Stella's POV I was in the bedroom, helping Orion put his shoe on. He was a little clumsy, wobbling as he tried to keep his balance while carefully pulling on the sneaker so he wouldn't mess up his sock. Then I heard the knock at the door and immediately assumed it was Alexander. He'd said he would stop by to take the boys to school, since he hadn't been able to see them yesterday. "I'm coming!" I called, jumping up quickly. I opened the door with a smile, expecting to see Alexander. Instead, the man standing there left me frozen. My heart slammed against my ribs. A cold shock ran down my spine as he stared back at me. I felt my fingers tremble where they gripped the doorknob. "You look scared," he said quietly, almost teasing. "Weren't you expecting to see me here, Miss Harper?" Before I could say anything else, Apollo's small voice rang out from inside the house. "Mom! I'm ready!" My entire body locked up in panic. 'What do I do? Slam the door in his face and wait

Stella's POV My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of my chest, but my tongue didn't hesitate. "You can do whatever you want, Mr. Winter," I said. My voice came out steady, despite my shallow breathing. "Order the test. Hire detectives. Send people to follow me. Nothing is going to change the truth." His gaze darkened. For a second, I thought he might pull me even closer. Instead, he kept that infuriating hand on my waist, his thumb resting on a spot that made me painfully aware of every inch of my body. "That's not what I want," he said quietly, and the vibration of his voice seemed to spread across my skin. "I want to hear it from you. I want you to look me in the eye and tell me they're not mine without looking away, not even once." I swallowed hard. The game was cruel. I knew that even the smallest flicker in my expression would fuel his suspicions. I lifted my chin. I met his gaze without flinching. And I spoke slowly, "They. Are. Not. Yours."

Stella's POV I paced back and forth across the living room like a caged lioness, my phone pressed to my ear, my palms slick with sweat. With every lap, my heart beat faster, like it might give me away to anyone who happened to be nearby. "Leah, I'm not exaggerating," I said, my voice sharp and frantic. "He showed up here out of nowhere and started making insinuations. He cornered me, asked questions about the boys. I know he suspects it. Actually, he's almost sure. He even brought up a DNA test." On the other end of the line, Leah muttered a muffled curse. "What exactly did he say?" "That they look too much like him. That their age lines up with when we were together." I swallowed hard. "And he made it very clear he's coming back. Leah, the way he looked at me… that wasn't the look of someone who's going to give up. It was the look of someone who'll do anything to get what he wants." "Then you need to get out of there. Today," she said immediately, her tone decisive. "Befor

Stella's POV The car glided through nearly empty streets, but inside it felt like I was trapped in an airless box. Apollo and Orion leaned into me, still confused, not sure if this was an adventure or a nightmare. When Damian parked, my heart jumped. Yes, I knew this place. And I had never imagined I'd come back here. Too many nights I could never erase, no matter how hard I tried. "For now, you can stay in the master bedroom," he said, opening the door and waiting for me to get out. "The boys will be in the room next door." I looked at him like I'd just heard the worst joke imaginable. "They're sleeping with me," I said flatly, without blinking. He raised an eyebrow, clearly deciding whether it was worth arguing. "As you wish." I guided the boys inside, holding their small hands tightly, and went straight to the elevator. Damian stepped in after us and smiled at them before pressing the button for his floor. Once inside, I took the boys to the bedroom and let the

Stella's POV After Sophie Peterson left, I got up and went to the kitchen. I turned on the coffee maker and started preparing a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs, bread, and orange juice. I needed the boys to believe the morning would be normal, despite everything. When it was ready, I went to the bedroom to wake them up. "Good morning, my angels," I said, forcing a calm smile. "Time to wake up." Orion opened his eyes first and blinked, still half-asleep. "Morning, Mommy…" he murmured. "Let's have breakfast first, then we can play a little, okay?" I said, gently helping them out of bed. They protested with sleepy groans, but soon shuffled off to the bathroom to brush their teeth. We sat at the table, and while they ate, I watched them closely. Were they scared? Yes. Confused? Absolutely. But they didn't seem to grasp the full extent of our situation. And maybe that was for the best. After breakfast, I helped them bathe, get dressed, and then we spread their toys