Chapter 81

When Stella saw the words on the document, her face showed a hint of surprise. "You were born more than a month premature in L.A.. This document was something I suggested your mother keep, but later on—" Evander paused for a moment and sighed softly, "it was never used." Even after Evander left, Stella remained somewhat dazed. She stared silently at the papers on the table. Ethan gently patted her head to comfort her. "Wyatt doesn't know about this yet. Whether you want to proceed or not is up to you." Hearing this, Stella snapped back to reality and turned to him, "You didn't contact me for two days because you went to see Mr. Everwood?" Ethan nodded slightly. "Yes." Evander was a diplomat who had been abroad for many years. He was single, never married, and for certain reasons, chose not to return to the country after his tenure ended. Before Ethan returned to the country, he took two flights totaling more than ten hours, which was why he didn't have time to contact her. Seeing her staring at him blankly, he rubbed her head and asked, "What's wrong?" "I just suddenly understood some things." "What things?" "Wyatt treats me well probably because I am my father's daughter and my grandfather's granddaughter," Stella said, slightly curling her lips. "Mr. Everwood's kindness towards me is likely based on our blood relation as well. People say blood ties are the strongest bonds, but to me, the love tied by blood doesn't seem that strong. Thinking this way, the outcome doesn't seem so important after all." Ethan looked down at her and asked, "Are you saying you don't want to proceed?" "I haven't decided yet," Stella shook her head and rubbed her throbbing temples. Suddenly, she said, "There is a university near here. Let's go walk around the track." When she was in school, whenever she was troubled or confused, she would walk around the track alone, lap after lap. It was as if the road beneath her feet straightened out her thoughts. To blend in with the students, they went to a mall and bought two sets of sportswear before heading to the university. Maybe because it was close to finals, the track wasn't crowded. Most of the people there were athletes in training, with the occasional couple. Ethan's athletic abilities were truly impressive. Ethan's athletic abilities were nothing short of extraordinary. During their high school years, Class 1 of the humanities track was predominantly made up of girls, with only a few boys in the class. Among these boys, athleticism was a rare trait, making his skills stand out even more. When Jefferson High School sports meet rolled around, Ethan was a crucial asset to his class. With few others able to compete at his level, he found himself participating in multiple events, a testament to his versatility and stamina. Whether it was sprinting down the track, leaping over hurdles, or showing his endurance in long-distance runs, he took on each challenge with determination and ease. At every sports meet, Ethan's name was announced with a mix of admiration and expectation. Teachers and students alike looked forward to his races, knowing they were about to witness something special. His athletic achievements during those high school years were more than just victories; they were moments that united his class and left an indelible mark on the school's history. Stella still remembered one time when he finished the 200-meter race. Ignoring the girls offering him water, he walked over, frowned, and asked her, "Stella, weren't you in charge of logistics? Where's my water?" "Didn't Liora give it to you?" Stella replied with a question. The drinks for the athletes were distributed in specific quantities. That day, Stella was late due to traffic, so she had asked Liora to distribute the drinks first. But when he heard her words, the young man casually replied, "No, she didn't." Stella looked at the empty drink box and frowned. "But I don't have any left." "There's still one bottle left, isn't there?" Ethan's eyes fell on the bottle of mineral water beside her, and he took it without hesitation. "I already—" She drank from that bottle. Before she could finish her sentence, Ethan had already drained the bottle in his thirst. Then he turned his head and asked, "What were you saying?" "Nothing." Stella pressed her lips together. He had already drunk it, and saying anything now would just make it more awkward. Later on, whenever he finished his events and didn't get the drinks distributed by the class fund, he would forcefully demand that Stella, who was in charge of logistics, save a bottle just for him. After Stella finished walking a lap around the university track, she saw the tall figure jogging towards her in the distance. Smiling, she handed the drink she was holding to him. The man took it, drank it, and casually tossed the empty plastic bottle, which made a perfect arc before landing in the trash can. He turned to look at her, standing there in the evening breeze, reminiscent of the spirited young man he had been at seventeen. The setting sun cast a vibrant glow on his handsome face, making him even more striking. Ignoring the stares around them, Stella embraced him tightly. Ethan glanced down, casually wrapping his arms around her, and asked in a relaxed tone, "What's up?" "I love you so much," she confessed. She loved this man who had given her everything, making her feel secure enough to let go of all her fears. The next day, when Lionel and Avery walked into the Carlson family's mansion, they were surprised to see an unfamiliar face sitting on the living room sofa: it was Evander. Having been a diplomat for nearly 20 years, Evander naturally exuded a calm and composed demeanor that set him apart from ordinary people. Lionel speculated about Evander's identity and then looked at Wyatt, who was sitting at the head of the room, and asked, "Who is this?" "Stella's uncle." "Uncle?" Lionel frowned. But then he realized that without a female elder, it would be impossible to accurately determine a kinship with Stella. Unfortunately, Stella only had an uncle, not an aunt. Thinking of this, Lionel smiled and asked, "Mr. Everwood, what brings you here today?" The Everwood family was just an ordinary family. Lionel vaguely knew that Octavia had a brother who was always stationed abroad and unwilling to return, but he had never met him. He didn't expect that Evander would actually come here. "Stella's mother saved her umbilical cord blood when she was born. I only found out about it today." After Wyatt finished speaking, he pushed the report on the table toward Lionel. "The test results are here." Then, he looked at Avery, who had been quietly following behind Lionel, with a touch of disappointment in his voice, "Avery, this charade must come to an end."