Chapter 278: Chapter 278: He Had Seen Her Back Then
’But do I even need to guess?’
It was obvious without him saying a word!
After all, he bore a strong resemblance to Gordon Ford—one was just the older version, and the other, the younger.
She would never believe the two of them weren’t related in some way.
Even if this man wasn’t Gordon Ford’s father, he was still closely connected to him.
"Well now, you’re a clever one, young lady."
Gideon Ford chuckled, seeming to be in an excellent mood. "Actually, I’d heard your name long before this."
Stella Sterling looked at him. ’So is that why he was looking at me so strangely back at the conference hall?’
Before Caeluna Base made a name for itself, she was just an ordinary person. Outside of her friends, family, and close acquaintances, who would have known about a nobody like her?
But considering his likely connection to Gordon Ford, she guessed Gordon must have mentioned her to him.
However, his next words surprised Stella Sterling. "The first time I heard your name was many years ago. Back then, times were peaceful, not like now with these endless disasters."
As he said this, Gideon Ford sighed, his gaze tinged with sorrow.
Stella Sterling was taken aback. He’d heard of her before the apocalypse.
Just then, he continued, "I’m sure you’ve guessed who I am by now. I’m Gordon Ford’s father. You could even call me Uncle, perhaps."
Stella Sterling merely smiled at this, not taking the opportunity to close the distance between them.
Gideon Ford didn’t seem to mind. He just went on, "In fact, I didn’t just hear your name. I secretly saw you in person, too."
"You were much more naive back then, though. And you looked a little different, too."
He never imagined that the little girl from back then would have grown into the woman she was today.
His gaze grew distant, as if lost in recollection.
Stella Sterling, however, was surprised. ’He had seen me before? Back then, he and I had been close, but we were still one step shy of becoming a couple.’
’Could it be that Gordon had already mentioned me to his family back then?’
It seemed he was just looking for a simple chat with Stella Sterling today. Seeing her surprise, he said with a chuckle, "That boy was like a different person back then. He started smiling a lot more. It was such an obvious change, how could his family not notice?"
"So, after his mother and I pressed him, we finally heard about you. The girl my son liked... regardless of her family background, I had to see for myself what her character was like."
"So I went to see you in secret. Later, the boy told us he was going to confess his feelings to you. It was the first time I’d ever seen him so thrilled and excited. It’s just a shame..."
Here, Gideon Ford paused. "If it weren’t for that accident, you might have been my daughter-in-law by now."
Stella Sterling knew what accident he was referring to. She and Gordon Ford had been very close back then. Though they hadn’t taken that final step, everyone around them saw their relationship as a natural progression.
That day, she and Gordon Ford had arranged to meet at an amusement park. He’d said there was something he’d been wanting to tell her for a long time.
Stella Sterling knew what it was: he was going to confess his feelings.
’What was I feeling back then?’
’I think I was looking forward to it, thrilled, and very nervous!’
But tragically, on that day, she waited from morning until afternoon, and from afternoon until evening, but Gordon Ford never showed up.
She couldn’t reach him, either. It was as if he had completely vanished from her world.
She was heartbroken, sad, and confused for a very long time.
But then so many things happened. She found her so-called biological parents, then dealt with everything that came with the Sterling Family, and then the apocalypse arrived.
She struggled just to survive. For the first few years, she lived in constant fear, only feeling a little better after she gradually grew stronger.
As for Gordon Ford, she had long since buried him in the deepest corner of her heart, to the point she had almost forgotten he existed.
Hearing Gordon Ford’s father bring all this up now made her feel a little dazed.
Gideon Ford looked at Stella Sterling and sighed. "In this apocalyptic world, if I hadn’t met you, I wouldn’t have interfered in matters between you two. But now that I have, I can’t help but speak up for my son. He didn’t stand you up on purpose that year. He was in a serious car accident and almost died."
Stella Sterling had already heard this from Gordon Ford, but hearing it from someone else felt different somehow.
When Stella Sterling remained silent, he continued, "He was in a coma for over half a year, receiving treatment overseas. His mother was abroad taking care of him, and I flew over to visit from time to time. While he was unconscious, he kept muttering your name."
"So, young lady, your name is etched into my memory. But it’s truly a surprise to see you again under circumstances like these."
He had heard the name Stella Sterling, and it left a profound impression.
He had heard the name quite often, even in the past two years.
And to see her today and learn her identity... it truly made one sigh at the twists of fate.
’The woman my son loved was this outstanding. I’m starting to think my son isn’t good enough for her!’
Gideon Ford looked at Stella Sterling and noticed that the woman who had been so calm just moments ago now seemed dazed, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the tabletop. He wondered what she was thinking.
But Stella Sterling’s expression quickly returned to normal. She didn’t dwell on Gideon Ford’s words, simply saying calmly, "It’s certainly a lot to hear, but that’s all in the past. As for him and me... let’s just see what happens."
"Of course."
Gideon Ford nodded and said no more. He had promised his son that if he ever met her, he would put in a good word for him.
He had said what he needed to. From here on, the matter between the two young people was up to them.
Besides, judging from the young woman’s tone, he felt there was still hope for his son.
’Let’s just see what happens...’
’That means she’s not opposed to my son!’
Back at the conference hall, her attitude when she rejected that person from Sanctyr Base had been a world away from this.
’Thinking about it that way, my boy still has a pretty good chance.’
’If the two of them could end up together, that would be wonderful.’
Even back then, he had thought the girl’s character was good. If his son liked her, he would let him be.
Now, so many years later, his son’s feelings hadn’t faded, and the little girl from all those years ago had grown so capable. He had even less reason to object now.
