Frozen Love

The next day, Starla sent a message to her mentor, setting up a time to hand over the consent form. Then, she called Xavier.

The phone rang for a long time before he finally picked up.

“What is it?” His voice was thick with impatience.

Starla was silent for a few seconds before asking softly, “When’s your wedding?”

“July 9th. Why?” Xavier’s tone turned cold. “What are you planning? I’m warning you—don’t even think about causing trouble at the wedding.”

July 9th.

The day they first met. The day Xavier had pulled her from the fire.

A bitter smile tugged at Starla’s lips. “I see.

“I won’t, Uncle Xavier. Congratulations on your marriage.”

She hung up the phone and headed to campus to meet her mentor.

“Starla, are you really sure about this?” Professor Zimmer sighed as he looked at the young woman in front of him. “Even though you have breast cancer, treatment could still give you another year or two. If you go through with this cryogenic experiment, even the smallest mistake could mean immediate death. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?”

He hesitated before adding, “Your uncle cares about you so much. If something happens to you, he’d turn the whole city upside down looking for answers.”

Starla let out a wry smile and shook her head. “I’ve already made up my mind, Professor.

“As for Xavier… he won’t have the time to worry about me anymore.”

After finalizing the details of the cryogenic experiment, Starla followed her mentor to the lab to begin the preliminary preparations.

By the time she finished everything and returned home, it was already 8 p.m.

As she approached the villa, she noticed that the light in Xavier’s bedroom on the second floor was still on.

A flicker of hope rose in her chest—only to be replaced by self-mockery a second later.

She was pathetic. Even after being rejected, she still couldn’t control her feelings.

But when she opened the door, the person waiting inside wasn’t Xavier. It was Wendy.

The moment Wendy saw her, a flash of irritation crossed her eyes, but she quickly masked it with delight.

“Oh my, Starla! You’re back.

“We were just about to head out for dinner. Want to join us?”

She led Starla into the living room, instructing the housekeeper to bring her a glass of water, acting every bit like the lady of the house.

Starla’s heart sank.

She stood up from the couch, about to decline, when Xavier came downstairs.

“Why are you getting home so late?” He frowned instinctively at the sight of her but quickly added, “From now on, Wendy will be staying in my room. I’ve already talked to the housekeeper—she’s in charge of the household now.”

Starla bit her lip and lowered her voice. “Got it.”

Of course. From now on, Wendy was the lady of the house.

And she was nothing more than a pretend family member with no real ties to him.

Xavier glanced at her, slightly surprised.

Strange. Wasn’t she supposed to throw a fit and refuse?

But he quickly brushed off the thought, slipping his arm around Wendy’s. “Wendy and I are heading out for dinner. Are you coming with us, or are you eating at home?”

Starla looked at them.

Xavier’s tone made it seem like he was offering her a choice, but his eyes said otherwise. He didn’t really want her there.

She forced a smile and shook her head. “No, I have schoolwork to take care of. I won’t bother you two.”

She turned to head upstairs. Just as she passed Wendy, Wendy suddenly bumped into her.

Starla’s papers slipped from her grasp, scattering across the floor.

“Oh no!”

Wendy let out a dramatic gasp, stumbling straight into Xavier’s arms.

Starla froze in place.

She hadn’t even touched Wendy, yet Wendy acted as if she had shoved her with all her strength.

“Be more careful when you walk,” Xavier scolded, frowning as he bent down to pick up a paper.

“‘Cell-Based Cryopreservation Therapy for Cancer’” He read the words aloud, his expression darkening. “What is this?”

Starla panicked and quickly snatched the paper from his hands. “It’s… it’s nothing!”

Xavier studied her for a moment. Confusion flickered across his face before it twisted into anger.

“You seriously think I’d fall for this just to get my attention?”

Starla froze.

Then she understood.

Back when Xavier first brought her into his home, she had been a lonely, frightened child with no one to rely on. She had clung to him, bombarding him with endless questions:

“Will you always stay with me?

“What if you have to go on a business trip? What if you get sick?

“I saw on TV that there’s something called cancer. If people get it, they die. Xavier, you can’t ever get sick. You have to stay with me forever, okay?”

Xavier had reassured her with a smile.

“I won’t. I won’t ever get cancer.

“For you, Starla, I’ll stay healthy and be by your side.”

And now, he thought she was using this as an act to manipulate him—trying to guilt him into caring again.

A bitter taste filled her mouth, but she forced herself to stay calm.

“Uncle Xavier, don’t overthink it.

“This is just the research topic Professor Zimmer and I are working on this semester. These are just some materials I found.”