Chapter 678:

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“I want a younger sister. Auntie, you have a little sister, don’t you?” Adrian looked at Emily with eyes bright with anticipation. He had always preferred having a little sister.

“I don’t know, honey.” Emily rubbed Adrian’s head tenderly and replied. Looking up at him, she couldn’t help but smile, wondering why he liked little girls so much.

“You must have a little sister. Playing with my little brother isn’t easy, but you’ll like him, especially Rian,” Adrian said, placing his hand on Emily’s belly and wishing with all his heart that she was a sister.

…

RK settled Stella on the bed, tucking her in carefully. He watched her serene face as she slept, and placed a soft kiss on her forehead before lying down next to her, under the quilt.

Stella seemed to sense RK’s closeness. She wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled closer to him, seeking his warmth.

RK looked down at her with a tender smile on his face.

He tucked Stella in and, picking up a book that rested nearby, began to flip through it without much interest. He wasn’t sleepy. He didn’t want to go downstairs, he just wanted to join her at that moment.

“Rene…” Stella’s voice, still somewhat groggy, called out to him. Although she seemed half asleep, she felt RK’s presence beside her.

RK put the book aside and approached her.

“What’s wrong?” his low, soft tone conveyed his concern, and he leaned down to whisper in her ear.

“Rene, I love you…” Stella suddenly felt the need to say it, to express that feeling she had held back so long.

Stella’s words took RK’s breath away. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

“Stella, what did you just say?” RK hugged her, unable to hide the disbelief on his face.

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“I love you.” Stella raised her head, looked at RK with wide eyes, and firmly repeated what she felt.

RK, still stunned, realized he wasn’t dreaming. With a smile, he kissed her gently on the lips.

Even after everything he had experienced, like when Stella was willing to marry him again during the New Year, nothing compared to that moment, when she told him she loved him.

A part of his heart had always been uncomfortable, believing that Stella forgave him just because of Adrian. But now, she was saying she loved him.

RK parted his lips and, with a smile, pressed his nose against hers.

“Stella, I love you too.” The words came from his heart, sincere and deep.

“I know.” Stella smiled as she looked up at him, knowing he loved her. She knew that if he didn’t, she wouldn’t have gotten a second chance with him.

RK hugged her tightly. He could feel his heart beating fast, as if it wanted to burst out of his chest.

“Rene, I’m so sleepy,” Stella murmured, closing her eyes and whispering softly into RK’s ear.

“It’s okay, you can sleep for a while. I’ll walk you out.” RK held her in his arms, laying down next to her and hugging her tenderly, making sure she felt safe and loved.

Stella smiled and, peacefully, fell asleep in RK’s arms.

…

Downstairs, Mrs. Kingston was on the phone with Emily’s parents, discussing when the date for their wedding would be.

“Emily, give me a pinch,” Ruben took Emily’s hand and placed it on his arm, asking her to pinch him again.

Emily looked at Ruben, who had a completely dumbfounded expression, and smiled in amusement.

“You asked me before and I pinched you three times, but you still keep asking for it!” Emily looked at him somewhere between amused and a little puzzled.

“I can’t believe it,” Ruben said, grinning like a fool.

“Stupid,” Emily smacked him gently on the forehead before turning her attention back to the television.

Mr. Kingston, watching from the couch, couldn’t help but smile wistfully. Although he tried to look serious, the wrinkles around his eyes could not hide the joy he felt at his daughter’s happiness.

Adrian, seeing the adults so happy, quickly ran to his room. He felt he had to tell Baby the good news. But, in reality, what he wanted was to make her feel bad, since he had no sister.

Adrian had already decided that the baby Emily was carrying would be his sister. To him, whether it was Stella’s or Emily’s, the children of both would be his closest sisters.

Mrs. Kingston watched Emily for a moment, thoughtfully. Without a word, she went to the kitchen with the intention of preparing soup for Emily as well as Stella. Her intuition told her that Stella might be expecting a baby.

Shortly after Stella fell asleep, RK woke her up.

“It’s late, we should go downstairs for dinner,” he said softly.

Stella rubbed her eyes, still drowsy, and nodded.

RK, smiling, placed his hand on Stella’s belly, waiting for new life to pulsate inside her.

Seeing RK’s gesture, Stella raised her head, looked into his eyes and, with an impulse of affection, kissed him.

It was the first time Stella had taken the initiative, and for RK, that simple gesture meant the world.

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