The Heiress With Seven Secret Identies (Stella Shaw) novel Chapter 70

Chapter 70 Clues About Nicole Surface

Tess‘ name flashed on her phone.

Stella picked up immediately.

“Stella. I sent you everything I could find on Nicole Shaw.”

“Good.”

“There aren’t many photos. Mostly just old student ID pictures from her university days. I’ll keep digging.”

“Thanks. Get some rest.”

Stella opened the file and watched it load.

She’d put together her own collection. She might not recognize Nicole, but Derek and the people from White Pit Village certainly would.

The ‘profile loaded.

Nicole’s photo appeared on screen.

Stella clicked and zoomed in. Studied every detail.

pulled a blank sheet of paper from her drawer, selected a pencil from the cup, and started sketching.

ning breeze drifted through the window, lifting the curtains. She pulled her jacket tighter

at thinking, then twisted her hair into a loose ponytail with a band.

In the quiet dark, only the wind and the soft scratch of pencil on paper.

A long while later, she set the pencil down.

She held the sketch of Nicole next to the portrait she’d drawn of her mother–the one she’d recreated from memory, over and over.

She compared them carefully. Then set both aside and returned to Nicole’s file.

Valedictorian.

Violinist.

National piano champion.

211

Undergraduate stock trading prodigy at Azure Peak University.

Hobbies: calligraphy. Fine arts.

Stella frowned slightly.

Based on everything she’d gathered, Nicole was the strongest match. Could it really be her?

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Chapter 70 Clues About Nicole Surface

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The mother she remembered had never played a real piano in front of her. But she could create stunning drawings with nothing but a burnt stick.

Stella’s love for the piano came from those memories–her mother’s hands moving across keys that didn’t exist, drawn on a wall with charcoal,

They’d never owned one.

But her mother had taught her anyway.

Stella closed her eyes. Thought about how Derek had built his fortune.

Her carefully guarded calm began to crack.

“Ding.”

A notification pulled her back.

Elias.

“Still working? Everything okay?”

Stella replied, “Am I the only light on in the whole building?”

Elias said, “Busted. I’ll bring you a prize tomorrow.”

She smiled despite herself. “Can’t sleep?”

Elias smiled, “Too excited. Too happy.”

The “entry ticket” she’d given him earlier had made his entire day. But exhaustion was catching up. He’d only stayed awake because he noticed her light was still on.

Stella asked, “Want to burn off some energy with math?”

Elias replied, “Video call?”

Stella said, “Sure.”

They solved problems together. Found strange comfort in equations that would make most people’s heads spin.

After a while, Stella yawned. Covered her mouth. Her eyes, soft and hazy, drifted toward the screen.

“Tired?” His voice came through gentle, concerned.

“Mm. Going to sleep.”

“Goodnight, Stella.”

“Goodnight.”

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Chapter 70 Clues About Nicole Surface

The call ended. Elias‘ eyes were already heavy.

+5 Pearls

Truth was, he’d been exhausted for hours. But seeing her light on–knowing she was still awake–he’d wanted to stay with her.

His head hit the pillow. He was gone in seconds.

The next morning.

Azure General Hospital.

Arthur listened to the “well–wishers” who’d come to visit. His face, which had finally regained some color, went pale again. Anger flickered in his eyes, but he didn’t dare show it. He forced a tight smile instead.

The moment they left–the ones who’d come specifically to watch the Thorne family crumble–he lost it. He swept everything off the bedside table. Flowers. Vitamins. All of it crashed to the floor.

“They fired you?”

Silas kept his mouth shut. Stepped back instinctively.

“Dad. Take it easy.”

Zach rubbed his father’s back.

“And Jasmine? Fired too. And the two of you–brawling in the street like animals? You made us a public joke.”

How had everything fallen apart in just two months?

Arthur grabbed his chest. Regret crushed him.

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