CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 72: THE TRUTH FROM YEARS AGO

"Stella Grant."

"Are you God N?"

"Senior, God N won’t blame you for this. Before leaving, she entrusted you with the task of announcing the equation on stage. The event management couldn’t locate you just now, so the senior has already done it for you." Cindy Chandler’s voice sounded from the doorway.

As she spoke, she handed the phone to Andy Lockwood, "Senior, God N has something to say to you!"

Andy Lockwood’s eyes flashed as he took the call, "Hmm, okay. Will it be relaxed here? We’ll strictly review the qualifications of the agents."

After speaking, he hung up the phone!

This series of actions completely disrupted Aiden Fordham’s previously excited mood.

"President Fordham, the VIP restrooms are located at numbers 1-8." Andy Lockwood turned to Cindy Chandler, "You lead President Fordham there."

Before leaving, Aiden Fordham specifically instructed, "Stella Grant, don’t forget what you promised me."

Andy Lockwood’s eyes deepened, but the doubts in Stella Grant’s heart were apparent—it seemed like everything was planned.

"Senior, what’s going on here?"

"Aiden Fordham always wants to collaborate with God N. If he finds out your identity, you won’t be able to leave Meritopia!"

Andy Lockwood had already calculated that once the agency matter was settled, he would take her away from Meritopia in about a month.

She was too dangerous staying here.

Aiden Fordham was someone who played unpredictably.

Stella Grant nodded and said nothing.

Indeed, it was better to have fewer issues.

...

Aiden Fordham returned to the company at noon, where merchants from all over had already filled The Fordham Group to the brim to discuss collaboration.

The Business Director arranged for salespeople to accompany them to visit in batches, followed by signing contracts in groups.

Keegan Lindsey knocked and entered, followed by a middle-aged man with a slight limp.

The man was dressed plainly, slightly hunched, his right foot making it difficult to walk, stepping deep and shallow as he followed in.

"This is Ade, he used to be the chauffeur of the old master." Keegan Lindsey introduced.

Aiden Fordham looked up to watch, but the name Ade, and this face, couldn’t pull any trace from his memory.

A complete blank.

However, when Ade saw Aiden Fordham sitting behind the desk, the entire person became excited, and his murky eyes instantly brimmed with tears.

"Young master!"

His voice carried an unbelievable tremble.

"I never expected... truly never expected... to see you again in this lifetime..."

Ade spoke with increasing excitement.

"I am thankful to the Fordham Family for taking care of this worthless person over the years."

His voice choked.

"If it weren’t for my legs... I, Ade, should have been working hard for the Fordham Family long ago!"

As he spoke, tears rolled down.

He suddenly kneeled down towards Aiden Fordham, his knee hitting the floor with a dull thud.

Aiden Fordham immediately stood up, quickly bypassed the desk, and extended his hand to help him up.

"Ade, stand up and speak."

His tone was calm, but his actions were irresistible.

Helping him up, he signaled Keegan Lindsey to bring a chair over for Ade to sit.

Aiden Fordham returned to his seat, leaning slightly forward, looking at the emotionally charged man in front.

"Tell me about that time."

Ade froze at first upon hearing.

Soon after, he looked like he remembered something, expressing realization.

"Oh... yes, Uncle Warren mentioned... you lost some memories because of that car accident."

He nodded, organizing the surging emotions before beginning to recall.

"It was twelve years ago, New Year’s Eve, and the weather was particularly cold."

Ade’s voice lowered, carrying a hoarse memory.

"You pulled a rather small wooden box from the riverbank..."

"In the box... there was a little girl, about seven or eight years old, frozen badly, suffering from a high fever, nearly delirious."

"Seeing her illness was severe, we quickly took her to a nearby farm and asked the elderly to look after her and nurse her back to health."

Ade paused, as if the upcoming words felt heavy.

"Later... on the way we returned the old master to the city... there was a car crash."

His voice turned hoarse.

"The old master... instantly... and you... were in a coma for several months before waking up."

Aiden Fordham listened quietly, hands by his sides subconsciously tightening.

These forgotten pasts pieced together through someone’s narration, laden with bloody sadness and irremediable regret.

A dull ache in the chest.

He paused for a few seconds before speaking softly.

"Was that girl named Stella?"

Ade thoughtfully recalled, then nodded emphatically.

"Yes! Yes! Her name was Stella!"

He remembered.

"You promised her at the time you would come back to pick her up after the New Year."

Aiden Fordham felt his heart sharply tug at those words.

As if something sharp stabbed deep.

Promised to come back to pick her up after the New Year, but he didn’t.

Due to the car accident, due to the coma, due to the memory loss... he broke the promise.

He finally learned the truth of the past! She understood why she said she had followed him for 12 years, why she married into the Fordham Family at all costs, because... she had always loved her ’little brother’!

Realizing this, the piercing feeling became clearer and spread densely.

...

The evening fell.

In an upscale restaurant, the lighting was soft, the music soothing.

By the window, Aiden Fordham sat quietly.

His fingertips unconsciously traced the rim of a goblet, his gaze occasionally drifting to the door.

The time ticked by minute by minute.

The wall clock’s hour hand pointed to nine o’clock, he had waited for a full two hours.

The person who promised to come never appeared.

Aiden Fordham leaned against the chair, the original glimmer of anticipation in his eyes vanishing to leave only calmness.

He wanted to explain. About the accident, the lost memories, why he didn’t recognize her sooner.

Words stuck in his heart.

But she didn’t come.

The phone screen lit up, the vibration breaking the table’s quiet.

Caller ID: Keegan Lindsey.

Aiden Fordham picked up the phone, connected.

"Hello."

His voice betrayed no emotion.

On the other end, Keegan Lindsey quickly said something.

Aiden Fordham’s face visibly darkened, the calm in his eyes disturbed, tinged with coldness.

The surrounding air pressure dropped several degrees.

"Understood."

He hung up the call, his actions were prompt and decisive.

He stood up, turned, and strode out of the restaurant urgently.

At the same time,

The global summit’s business cocktail party was held in the largest banquet hall of the Stellario Hotel.

In the banquet hall, people wore exquisite attire, glasses clinked.

The elites and magnates of the medical world almost entirely encircled Andy Lockwood and Stella Grant.

Stella Grant donned a long-sleeved, floor-length golden gown.

The dress’s tailoring was extremely precise, perfectly accentuating her tall and exquisite curves.

Her dense long hair casually pinned up with a simple butterfly clip, a few loose strands hung at her neck side, adding a hint of languidness yet seeming more elegant and dignified.

Undoubtedly, she was the most captivating focus of the event.

She chose to sit on a corner sofa, for some quiet.

Even so, six men in suits quickly gathered around her, engaging in amiable conversation.

As Aiden Fordham entered the venue, a melodious dance tune just began.

His sharp gaze swept through and fixed on the figure surrounded in the center like stars.

Six gentlemen, gracefully, simultaneously extended invitation hands to her.

The dark hues in his eyes receded.

Quickening his strides, cutting through the crowd, heading towards her.

"Sorry, I don’t know how to dance."

Stella Grant smiled apologetically, about to decline.

"I can teach you." A low and domineering voice sounded above her head.

In the next second.

A compelling force gripped her right wrist.

The entire person was swiftly pulled from the sofa, lost her balance, directly falling into a strong and warm embrace.