Skyler took a deep breath and said, "Star, about what happened before... It's true —it was my fault. I never should have said those things in anger."

He hesitated, as if searching for the right words, then continued, "All these years, not a day has gone by that I haven't thought about you. If you'd just reached out to me, I would have gladly let the past go."

"Star-"

He was gearing up for a heartfelt speech, but Stella cut him off, her tone cool and businesslike.

"Since you agree that what happened before was your mistake," she said, “let's start by handling the paperwork to change my legal status. It won't take long. I'll soon be competing internationally, and the attention I get won't just be local."

Her gaze was steady as she went on, "When that time comes, rival teams might resort to any kind of dirty trick to undermine me. I don't want my background to become ammunition for them."

She gave Skyler a polite, almost mocking smile. "You wouldn't want my academic record or family situation to be used against me, would you?"

Jonathan, ever the loyalist, jumped in. "You're Skyler's daughter! Who would dare mock you? Star, as long as the Williams family stands, your father will never allow anyone to slander you."

Stella barely suppressed a bitter laugh.

Just a short while ago, when Felipa and her friends were busy dragging her name through the mud, not a single person from the Williams family had spoken up for her.

knew exactly what Skyler's words

family, before he'd even consider stepping in

the

with joy, as if

you want," he said eagerly. "As long as you're willing to

Stella nodded

dded "Before my mother

away, she left

company. They belong to me alone, and

of handing

else. I trust you have mo

froze on Skyler's face for

Jonathan's expression shifted, a flicker of something uneasy

Stella knew about the original

her before—at the time, she'd seemed clueless,

knew

Nora's lawyer? One of the

if you keep those shares, they're not use to

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