Night was approaching.
Stella Grace stood by the window and looked out at the stars.
She had learned that people worked hard in life not because they wanted to live a carefree and peaceful life but rather because it was an obligation.
They were worried that they would die before fulfilling their purpose in life.
They were worried about their children.
They were worried that their partner would have a difficult life once they were gone.
Her parents were still alive, but her father had a family of his own, while her mother… well, at least her mother’s needs would be taken care of by the sanatorium for the rest of her life.
She had a child who might have died a few years ago. Even if he didn’t, it might be impossible for her to look for him now.
She used to have a soulmate. But, Jasper Milton now hated her to the core.
She hated Frederick Addington’s guts and hoped she would never see him again in this life.
Now, she still had two duties left to fulfill.
One was Ryan Lameer’s kid whom she had promised to look after. She had already received the money from him.
The second was finding the murderer who slaughtered Tavers Village.
That trail had gone cold.
Sorry, Timmy Nine. Even if she could, she didn’t want to live anymore.
As for… Eli Wayne.
She thought of just disappearing, leaving them oblivious to her final fate.
She wandered the world, slowly eaten by her illness until her pain finally engulfed her.
She was a like hedgehog, keeping everyone at a distance despite desperately needing their help.
She didn’t want to be looked down on or pitied. She didn’t want people gossiping about her illness behind her back.
She couldn’t lose her dignity.
Thump, thump, thump!
There was a knock on the door.
Stella turned around and opened it.
Rolland Cher stood at the door. “Could we have a chat? I’ve been in a bad mood recently. Wendy’s parents have moved away. I think they will never forgive me.”
“If they don’t forgive you, what will you do?” Stella asked softly.
“I don’t know what to do either. It’s all my fault,” Rolland said guiltily.
“Couples break up and get together with other people all the time.
Annie Yard’s an example. You made the right choice.
You felt guilty and blamed yourself. That just proves you’re a responsible person capable of change.
“I ask you, if Wendy’s parents don’t forgive you, what do you think they would want you to do?” Stella retorted.
Rolland looked down gloomily. “They would probably want me to get lost so they won’t have to see me.”
“You’re right. Many people think they’re wrong and just want to be forgiven. Their daughter died. You couldn’t expect them to forgive you that easily, yes? So why force them to?
If you think you really are in the wrong, you should do what they want you to do. Do you understand?” Stella asked.
“Are you saying that I should just leave them alone rather than meeting them and pleading for forgiveness?” Rolland asked, confused.
“Firstly, even though this matter may not be entirely your fault, you still can’t use this reason to make them forgive you. That shouldn’t be the main point. Secondly, it is up to them if they wanted to forgive you. What you want doesn’t matter. If they finally come around one day, they’ll naturally come and find you.
Your role is to live in a way that make’s you worthy of their forgiveness,” Stella advised.
“I see. That is so insightful!” Rolland praised.
There was a knock on the door.
Rolland peered through the peephole and saw an imposing man. He was confused but opened the door anyway.
“Let Stella out,” Jasper Milton demanded.
Rolland looked at him suspiciously.
Stella was instinctively drawn to Jasper’s voice. She walked to the door.
“You, get lost,” Jasper ordered Rolland.
Rolland shrank back, intimidated by Jasper’s imposing aura.
He turned to Stella, waiting for her approval.
Stella didn’t want to see Jasper, but Rolland was no match for him. She would only get him into trouble if she resisted.
She nodded to Rolland.
He promptly retreated.
Stella lowered her eyes with a shiver.
Please, don’t let her go crazy like last time.
Jasper threw a diary in her face. “What’s the meaning of this?”
Stella was puzzled. “Why is this notebook here?”
Jasper narrowed his eyes. “Don’t play dumb, you sent it to me! I saw the surveillance footage, you sent it then dropped the bag in the trash.”
“What about my bag? Is it with you?” Stella asked.
Jasper glared at her. “Stella, what the hell are you doing?”
Stella ignored his question. “How did you find me?”
“You turned off your phone and threw it away. If you didn’t want me to find you, you shouldn’t have come to Yale City, this is my turf. Tell me clearly, what do you want?” Jasper snapped.
She wondered about that herself.
She had no answer to his question.
“No matter what I do, it will never be enough for you. If you hate me, then just come at me,” Stella said firmly.
Jasper grabbed Stella’s shoulder and pushed her against the wall. He glared at her, fuming. “If I wanted to come at you, you would have been dead on the day I was released. Tell me, Frederick forced you to divorce and abandon me, didn’t he? All so that I would be released, am I right?”
Stella’s lips quivered.
She was grateful and relieved that he still believed in her!
She could die with no regrets!
However, she was still very ill, thus she didn’t want to drag him down with her. She didn’t want his promising future to be ruined by gossip.
More than that, she didn’t want to place him at the mercy of Frederick. Her life was already been controlled by him, and she didn’t want Jasper to end up the same way as she did.
“Jasper, don’t be silly. If that were true, why wouldn’t I want to be with you now that you’d been released? Wake up, I’m with Frederick now. There’s no turning back!”
“What did he threaten you with? Our child? What?! Just say it, whatever it is, I swear I can solve it.” Jasper tightened his grip on her shoulders with every word he uttered.
She believed in his abilities. Therefore, between the child and him, she chose him.
However, this was beyond even his abilities.
No one could help her now.
Love was not meant to possess but to set free.