Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 561

Errol looked at the young woman who bore such a striking resemblance to her mother, a comforting smile softening his features.

"Thank you for understanding, Stella," he began gently. "The Rox family is incredibly wealthy, but the internal politics are an absolute nightmare. The reason I didn't want to bring you back is that I refuse to drag you into that dangerous mess. I also never want you branded with the label of an illegitimate child. I can see that Julius treats you exceptionally well and truly loves you. Knowing you're building a good life with him gives me peace of mind. I'll come visit you in the future, and I hope you'll call me when you have the time."

Even though she said she understood, he still felt the need to explain himself.

He had run a thorough background check on Julius. The man was brilliant, ruthless in business, and commanded a massive empire. His name was on the Forbes list, and his personal wealth rivaled that of the Rox family.

His daughter would have a much better life with Julius than she ever would under the Rox roof.

Six years ago, when Stella wasn't living with the Hawthorne family, his investigators only reported on the three people in Frederick's household. They never even mentioned her, leaving him completely oblivious to her existence.

It wasn't until very recently that he ordered a deep dive into her past, finally uncovering the painful truth of how much she had suffered after her mother's death.

When he asked her yesterday how she had been, she merely said she was doing "alright."

She must have endured so much hardship over the years.

Thank God she had married a man who loved her fiercely. Julius was more than capable of protecting her.

He was a far better man than Errol had been back then.

Errol was just a man who had lost the love of his life. When it came to romance, he considered himself a total failure.

"Okay," Stella agreed softly. "I'll call you when I'm free."

So that was his reasoning. He didn't want her burdened with the stigma of being an illegitimate daughter, and he genuinely feared for her safety.

Truthfully, she had zero desire to go back with him anyway. She despised the "illegitimate" label just as much as he did.

"Alright. Whatever you say."

If it meant that much to him, she would accept it. Otherwise, his eyes would inevitably well up with tears again.

He looked like such a cold, ruthless man on the outside. Julius had even warned her that Errol ruled the Rox family with an iron fist, employing brutal tactics to maintain control.

Yet, whenever he was in front of her, whether it was out of grief for her mother or overwhelming guilt, he always seemed on the verge of crying.

He told her that she looked exactly like her mother had in college—the kind of beauty that instantly made a man want to protect her.

He also mentioned that her mother had countless suitors back then, and he had to fight tooth and nail just to win her heart.

In reality, Stella was fierce; she didn't need anyone's protection. It was her mother who had been soft-spoken, gentle, and overwhelmingly kind.