheek, enhancing her soft, innocent beauty. Her features were delicate and graceful, and she carried an air of serene sweetness.

Catherine Campbell's arrival instantly commanded attention.

She might not have been the most visually striking girl present, but her pedigree made her utterly unapproachable.

The only daughter of the Campbell family, doted on endlessly by her four older brothers-she was the embodiment of envy.

Countless young men harbored crushes on her. Despite other beauties at City University, she secured the title of campus goddess with effortless ease.

In the back seat of a recently parked car, Stella Dawson lounged casually, her eyes catching the scene of Catherine standing there, encircled by her brothers. No one dared intrude.

Those four guys... they looked strangely familiar.

"Hey, Kev," she tapped the seat in front of her.

Kevin Porter unbuckled his seatbelt and turned toward her, puzzled. "Stella, what is it?"

"Look over there. The one with his arms crossed-" Stella pointed. "Doesn't he bear a slight resemblance to me?"

Kevin followed her gaze, squinting for a moment before raising his brows in surprise.

"Stella, wow, he really does! You both have those distinctly captivating eyes."

"Wait-could there be a family connection?" Kevin suddenly exclaimed, scratching his head.

"That's the fourth Campbell son. He and the youngest daughter-Cathy-are twins," Stella narrowed her eyes. "Think if I walk up and ask if he's my long-lost brother, they'll have security toss me out?"

Kevin opened his mouth to respond, but Stella had already stepped out of the car, slinging her backpack over one shoulder.

She was dressed low-key today in a basic hoodie and joggers, a black cap pulled down over her hair. Even without a trace of makeup, her tall, slender frame and graceful curves were unmistakable.

As she walked toward the university entrance, the sunlight hit her face at just the right angle-and suddenly, all eyes were drawn to her.