Chapter 13: Standing Beside Her

A heavy silence settled over the ballroom as the final sentence remained frozen on the giant LED screen. Hundreds of guests stared at Stella, waiting for her reaction. Whispered conversations spread from one table to another. Some people pitied her, while others eagerly anticipated a scandal that would shake River City's most influential families.

Stella stood motionless beneath the spotlight. Her heartbeat quickened, but unlike in her previous life, fear did not consume her. She had already lived through betrayal, the loss of her child, and her own death. Compared to those painful memories, a public humiliation meant nothing.

Before she could speak, Eric calmly stepped forward.

Without hesitation, he took Stella's hand in front of everyone.

His grip was warm and reassuring.

'Everyone,' Eric said into the microphone, his deep voice echoing throughout the ballroom, 'I believe many of you are waiting for an explanation.'

The crowd immediately fell silent.

'Then allow me to give one.'

He glanced briefly at the screen before looking back at the guests.

'Everything shown here is true—Miss Stella once admired Noel.'

Gasps echoed through the hall.

Even Stella looked at him in surprise.

'But admiration is not a crime.'

'Many people mistake youthful affection for love.'

'What matters is not the past.'

'What matters is the choice a person makes today.'

Eric tightened his hold on Stella's hand.

'Today, Stella chose me.'

'And I chose her.'

'That is all the explanation anyone deserves.'

The entire ballroom fell silent once again.

No one had expected Eric to address the issue so directly.

Instead of denying Stella's past, he accepted it openly.

More importantly...

He made it clear that he trusted her completely.

Grandpa Chilton slowly stood from his seat.

'Well said.'

'Every person has a past.'

'Only narrow-minded people judge someone by it.'

'Anyone who continues spreading rumors about my granddaughter-in-law will answer to the Chilton family.'

His powerful declaration immediately changed the atmosphere.

Several guests who had been whispering quickly lowered their heads.

Meanwhile, Vivian's smile completely disappeared.

She had carefully arranged everything, believing Stella would panic.

Instead...

Eric had turned the situation into an opportunity to publicly declare his trust.

Backstage, the hotel manager rushed toward the technical staff.

'Find out who hacked the system!' he shouted.

'Check every security camera immediately!'

Within minutes, Mason quietly approached Eric.

'Sir.'

'We've identified how the presentation was changed.'

'Someone accessed the control room using a temporary staff pass.'

'We've already secured the surveillance footage.'

Eric nodded calmly.

'Don't alert them yet.'

'Let them believe they've succeeded.'

'We'll settle everything after the banquet.'

Mason understood immediately.

'Yes, Mr. Chilton.'

The banquet slowly resumed.

Although many guests still discussed the unexpected incident, the earlier tension gradually disappeared.

Several respected business leaders even approached Stella personally.

'Miss Judd,' one elderly businessman smiled warmly, 'Mr. Eric chose wisely.'

'Not everyone can remain so composed under pressure.'

Another guest nodded in agreement.

'Your courage today deserves respect.'

Stella thanked each of them politely.

For the first time in both lifetimes, she realized she didn't need to constantly defend herself.

Having someone who truly believed in her changed everything.

Across the ballroom, Noel remained frozen in place.

He replayed Eric's words over and over in his mind.

'Today, Stella chose me... and I chose her.'

For some reason, those simple words hurt more than any accusation.

He remembered countless occasions when Stella had tried explaining herself in the past.

Instead of listening...

He had doubted her every single time.

Noel slowly lowered his eyes.

A feeling he had never experienced before quietly settled in his heart.

Regret.

Real regret.

Near the end of the evening, Grandpa Chilton personally invited Stella to stand beside him for a family photograph.

'Come here, child,' he said kindly.

'You're part of this family now.'

As the camera flashed, Stella looked toward Eric.

He simply smiled back.

A calm...

Steady...

Trustworthy smile.

Later that night, as Eric escorted Stella home, neither of them spoke for several minutes.

Finally, Stella broke the silence.

'Why did you defend me without asking any questions?'

Eric kept his eyes on the road.

'Because trust isn't something you offer only when things are easy.'

'It's something you give when it's difficult.'

Stella felt warmth spread through her chest.

In her previous life, she had spent years begging for trust.

Now...

Someone had given it to her without her even asking.

Neither of them noticed that a black sedan had quietly begun following Eric's car from a distance.

Inside the vehicle, a man wearing a dark cap spoke into his phone.

'The first plan failed.'

'But don't worry.'

'The real game is only beginning.'