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.

exactly what Skyler's words really

recognized as his daughter, a member of the Williams family, before he'd even

"If you want me back in the Williams family, that's not impossible. But I have one

as if

said eagerly. "As long as you're willing to come home, I'll agree to whatever

Stella nodded

dded "Before my mother

away, she

They belong to me

of handing

have mo

on Skyler's face for

flicker of something uneasy passing across

Stella knew about the original shares?

the time, she'd seemed clueless, never

she knew

told her? Nora's lawyer? One

spoke up, his voice a touch too casual. "Star, even if you keep those shares, they're not

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