Starla Xander was orphaned at a young age. With both her parents gone, it was her uncle, Xavier Lloyd, who rescued her from that hopeless home.

For over a decade, he had cherished her, shielding her from the world, treating her like the most precious gem in his life.

And so, inevitably, she fell in love with him.

She truly believed he loved her too. She thought that one day, they would get married and build a future together.

But when Starla finally confessed her feelings, Xavier reacted as if she had crossed an unforgivable line.

“Starla, I’m your uncle. Get rid of those disgusting thoughts!”

And that wasn’t even the cruelest part.

He chose the most brutal way to reject her.

On the twelfth anniversary of the day they met, he stood before her with a beautiful woman by his side.

He met Starla’s eyes and said, “Meet her. She’s your future aunt-in-law.”

As she watched them standing together—so effortlessly close—something inside her shattered.

She let out a soft, bitter laugh.

“I understand now.”

Without another word, she turned away, pulled out her phone, and called her research mentor.

“Professor Zimmer, I’ve made my decision. I agree to the cryogenic preservation procedure.”

Starla Xander was orphaned at a young age. With both her parents gone, it was her uncle, Xavier Lloyd, who rescued her from that hopeless home.

For over a decade, he had cherished her, shielding her from the world, treating her like the most precious gem in his life.

She had always believed that one day, she and Xavier would walk down the aisle together.

She had fallen hopelessly in love with the man who had cared for her like a father.

Back then, one night, a fire broke out in the Xander family home. The house she had grown up in, the parents who had loved her—everything was consumed by the flames.

Little Starla curled up in a corner of the balcony, her face streaked with tears, too terrified to move.

At that moment, she thought she was going to die.

But in the next second, Xavier appeared.

He was like a hero descending from the heavens.

He kicked open the door and rushed inside, shielding her with his body, blocking the scorching embers with his back.

“Starla, don’t be scared! I’m here!”

In that instant, in Starla’s eyes, he was just like Spider-Man in the movies—her hero.

From that day on, she and Xavier relied on each other. They became each other’s whole world.

Back then, he treated her like a princess, spoiling her beyond reason.

Her room was always overflowing with new dresses and Barbie dolls. No matter what she wanted, Xavier never refused.

He was the CEO of a multinational corporation, yet he would postpone important meetings just to watch a meteor shower with her.

On those nights, he would hold little Starla in his arms, pointing at the falling stars, and say,

“Starla, do you know? To me, you’re just like this meteor shower.”

The winter air was freezing, but she nestled in his warm embrace, looking up at him with innocent eyes. “What does that mean?”

“You’re the brightest star in my heart, just like the aurora—you bring me happiness.”

That one sentence was engraved in Starla’s heart for ten whole years.

But now…

She turned to look at the empty villa, a bitter smile appearing on her lips.

Today was Xavier’s birthday—the last birthday she would ever spend with him. She had made a feast, waiting for him to come home.

It wasn’t until 3 AM that Xavier finally walked through the door.

“Why are you still up in the middle of the night?” His voice was ice-cold.

Starla held out a small ring, her eyes full of hope. “Uncle Xavier… happy birthday.

“This is my gift for you.”

“Starla, I have a girlfriend. I already have a wedding ring. Open your eyes and see clearly.” Xavier looked annoyed as he raised his left hand, showing his ring finger. Then, he tossed the ring she had given him aside.

“I was your father’s best friend—your legal guardian. The ‘uncle’ you call me! There will never be anything between us!

“The last time you told me you liked me, I chose to ignore it. But from now on, keep your distance! If you can’t, then leave the country and never come back!”

Every word was a knife to her heart, cutting deep.

Xavier turned and left.

Starla knelt down under the dining table, picking up the ring she had spent three months making. Pain crept through her chest.

Inside the band, she had carefully engraved Xavier’s initials, letter by letter, by hand.

She had only wanted to give him a handmade gift, wishing him peace and happiness in the years to come.

After all, this was the only thing she could leave behind for him. Nothing more.

On the coffee table lay a signed consent form for an experimental cryopreservation. The only thing left was to hand it over to her mentor.

She had already made up her mind. But the thought of never seeing Xavier again made it impossible to let go.

Just then, a notification sound broke the silence.

She picked up her phone, and the moment she saw the screen, her chest tightened.

It was a new social media update from Wendy Scott: “I’m going to be the most beautiful bride!”

The video showed Xavier by her side, helping her try on wedding dresses.

His eyes were filled with tenderness as he looked at her. No matter which dress she wore, he said she looked stunning.

“Oh, come on!” Wendy pouted playfully. “Are you just saying that to make me happy? If you keep giving me those half-hearted compliments, I’m gonna get mad!”

Xavier smiled and gently adjusted her veil. “How could I? You’re beautiful to begin with. No matter what you wear, you’ll always look perfect.”

In the end, they chose a mermaid-style wedding gown with a sweeping train. The white fabric cascaded across the floor like a galaxy, and the veil was adorned with diamonds that sparkled like stars in the winter sky.

Starla tossed her phone aside, unwilling to watch any longer. She tilted her head back, taking a deep breath, forcing herself not to cry.

The theme of that wedding dress was called “Miracle.”

She had designed it with her own hands.

She had always believed that one day, she would be the one walking down the aisle in that dress, with Xavier by her side.

But reality had shattered her dream into pieces.

The next day, Starla sent a message to her mentor, setting up a time to hand over the consent form. Then, she called Xavier.

The phone rang for a long time before he finally picked up.

“What is it?” His voice was thick with impatience.

Starla was silent for a few seconds before asking softly, “When’s your wedding?”

“July 9th. Why?” Xavier’s tone turned cold. “What are you planning? I’m warning you—don’t even think about causing trouble at the wedding.”

July 9th.

The day they first met. The day Xavier had pulled her from the fire.

A bitter smile tugged at Starla’s lips. “I see.

“I won’t, Uncle Xavier. Congratulations on your marriage.”

She hung up the phone and headed to campus to meet her mentor.

“Starla, are you really sure about this?” Professor Zimmer sighed as he looked at the young woman in front of him. “Even though you have breast cancer, treatment could still give you another year or two. If you go through with this cryogenic experiment, even the smallest mistake could mean immediate death. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?”

He hesitated before adding, “Your uncle cares about you so much. If something happens to you, he’d turn the whole city upside down looking for answers.”

Starla let out a wry smile and shook her head. “I’ve already made up my mind, Professor.

“As for Xavier… he won’t have the time to worry about me anymore.”

After finalizing the details of the cryogenic experiment, Starla followed her mentor to the lab to begin the preliminary preparations.

By the time she finished everything and returned home, it was already 8 p.m.

As she approached the villa, she noticed that the light in Xavier’s bedroom on the second floor was still on.

A flicker of hope rose in her chest—only to be replaced by self-mockery a second later.

She was pathetic. Even after being rejected, she still couldn’t control her feelings.

But when she opened the door, the person waiting inside wasn’t Xavier. It was Wendy.

The moment Wendy saw her, a flash of irritation crossed her eyes, but she quickly masked it with delight.

“Oh my, Starla! You’re back.

“We were just about to head out for dinner. Want to join us?”

She led Starla into the living room, instructing the housekeeper to bring her a glass of water, acting every bit like the lady of the house.

Starla’s heart sank.

She stood up from the couch, about to decline, when Xavier came downstairs.

“Why are you getting home so late?” He frowned instinctively at the sight of her but quickly added, “From now on, Wendy will be staying in my room. I’ve already talked to the housekeeper—she’s in charge of the household now.”

Starla bit her lip and lowered her voice. “Got it.”

Of course. From now on, Wendy was the lady of the house.

And she was nothing more than a pretend family member with no real ties to him.

Xavier glanced at her, slightly surprised.

Strange. Wasn’t she supposed to throw a fit and refuse?

But he quickly brushed off the thought, slipping his arm around Wendy’s. “Wendy and I are heading out for dinner. Are you coming with us, or are you eating at home?”

Starla looked at them.

Xavier’s tone made it seem like he was offering her a choice, but his eyes said otherwise. He didn’t really want her there.

She forced a smile and shook her head. “No, I have schoolwork to take care of. I won’t bother you two.”

She turned to head upstairs. Just as she passed Wendy, Wendy suddenly bumped into her.

Starla’s papers slipped from her grasp, scattering across the floor.

“Oh no!”

Wendy let out a dramatic gasp, stumbling straight into Xavier’s arms.

Starla froze in place.

She hadn’t even touched Wendy, yet Wendy acted as if she had shoved her with all her strength.

“Be more careful when you walk,” Xavier scolded, frowning as he bent down to pick up a paper.

“‘Cell-Based Cryopreservation Therapy for Cancer’” He read the words aloud, his expression darkening. “What is this?”

Starla panicked and quickly snatched the paper from his hands. “It’s… it’s nothing!”

Xavier studied her for a moment. Confusion flickered across his face before it twisted into anger.

“You seriously think I’d fall for this just to get my attention?”

Starla froze.

Then she understood.

Back when Xavier first brought her into his home, she had been a lonely, frightened child with no one to rely on. She had clung to him, bombarding him with endless questions:

“Will you always stay with me?

“What if you have to go on a business trip? What if you get sick?

“I saw on TV that there’s something called cancer. If people get it, they die. Xavier, you can’t ever get sick. You have to stay with me forever, okay?”

Xavier had reassured her with a smile.

“I won’t. I won’t ever get cancer.

“For you, Starla, I’ll stay healthy and be by your side.”

And now, he thought she was using this as an act to manipulate him—trying to guilt him into caring again.

A bitter taste filled her mouth, but she forced herself to stay calm.

“Uncle Xavier, don’t overthink it.

“This is just the research topic Professor Zimmer and I are working on this semester. These are just some materials I found.”

However, Xavier didn’t believe her. “You’re not even planning to become a doctor. Why spend all your time researching this?”

Starla fell silent for a moment before replying softly, “I’m just interested in it, that’s all. If you don’t like it, I can choose another topic.”

Xavier didn’t say anything else, but his expression remained grim. Sensing the tension, Wendy immediately stepped in to smooth things over.

“Oh, come on, Starla’s just studying. It doesn’t matter what she learns—it’s her choice. She’s grown up now, Xavier. You can’t control her forever.

“Alright, enough arguing. Weren’t we heading out for dinner?”

At that, Xavier’s expression softened slightly. He took Wendy by the arm and walked out the door, not bothering to ask Starla anything more.

Starla watched as Wendy moved so freely between Xavier’s bedroom and study, as if she had every right to be there.

Ever since she had confessed her feelings to Xavier, he had forbidden her from entering those rooms.

Even when she wanted to visit him at work, she had to go through layers of approval from the receptionist and his assistant.

Before, she had been able to go anywhere in this house without restriction. Xavier had never set boundaries with her.

Starla lay in bed, listening to the sound of their footsteps fading down the hallway. No matter how much she tossed and turned, she couldn’t fall asleep.

She had no idea how much time had passed, but when she looked outside, the sky was filled with stars.

Since she couldn’t rest, she got up and decided to take a walk in the garden.

After all, she would be leaving soon. Every day she spent in this house was one day closer to her last.

But as soon as she reached the stairs, she ran into Wendy, who was holding a glass of water.

“Oh, Starla. Still up this late?”

Wendy smirked, her eyes gleaming with open hostility. “Having trouble sleeping?”

She was dressed in a lace nightgown, her shoulders and chest exposed, covered in faint kiss marks.

Starla averted her gaze and replied calmly, “Just taking a walk.”

Wendy stepped closer, her voice dripping with disdain. “Oh, don’t pretend. Seeing me with Xavier is driving you crazy with jealousy, isn’t it?”

“I… I’m not.”

Starla swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat and forced herself to stay composed.

But Wendy only sneered. “Even if you are, it doesn’t matter. You and Xavier will never be together. He practically raised you. He’s like your guardian. Having feelings for him is disgusting.

“He’ll never love you. You were never meant to be with him.”

Her words cut like a knife, slicing straight through Starla’s heart.

Of course, she knew exactly why Xavier had rejected her.

But when love happens, how could she possibly stop herself from falling for him?

Besides, there was no blood relation between them.

How could it be wrong?

He simply didn’t love her. Ethics were just an excuse to turn her down.

But maybe it was for the best. If he had accepted her feelings, how devastated would he be when he found out she had cancer?

It was better this way. If he never loved her, then when she was gone, he wouldn’t grieve. That was a good thing, wasn’t it?

Seeing Starla stay silent, Wendy smirked and continued, “Though, I guess it makes sense. After all, I heard the fire that burned down your house was set by your mother.

“Xavier’s too busy to care about you. You’re just an orphan, and the daughter of an arsonist at that. No wonder you turned out so twisted.”

She lowered her voice and leaned in. “You better be careful, Starla. Having feelings for your own uncle? That’s the kind of thing that gets people shunned for life.”

At that, Starla’s eyes filled with fury.

“Shut up!” She lunged forward. “Don’t you dare insult my parents!”

Memories rushed back, flooding her mind.

A five-year-old Starla hid behind the sofa, watching as her parents argued in the living room.

“Why did the company lose so much money last quarter? I told you to stay out of business matters!”

“We’re husband and wife! The company belongs to me too! Why should I sit at home like a trophy wife?”

Her father stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and turned to leave, but her mother, blinded by anger, grabbed his arm.

In the struggle, the ashtray tipped over. The still-lit cigarette rolled onto the carpet, setting it ablaze.

The flames spread—to the curtains, the wallpaper, and then the entire house.

It had been an accident.

But to the media, always hungry for a scandal, it became a sensational story: 'Billionaire couple’s tragic downfall—arson and murder.'

Starla stepped forward, ready to argue, but before she could say anything, Wendy suddenly let go of the glass in her hand.

The cup crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.

The loud noise echoed through the villa.

The door to Xavier’s bedroom swung open.

He took one look at the broken glass, at the two of them standing face-to-face, and immediately strode forward, pulling Wendy protectively into his arms.

Then he turned on Starla, his voice cold and furious.

“Starla, what the hell did you do to Wendy?”