Stella clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms. The deference in her eyes had vanished, replaced by seething hatred.

"Mr. Valois, I just want to know where my sister is." Her voice trembled, each word forced through gritted teeth.

Seven days. Seven days without a single trace of Sylvia. Stella had called her sister's phone until it went dead. She'd questioned every friend, followed every lead—nothing.

Her first suspects were Lucien Valois and his wife Yvonne.

After all, Sylvia had been Lucien's mistress for years. She'd even sabotaged his affair with Jenna. If Yvonne discovered her husband's infidelity, she wouldn't let it slide.

Stella had turned the city upside down searching for Lucien. Now that she'd cornered him, she wouldn't back down.

"What did you say?" Lucien's brow furrowed.

"Stop pretending!" Stella's voice cracked like a whip. "Did you kill my sister?"

Her eyes burned with unshed tears. Sylvia was her only family. For her, Stella would risk everything.

Lucien's expression darkened. "I didn't kill her."

"Then was it your wife?" Stella advanced on him.

After a weighted pause, Lucien said, "I'll look into it."

He handed her his business card. Stella dialed the number on the spot to verify it before leaving.

The moment she was gone, Lucien summoned his bodyguard.

"Talk." His voice could freeze hell. "What do you know?"

The bodyguard kept his head bowed, barely daring to breathe.