When the Stars Fell into Dust

“Lucas Vaughn? Wasn’t he our sworn enemy from five years ago?”

I toyed with a walnut in my hand, smiling coldly.

So Adrian could remember Lucas, his old enemy—

yet somehow forgot me.

How amusing.

But the world is nothing if not fickle.

The man who once vowed to give me his life forgot me.

And the man who was once my enemy was about to become my husband.

“I’ll go greet him,” I said briskly, standing.

Adrian’s face darkened, and he moved to follow—

but Stella clutched her belly suddenly.

“Adrian, my stomach… it hurts.”

He looked up to see me already walking away, and let out a silent sigh.

“I’ll take you to rest.”

When Lucas entered, my father did something rare—he smiled and welcomed him to sit.

The Lane family and the Vaughns had been bitter rivals for years.

Whenever my father saw old Mr. Vaughn, his face would harden.

But now, everything had changed.

Since the Vaughns agreed to this marriage, my father seemed to like Lucas more with each glance.

“Lila, your wedding is near. Since Lucas has agreed to marry into our family and help you manage our estate, it’s time you showed him around.”

I led Lucas through the house, his gaze never leaving me.

When we reached a quiet corner, I nearly stumbled, but he caught me instantly.

The next moment, he pinned me against the wall.

“Lila, I’ve chased you for six years. Now, at last, you’ll be mine.”

He leaned in to kiss me—

But from nearby came a woman’s plaintive cry.

“Adrian, I’m so upset! Today was supposed to be our wedding, but she just had to steal the spotlight.”

“I’m pregnant with your child, and she brought up something unlucky about baby names, just to hurt me.”

Stella wept in Adrian’s arms.

Adrian sighed helplessly.

“Lila is the Lane heiress. She’s bound to be the center of attention—it’s only natural.”

But Stella grew even more agitated.

“She doesn’t want you to marry me!”

“I heard the whispers—everyone in the Lane estate looks at me like I’m a mistress. But we were married properly, I’m your wife. Clearly, she spread those rumors just to drive me out!”

“You’re overthinking,” Adrian replied. “Lila isn’t like that. If she wanted to marry me, she never would have agreed to this. Even if I don’t remember her, I can’t help but feel… she must be kind.”

His voice sounded distant, like through a fog.

The man beside me, however, heard every word.

With a mischievous grin, Lucas bent and kissed me roughly, then pulled back and nipped at my lip.

Mocking, he mimicked Adrian’s words:

“I feel… she must be kind.”

I punched him. “Bite me again and see what happens.”

“Once you move into the Lane family, I’ll make sure you pay for that.”

Lucas only laughed harder.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Meanwhile, Stella stamped her foot furiously.

“How can you say she’s kind? You’ve forgotten her, haven’t you?”

“Adrian, ever since you came back to the Lane estate, you’ve been different. You used to swear you only loved me. Your eyes only ever followed me. But why do they always drift back to Lila?”

“Maybe you forgot her once—but who’s to say you haven’t fallen for her all over again?”