Chapter 878

Chapter 878:
William stayed busy, as always, but he never forgot to walk Stella to work in the mornings. Whenever possible, he’d try to meet her in the evenings too, even if it was just to walk a bit of the way home with her. He was thoughtful in that subtle, persistent way—showing up in little moments, weaving himself into the rhythm of her life—until one day, Stella found herself relying on it.
Before she even realized it, he’d slipped into her world and stayed there. She didn’t put up her old walls anymore. She began accepting his gestures—sharing simple evenings shopping for groceries, then heading home to cook together. Nothing flashy, just the kind of everyday peace that made her feel more grounded and content than ever before.
In her mind, if life just kept rolling along like this, she wouldn’t mind one bit. But William didn’t quite see it the same way. To him, what they had was like a bud in spring—waiting for the right moment to finally bloom.
That afternoon, William had a big industry summit to attend. He was giving a keynote speech.
Stella was busy in the lab, but out of nowhere, she felt a sudden urge to wrap things up early. She turned to Sandra and said, “I’m stepping out for a bit. I’ll be back in about two hours.”
Before Sandra could even ask, Stella had already left the institute, heading straight to the hotel where the event was being held. She didn’t really know why she felt the need to go. Maybe she just wanted to see him shine.
The summit was massive—packed with top names in the field. Stella found a quiet corner to sit in, trying not to draw attention. When William stepped onto the stage in his suit, calm and confident, all eyes naturally turned to him.
Under the bright lights, he stood tall and composed. His speech was sharp, clear, and full of insight. Every word landed perfectly, and every movement radiated confidence. He owned the stage—just like the very first time she saw him. To the world, he hadn’t changed. But to her, he was different now. Somehow warmer. Closer. A small smile tugged at her lips as that thought hit her, a soft warm sensation flooding her chest.
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She sat quietly in the shadows, eyes fixed on him, her heart slowly unraveling with unspoken feelings. Even now, watching him command the room, part of her still felt like they lived in two different worlds. That gap made her hesitate. Doubt crept in, whispering that maybe she wasn’t quite good enough to stand beside someone like him.
But she shook that off quickly. He might be brilliant—but so was she. She wasn’t just some background player. At the institute, she was one of the best. She’d written standout patents before she was even legally an adult. Whether as Stella or Sylvia, she’d earned her reputation. She wasn’t lacking—not in any way that mattered.
When William’s speech ended, the crowd broke into loud applause. Guests and reporters immediately swarmed him, eager to talk, to shake his hand. He handled it all with practiced ease. But even in the middle of the crowd, his eyes swept across the room—searching.
Then his gaze paused—just for a moment—right where she was sitting. Their eyes met across the crowd, and Stella’s heart stuttered. She instinctively looked away, unsure what to do with that sudden rush in her chest.
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