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The childless marriage - FULL | DramaReel
#shortdrama
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#shortdrama
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00:02my husband and i both double income no kids retired together we were planning to travel
00:07the world together when he suddenly came clean i've publicly claimed we were child free for 30
00:12years now it's time to bring my children back home where they belong but i had seen this coming long
00:18ago and smiled meaningfully he thought i had lost my mind and continued a man passing on his line
00:24is only natural you couldn't have kids so i played along but now i owe my children an explanation
00:32he proposed a divorce wanting to take his pair of children and their mother on a family trip
00:37together i agreed immediately gracefully stepping aside and leaving when news of the divorce spread
00:42everyone sympathized with me
00:47an elderly neighbor felt my pain at her age abandoned by her husband what a miserable old age
00:53so tragic a college girl from the same apartment complex fumed on my behalf
00:58that old bastard charles is such a scumbag back then he said they'd never have kids
01:03just enjoy their twin stem now look his own son and daughter are old enough to make him a grandfather
01:10chatting with old friends they couldn't help but so glamorous in your youth successful career living
01:15freely but you insisted on being child free and now you're old and all alone even my parents as long
01:21as you don't divorce his children become yours they'll care for you in old age when we pass on
01:28we'll have peace mind
01:31they all thought i was forced into divorce that i was devastated that i had no one to rely on
01:37in old age
01:37that my whole life had become a joke i didn't explain nor could i be bothered to refute them one
01:43by
01:43one how things would turn out for the two of us when the time came they would know charles on
01:48the other
01:48hand was writing hi he posted a family photo on social media with the caption starting today i
01:53finally have a real family in the photo he stood in the center a young man and woman on either
01:58side
01:58their faces radiating youthful pride and the woman who could carry on his bloodline had her arm linked
02:03through his smiling warmly and gracefully someone commented look at that now that's a winner in life
02:10indeed charles had one big in his youth he enjoyed the twosome life with me living freely his whole life
02:17never suffering through midnight feedings and diaper changes yet in his old age he had both a son and
02:22a daughter to bring him joy how could that not count as winning at life now that he was retired
02:27his career and reputation would no longer be affected and me at my age abandoned by my husband and left
02:33with nothing naturally invited people's size but little did they know i had been prepared all along
02:38in this marriage he wasn't the only one acting
02:47the divorce proceedings went quickly so quickly i felt somewhat dazed charles personally drove me to
02:53the courthouse when signing his hand didn't tremble at all instead it was as if he had finally shed some
02:58burden swift and decisive he smiled at the clerk what can you do we're both old and the love is
03:04gone
03:04but at least i still have my son and daughter with me i can enjoy family happiness too the clerk
03:11looked
03:11at me apologetically eyes full of sympathy and comfort i smiled too but said nothing after the
03:16divorce with a grand gesture he hired people to clear out the bedroom i had lived in for over 30
03:21years eagerly bringing vivian and the children home i didn't fight or argue i didn't even bother hiring a
03:26lawyer i just took my half of the savings and a few important items and moved out cleanly and
03:31efficiently the day vivian moved in i came back to pack up my last belongings as soon as i opened
03:36the
03:37door i saw brand new photos displayed in the living room our wedding photos had been replaced by their
03:42family portrait the four of them charles sat in the center vivian holding his arm with two similar
03:49looking young adults in their 20s standing on either side full of vigor when i walked in the lively
03:55atmosphere instantly turned cold as if announcing my unwelcome presence vivian greeted me with a smile
04:03oh stella did you leave something behind let me help you look for it playing the hostess like
04:10she owned the place just a few last things i'll take them all today i said indifferently charles sat
04:15on the sofa without looking up as if waiting for me to get the hint and leave charles sat on
04:25the sofa
04:25not even lifting his head casually flipping through the newspaper as if waiting for me to get the hint and
04:30leave on my own chloe and connor stood to the side their eyes filled with undisguised distance and
04:34wariness treating me like a stranger who had barged in mom this place looks a bit dated and the living
04:40room is kind of dark how about a renovation with a new style chloe said casually yeah the sofa needs
04:45replacing too so old-fashioned how did dad live in a place like this connor chimed in i listened to
04:50the nitpick and watched charles remain silent i felt like laughing this was the home charles and i had
04:54shared for 30 years every piece of furniture carefully chosen now i was being dismissed as
04:57worthless vivian affectionately held charles's arm see how opinionated the children are this house
05:02needs a complete makeover we can't short charge ourselves charles finally looked up slowly and
05:07glanced at me stella are you done packing take everything at once so you won't have to keep
05:11coming back it's awkward for everyone he meant for me to leave and never come back so i wouldn't be
05:15an
05:15eyesore to their family of four i looked away picked up my bag stood at the doorway and glanced back
05:20one
05:20last time at what had once been my home vivian leaned weakly against charles peeling an orange
05:24while the two children sat side by side on the sofa watching tv the three of them chatting and laughing
05:29as if this home had always been like this composed of their family of four with no place for me
05:34the
05:34way charles looked at vivian was with respect for the mother of his children and guilt for having kept
05:38her as a secret lover all these years as for me i was just an old woman he had grown
05:42tired of with no
05:43children by my side deserving to fend for myself a cold laugh echoed in my heart fine since you want
05:48me
05:48gone i'll leave cleanly so you can enjoy this brief pretense of affection after all in a few
05:53days it will be turning on each other after the divorce i moved into an apartment it wasn't far
05:59from my former home but it felt like a different world i didn't feel any particular discomfort
06:04without charles in the house i actually enjoyed the peace and quiet but outsiders didn't see it that
06:09way no matter how capable and free-spirited you are in your youth you still lost in the end this
06:15was
06:15the shared opinion of relatives and friends my mother couldn't hold back tears when she saw me
06:19you're living alone now with no one to take care of you what if you get sick someday you insisted
06:24on
06:25being child free before look at you now wouldn't it be nice to have a child at least you wouldn't
06:30end up like this my father sighed his face full of regret we shouldn't have let you have your way
06:34back then if we had persuaded you more you wouldn't be in this situation now their words implicitly blamed
06:39me for insisting on being child free saying that's why i lost my husband's heart the most ridiculous
06:43thing was that my friends also thought charles hadn't done anything terribly wrong a man needs
06:47to have children charles was willing to play along with you for so many years that's already going
06:54above and beyond you were too stubborn back then all these years i've never understood what were you
06:59thinking honestly you're both old now vivian would still have to call you big sister why not just make
07:04do and live together i thought at most they'd advise me to accept charles's children i never imagined
07:09they'd suggest vivian and i share one husband but they never considered that neither child shared a single
07:13drop of blood with me even if i stayed how many good days could i possibly have what they didn't
07:17know is that the infertile one had never been me when i first insisted on being child free bearing the
07:26pressure from everyone my declaration that i would never have children was denounced as selfish and
07:30unfilial charles's parents pressured him to divorce me but he said he didn't mind as long as we could live
07:35happily together moved by his words i became even more resolute in my decision for decades i bore all the
07:42blame myself protecting his reputation even his confidence and dignity as a man only to discover
07:47he had given me nothing but a complete and utter deception he never pressured me to have children
07:51because i wasn't his only woman if i didn't give birth he could have other women bear his children
07:56and he could maintain his reputation as a loving husband while gaining my parents trust and support
08:00why wouldn't he play along when i discovered the truth i never imagined that my seemingly gentle husband
08:06was so deeply calculating i was wrong but my mistake was not having children my mistake was
08:12taking it upon myself to protect his dignity as a man for that i was even willing to give up
08:16my right
08:17to be a mother so i planned for years waiting for the moment when his act fell apart to deliver
08:21him a
08:22devastating blow
08:25soon i received the wedding invitation for charles and vivian's wedding the invitation was in vivian's
08:29handwriting saying that as charles's ex-wife i must want to see him happy too and my presence would mean
08:34the world to them i let out a derisive laugh what beautiful words so high sounding they made me sick
08:39mean the world to them vivian had been charles's secret lover for 30 years having finally made it to
08:44the altar she naturally couldn't wait to gloat in front of me i took the invitation and casually glanced
08:48at it the ceremony was at the city's most luxurious five-star hotel quite an upscale venue charles must
08:54have wanted to compensate vivian for 30 years of hidden suffering with the grand wedding when my
08:58friends heard that vivian had invited me to her wedding with charles they were all furious
09:03what does he mean by this he's obviously trying to humiliate you exactly you just moved out and he's
09:10already marrying his mistress in style he's clearly trying to embarrass you you absolutely shouldn't go
09:15going would just be asking for humiliation i listened to their angry voices without feeling
09:20a single ripple in my heart in fact a smile crept to my lips of course i'm going don't worry
09:25i'm not
09:25going to make myself miserable my friend looked at me in confusion i'm just going to watch a comedy
09:31show stella the show is about to begin
09:40on the wedding day the ballroom was decorated magnificently charles stood in the center of the
09:45crowd receiving blessings from relatives and friends while vivian held his arm smiling warmly
09:50and elegantly the picture of a dignified hostess and i walked in with a confident expression completely
09:55unabashed when the guests saw me the smiles on their faces instantly became knowing and significant
10:00why is she here someone whispered she's not here to cause trouble is it well who can blame her
10:08being abandoned by charles anyone would feel upset they all thought i had come to cry to argue to seek
10:15sympathy but they were wrong if only one person could have the last laugh at this wedding that
10:19person would definitely be me i picked up a glass of champagne walked slowly to charles and vivian and
10:24smiled congratulations you finally got what you wanted a flicker of triumph flashed in vivian's eyes
10:30she leaned against charles lightly her tone gentle yet provocative thank you for coming after all back
10:36then you pretended to be child free because you couldn't conceive charles didn't want to hurt you
10:42so he came up with this solution the best of both worlds charles walked over with a drink and raised
10:48his
10:48glass it's all in the past i believe i stayed by your side and did my duty now i'm old
10:55and want to enjoy
10:56my later years surrounded by children i hope you can understand i i lowered my head and chuckled softly
11:03my gaze sweeping over chloe and connor behind them let them enjoy their moment of triumph for now
11:08because the storm is about to descend
11:15the wedding proceeded as planned on stage charles and vivian were exchanging vows holding hands and
11:21gazing at each other with tears in their eyes chloe and connor went up to give them flowers charles
11:25looked at the two young adults in their prime as of seeing his own youth reflected in them
11:29he thought perhaps this was the price of continuing one's bloodline stella would never understand this
11:34feeling which is why he had resolutely abandoned her halfway through the wedding charles suddenly produced
11:39the property deed i once thought i would die childless and alone in my old age but heaven has
11:45been kind to me my beloved vivian has given me a son and a daughter allowing me to live a
11:52complete life
11:53vivian looked at charles tears already glistening in her eyes i have little to give them so i've
11:58decided to transfer the property under my name to the two children to help them thrive cheers erupted from
12:05the audience chloe and connor covered their mouths excitedly and looked at vivian the three of them
12:11were expressions of assured victory but i stood up and shouted i object vivian hadn't received the
12:17property deed yet interrupted by me she was furious stella today is a wonderful day for our family of four
12:24what kind of trouble are you trying to cause charles looked at me with disgust his eyes contemptuous yet
12:29stella i know you're upset about not being able to have children and jealous seeing my family but you
12:36have to accept reality we're divorced the house may have both our names on it but we're old now
12:44what use is it to us chloe and connor nodded continuously even encouraging the guests to boo me
12:49the mc also tried to persuade me mrs stella as mr charles's ex-wife you must want him to have
12:55a
12:55harmonious family and someone to care for him in old age right i put down my glass and said indifferently
13:02of course but i need to correct one thing the one who can't have children isn't me the hall fell
13:11into
13:11dead silence vivian was taken aback and charles frowned too what do you mean by that it means nothing
13:18special i shook my head gently a touch of pity in my eyes my eggs are still frozen at the
13:22egg bank
13:22perfectly healthy the doctor said they can be retrieved for embryo cultivation anytime charles
13:29understood i had frozen my eggs for ivf and he was completely enraged didn't you say you didn't want
13:34children with me now we're divorced and you want ivf are you out of your mind you really don't want
13:41to bear my child that badly i slapped him hard across the face robbed the mc's microphone and spoke
13:47loudly enough for everyone present to hear because the one who can't have children has never been me
13:51it's you charles you have severe olive spermia you have no fertility whatsoever the hall fell into
13:58dead silence in an instant then came an uproar charles is infertile is that true but vivian already
14:05gave him two children didn't she stella must have gone crazy she couldn't have children herself and now
14:11she's slandering charles the guests whispered among themselves and many had already pulled out their
14:15phones to record charles's face turned dark with fury vivian stood frozen her face deathly pale her lips
14:21trembling what nonsense are you spouting charles stepped forward aggressively his gaze so dark it
14:26seemed he wanted to tear me apart i let out a derisive laugh reached into my bag pulled out my
14:30phone and played a recording the clear voice instantly filled the entire wedding hall through
14:34the microphone it's a stella after examination your fertility is completely normal and your ovarian
14:39function is excellent but mr charles's situation is not very optimistic what does that mean his sperm
14:43motility is extremely low basically there is virtually no chance of conception his condition is quite
14:48severe almost no possibility even with ivf the success rate would be extremely low i understand
14:53dr lewis please don't tell him about this yet don't tell anyone else either let this be between you me
14:59and god mistella this kind of thing can't be hidden forever when you can't conceive after marriage it will
15:04naturally come to light it's fine i'll tell him and our parents that i don't want children that i insist
15:10on
15:10being child free that way no one will know the problem lies with charles the recording finished
15:16playing a deathly silence fell all eyes turned to vivian and her two children
15:23suddenly everyone's eyes turned simultaneously toward vivian and the two children behind her
15:27her face had turned completely white and her fingertips were trembling
15:31chloe and connor fidgeted restlessly trying to flee the hall oh my god so all these years
15:36stella insisted on being child free to protect charles's dignity because he's the one who's
15:41infertile then vivian's children vivian's lips moved slightly her voice trembling you must have
15:46had someone forge it i gave a cold laugh opened a second file and a video immediately began playing
15:51on the projection screen the footage showed a dimly lit hotel room with a man and woman entangled on the
15:55bed the woman's face was flushed panting softly her voice seductive and triumphant honey
16:01i'm pregnant the man's voice followed carrying a hint of panic and resistance no way this child
16:06can't be mine can it vivian chuckled softly her voice alluring and of course it's yours
16:11but don't worry neither i nor the child need you to take responsibility what do you mean charles
16:19doesn't have children yet his wife insists on being child free and he's desperate he's been begging me to
16:25bear his children i'll just say the child is his he'll definitely treasure me like a gem the man was
16:31silent for a moment then laughed softly you really are something else vivian hooked her arm around his
16:35neck whispering softly we'll seize all the property and inheritance then we can enjoy our golden years
16:43in peace as soon as she finished speaking the man got excited and lunged down to entangle with the
16:48woman beneath him again the video ended abruptly there everyone was stunned a silence like death vivian
16:54completely collapsed onto the floor her hands clutching her wedding gown tightly
16:58her eyes filled with terror and despair charles's face had reached its most terrible expression
17:02he clenched his fists his body trembling slightly veins bulging at his temples
17:06he was clearly at the peak of rage he roared through gritted teeth
17:15vivian he roared through gritted teeth wishing he could tear her limb from limb
17:18vivian's body shook her eyes instantly reddening as she desperately tried to explain
17:22it's not charles please listen to me explain what is there left to explain charles kicked the chair
17:30aside grabbed a champagne glass from the table and smashed it on the ground the sound of shattering
17:34glass exploded in the quiet wedding venue sharp and piercing you bitch how dare you deceive me
17:40i was your secret lover for 30 years and you dare to cuckler me charles's eyes turned red as if
17:48he had
17:48lost all reason he rushed forward wrapped vivian's shoulders and slapped her heart across the face
17:53the crisp sound of the slap echoed throughout the entire hall vivian staggered backward clutching her
17:59cheek tears streaming from her eyes and you dare to cry you deceived me for 30 years cuckled me
18:06and i've spent so much money on these bastards charles charles calm down someone rushed up to restrain
18:12charles but he had already gone completely mad he shoved everyone aside and like an enraged feast
18:16overturned the dining table plates wine glasses and flowers scattered everywhere the scene was utter
18:21chaos chloe and connor stood to the side their faces ashen their bodies trembling completely out of
18:25locks the guests erupted in an uproar pulling out their phones to capture photos and videos
18:30my god how did this wedding turn into this so vivian's two children aren't even charles's this is
18:36incredible it's the drama of the year the entire wedding had completely spiraled out of control
18:41eventually with security's intervention charles was forcibly pulled away vivian was dragged out
18:46of the hotel in disgrace while chloe and connor fled in terror the wedding had become a complete joke
18:51i stood among the crowd still holding half a glass of champagne quietly savoring everything
18:55the wedding had become a complete joke and i had finally waited for this day
19:02wedding videos were uploaded online and quickly shot to the top of trending topics topics like paternity
19:08truth revealed at wedding ex-wife's calm counter-attack against cheaters and child-free
19:13husband cuckolded for 30 years exploded across the internet charles had become a complete pariah
19:18wherever he went there were pointing fingers and mocking jeers he valued his face above all else
19:24his reputation was the most important thing in his life now his dignity had been completely shattered
19:29turning him into a laughing stock known across the entire country and i on the contrary had become
19:35the object of everyone's sympathy stella is so pitiful to protect her husband's dignity she took the
19:41blame herself and then was treated like this she's the truly good woman she endured for 30 years and
19:48still showed the scumbag some dignity vivian is the truly ruthless one she tricked charles into raising
19:53bastards for 30 years and almost swallowed his entire fortune public opinion had completely turned around
20:00but none of this mattered to me anymore what mattered more was how this farce would end after the
20:05wedding charles locked himself in his former home and hadn't stepped outside for three full days he
20:09smashed everything in the house coffee table tv faces the place was a complete mess but after the
20:16destruction he sat alone on the sofa staring blankly at a family portrait hanging on the wall it was a
20:21photo of him vivian chloe and connor the four of them in the photo he was smiling happily as if
20:27he
20:27owned the whole world now looking at it again he only felt the irony
20:34he picked up the frame and smashed it onto the ground glass shattered the photos splintered into
20:39pieces fake it's all fake he held his head curled up on the floor like a helpless child
20:45he had lost everything while i was just beginning my new life
20:50after the wedding my life returned to peace no it was calmer and freer than before
20:55i started doing things i truly enjoyed i went to several art exhibitions attended concerts and
21:01enrolled in a pottery class my friends laughed at me you're living more freely than young people now
21:08i smiled without saying a word actually they had forgotten that i should have been living this way
21:13when i was young it's just that back then i had poured all my energy into charles and the family
21:17now i
21:18finally had the chance to live for myself one day my mother called her voice carrying a hint of relief
21:24stella you seem different lately different yes more energetic than before as if you've let go of
21:32something i smiled softly yes i had let go i had let go of the self that endured grievances to
21:36protect
21:37a man's dignity i had let go of the foolish notion that endurance would bring happiness i had let go
21:41of
21:41the man named charles mom i've made up my mind about what i want to donate my eggs there was
21:48a long
21:48silence on the other end of the line have you thought this through i have my voice was firm since
21:55the eggs are still there rather than keeping them frozen forever i might as well help people who want
22:00children but can't have them you always thinking of others i smiled without denying it letting go of the
22:07past donating eggs to help others my life is starting anew meanwhile charles's days grew more
22:13unbearable by the day vivian had been thrown out of the house and chloe and connor no longer
22:17acknowledged him as their father after all everything in the video was crystal clear they weren't charles's
22:22children but vivian's illegitimate children with another man they left with vivian not even glancing
22:27back at charles let's go he's not our father chloe said coldly charles sat alone in the empty house
22:33suddenly feeling a loneliness unlike anything he'd ever experienced he had once believed that
22:39having vivian and two children meant he had a real family but now he realized this family had never
22:44belonged to him he himself had been deceived by vivian for a full 30 years he opened his phone
22:49and saw news about me the headline stella decides to donate eggs to help infertile families jumped out at
22:54him he stared at the screen his fingers trembling slightly the woman who had borne his shame for 30 years
22:59to protect his dignity was now doing something even more meaningful and what about him he had
23:04nothing left no family no children no dignity he had lost everything charles put down his phone
23:10leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes images from 30 years ago flooded his mind back then we
23:16were
23:16still young building our careers together planning our future stella when we're old let's travel the
23:21world just the two of us he had once said with a smile sure it's a promise i had agreed
23:26without
23:26hesitation but he had broken that promise it wasn't that i wasn't willing to grow old with him it was
23:31that he chose betrayal first a tear slid from the corner of charles's eye he regretted it but there's
23:36no medicine for regret in this world after hesitating for a long time charles finally dialed my number
23:44the phone rang for a long time before i answered hello stella it's me i was silent for a few
23:50seconds
23:51then spoke calmly is something the matter i i want to see you i chuckled charles do you think
23:59there's anything left to say between us i know i was wrong his voice was hoarse stella i truly know
24:04i was wrong i said nothing i know you're doing well now and i know you don't don't want to
24:09see me
24:10but i still want to tell you i'm sorry face to face i repeated my tone indifferent charles it's been
24:1630 years you're telling me sorry now don't you think it's a little too late i know it's late but
24:23i cut him off charles you chose betrayal so you bear the consequences that was your choice there was
24:29a long silence on the other end stella if if we hadn't divorced would you have forgiven me i didn't
24:35answer because i didn't know the answer myself or rather this question no longer needed an answer
24:41charles live your life well those were my final words before hanging up
24:48live your life well this was the last thing i could give him
24:54the egg donation process was more complicated than i had imagined it required a series of physical
24:58examinations psychological evaluations and legal procedures but i walked through each step with
25:03steadiness the doctor told me my egg quality was excellent even after being frozen for so many
25:08years their viability remained very high mrs stella your eggs are extremely valuable they can help
25:14many families realize their dreams i smiled valuable i had once thought these eggs were the fruit of my
25:20love with charles the hope for our future children but now they had become a gift to help strangers
25:26perhaps this was better at least they would no longer be bound by charles's name after news of
25:32my egg donation spread many people started paying attention to me the media wanted to interview me
25:37asking why i was doing this i simply answered indifferently because i have the ability to help
25:42others it's that simple and what about you and mr charles do you hate him the reporter pressed i
25:49thought for a moment and said i don't hate him but i don't love him either he was part of
25:55my life but
25:56that's in the past the reporter seemed somewhat disappointed by my answer but i didn't care i didn't need
26:01others to define my emotions after the egg donation i decided to travel the round the world trip i had
26:06planned with charles although i couldn't complete it with him i could do it alone my first stop was
26:10paris standing beneath the eiffel tower watching the sunset slowly descend i felt the peace unlike
26:16anything i had ever experienced this city had once been a dream destination for charles and me now i
26:21had come alone but i didn't feel lonely instead i felt that this was truly my own moment without charles
26:27without the constraints of that marriage i could finally be my true self during my days in paris i
26:32visited the louvre walked along the seine and tasted authentic french pastries every day was
26:37fulfilling and joyful traveling alone freedom alone i have finally become myself again during my travels
26:42i occasionally received news from back home i heard that after being thrown out of the chan household
26:47vivian's life hadn't been easy she had once relied on charles's money to live now without a source of
26:53income she could only make ends meet by doing odd jobs chloe and connor no longer had anything to do
26:58with
26:58her either after all once the video was exposed everyone knew the truth they weren't charles's
27:03children but vivian's illegitimate children with another man this news was undoubtedly a devastating
27:08blow to chloe and connor they had always believed they were of the chen bloodline proud of it all these
27:13years only to discover they had no connection to the chen family whatsoever chloe confronted vivian
27:20mom what exactly is going on don't believe those videos they're all fake vivian was still trying to
27:26deny it mom the video is crystal clear you told someone else we were charles's children and said
27:32you were going to swind his property i was just enough chloe cut her off i never want to hear
27:37your
27:38lies again chloe and connor moved out of vivian's house found jobs and started new lives and vivian curled
27:43up alone in a dilapidated rental apartment crying day after day her former elegance and nobility had long
27:49since vanished mom do you think stella is feeling pretty pleased with herself right now chloe had
27:54once asked vivian vivian didn't answer because she knew i was no longer an enemy they needed to worry
28:00about i was living too well so well that they didn't even have the right to be jealous
28:09after leaving paris i flew to kyoto this ancient city had a completely different charm from paris
28:15i strolled along the bamboo grove path in arashima listening to the rustling of bamboo leaves in the
28:20wind feeling exceptionally peaceful here there was no charles no vivian none of those troubling memories
28:27from the past only myself i stayed at a traditional japanese inn rising early each morning to soak in the
28:33hot springs and savor exquisite kaiseki cuisine the innkeeper was a kind middle-aged woman seeing me alone
28:39she couldn't help asking ma'am are you traveling alone yes i answered with a smile doesn't traveling
28:48alone feel lonely i thought for a moment and said sometimes but more often it's a kind of freedom
28:55the innkeeper nodded showing an understanding smile you're right freedom is more precious than anything
29:01during my days in kyoto i also visited kaya mizudora and drew a fortune slip the fortune read withered trees
29:07meet spring old matters become empty the road ahead is bright freedom lies within the heart i looked at
29:12the fortune and couldn't help but smile withered trees meet spring wasn't this exactly my current
29:16state after 30 years of winter i had finally welcomed my own spring i carefully put away the
29:21fortune slip into my wallet old matters become empty the road ahead is bright these words i would
29:27always keep in my heart on the last night before leaving kyoto i sat in the inn's courtyard gazing at
29:33the star-filled sky my phone rang it was an unfamiliar number i hesitated for a moment but answered anyway
29:38hello stella it's me it was charles's voice he had come looking for me again
29:50charles how did you get this number i frowned i asked your friend his voice was hoarse stella i want
29:54to see you see me i gave a cold laugh charles what is there left for us to see i
30:00know i was wrong and i know
30:01you don't forgive me but but i really want to talk to you face to face i was silent for
30:06a moment
30:06then finally sighed fine i'm in kyoto leaving tomorrow i know i'm already here i was stunned
30:14he was already here where are you i asked downstairs that you're in i walked to the window pulled back
30:19the curtain and sure enough saw a familiar figure standing below charles was wearing a dark overcoat
30:24carrying a suitcase he looked much thinner and older than before i hesitated but eventually went
30:29downstairs to meet him in the inn's tea room we sat facing each other charles looked at me his eyes
30:34complicated stella you've changed have i i picked up my teacup and took a sip people always change you
30:41would never have treated me like this before his voice carried bitterness the old you was always
30:46gentle and considerate never willing to embarrass me the old me was a fool i put down my teacup my
30:52tone
30:52calm charles you betrayed me for 30 years and now you come to me with this don't you find it
30:57ridiculous charles lowered his head his hands tightly clasped i know i don't deserve to ask for
31:03your forgiveness but i truly regret it i scoffed regret do you regret losing vivian and the two
31:11children or do you regret being laughed at by the whole world charles's face turned pale he opened his
31:19mouth but couldn't speak charles you don't need to answer me i stood up looking down at him because your
31:25answer no longer matters to me i turned to leave but charles suddenly stood up and grabbed my wrist
31:32stella give me a chance let's start over please his voice was fleeting his eyes full of desperation
31:39i stopped and turned to look at him this man i had once deeply loved now only felt like a
31:44stranger to me
31:45charles i gently freed my hand from his my tone calm yet firm some roads once traveled can never be
31:53retraced we can he said urgently i know you hate me but i can change i can make it up
31:58to you i can can
31:59you can't i cut him off charles you can't make it up 30 years of betrayal cannot be erased by
32:06a single
32:06sorry his eyes reddened his voice trembling stella do you really not love me anymore i looked at him
32:12not a single ripple in my heart love i shook my head gently charles i loved the you from 30
32:17years
32:18ago not the you of today that you is already dead charles's body swayed as if he had been struck
32:23hard
32:24he released my hand stepped back looking as if he had aged 10 years in an instant i understand his
32:29voice was hoarse and low stella i wish you happiness i didn't answer just nodded faintly then turned and
32:36left the moment i walked out of the tea room i let out a long breath 30 years of entanglement
32:41had finally
32:42come to a close i didn't look back because i knew there were even more beautiful sights ahead waiting
32:46for me i returned to my room packed my luggage and prepared for my next destination my phone rang with
32:53a message from a friend stella charles came looking for you again don't pay him any attention he's just
32:58a scumbag i smiled and replied don't worry i've already let go letting go is not forgiving but no
33:06longer being bound by the past i dragged my suitcase walked out of the inn and strode forward into the
33:12morning sunlight a new journey had begun my brand new life after leaving kyoto i went to many more
33:21places rome barcelona sydney new york every city left its mark with my footsteps i learned to eat alone
33:29watch movies alone go shopping alone things i once thought required two people to do it turned out i could
33:35do perfectly well alone one afternoon in paris i sat at a cafe by the seine watching the passing crowds
33:41suddenly a little girl ran over looking at me with big wide eyes
33:47ma'am you're so pretty she said in her childish voice i was taken aback then smiled
33:54thank you little one her mother walked over and apologized with a smile i'm sorry my daughter
34:00is too playfy it's fine she's adorable the little girl held her mother's hand looked back at me and
34:05suddenly shouted mommy that lady has stars in her eyes i was stunned stars i subconsciously touched my
34:13own face perhaps i really had changed no longer the woman who endured grievances to protect her husband's
34:19dignity no longer the fool who took the blame for someone else's betrayal the current me had light in my
34:24eyes and dreams in my heart this was probably what people called rebirth light in my eyes dreams in
34:31my heart this is my rebirth after the trip i returned home there was new progress on the egg donation
34:37the hospital told me my eggs had successfully helped three infertile couples conceive mrs stella
34:42you are truly remarkable the doctor said gratefully i smiled it's nothing remarkable just doing what i
34:49should actually donating eggs wasn't just about helping others it was also about making peace with
34:55my own regrets although i never had my own children my eggs could help others realize their dream of
35:00becoming parents this was probably the best possible ending one day i received a letter it was from a
35:06mother who had received my eyes dear miss stella i don't know what words to use to express my gratitude
35:12my husband and i have been married for 15 years and have never had children we tried every method
35:18without success just when we were about to give up we received news from the hospital that someone was
35:24willing to donate eggs that person was you now i am pregnant and the doctor says the baby is very
35:30healthy i don't know how to thank you i just want to tell you that you have given our family
35:35new hope
35:36thank you miss stella you are the great benefactor of our entire family after reading the letter my eyes
35:43welled up with tears it turned out that helping others truly could bring happiness to oneself
35:48i carefully put the letter away in a drawer this touching moment i would forever treasure in my
35:53heart helping others is also healing oneself
35:58after returning home i started reconnecting with old friends because of the whole situation
36:03with charles i had grown distant from many people now i wanted to pick up those relationships
36:07again the first person i reached out to was my best friend linda when she saw me she was so
36:12excited
36:13she almost cried stella you're finally back i thought you'd never speak to me again how could that be
36:22i laughed and hugged her i just went traveling for a while to clear my head
36:28so how are you now has charles caused you any more trouble no it's completely over between us linda
36:35breathed a sigh of relief that's good stella you deserve someone better someone better
36:41i smiled linda i don't need anyone else to define my worth right now i am enough linda looked at
36:50me
36:50surprise flashing in her eyes then relief stella you really have changed become better stronger have
36:57i maybe i picked up my coffee after going through so much you've got to learn something so what are
37:01your plans next keep living of course i smiled work travel do what i love what about love linda
37:07winked not considering finding someone new
37:11i shook my head not for now at this point in my life i just want to love myself well
37:18linda laughed
37:20well said cheers to our new era we clinked cups the aroma of coffee filling the air in this moment
37:27i felt warmth not because of romance but because of friendship not because of dependence but because
37:33of independence i finally understood that true happiness doesn't come from others but from oneself
37:40after returning home i didn't stay idle i started replanning my career in my youth i had given up
37:46many opportunities for charles now i would pick them up one by one i open a small floral design studio
37:52this was a dream i had in my youth that i never got to realize now i finally had the
37:56chance to make it
37:57a reality the studio wasn't big but it was decorated warmly every morning i would go to the flower market
38:02to select the freshest blooms then back at the studio i would trim stems match colors and create
38:08beautiful bouquets when customers came i would recommend the most suitable flowers based on
38:14their needs your mom will definitely love this bouquet these roses for your girlfriend guaranteed to make
38:20her feel your love watching the satisfied smiles of my customers my heart filled with a sense of
38:24accomplishment linda a special customer walked into the one in a young woman holding a baby in her arms
38:30hello she said with a smile i'd like to order a bouquet certainly who is it for
38:38for myself her eyes sparkled i just had a baby and want to treat myself i was taken aback then
38:45smiled
38:46congratulations that's the best gift of all i carefully arranged a bouquet of pink carnations and
38:51white baby's breath for her she held the flowers held her baby smiling so happily in that moment
38:57i suddenly felt that my choice had been the right one although i didn't have a child of my own
39:02i could
39:03bring happiness to others in other ways this was probably the meaning of life bringing happiness to
39:08others is also the meaning of life time flies in the blink of an eye three years had passed my
39:14floral
39:14studio had grown bigger and bigger now with three branch locations my name had also started to gain
39:20recognition in the industry many people didn't know what storms this elegant and composed florist had once
39:25weathered and i no longer spoke of them because all of that was in the past the present me only
39:30wanted to look forward one day i received a postcard from alaska no signature just one sentence may the
39:37rest of your life be happy i knew who sent it but i didn't write back some goodbyes don't need
39:43a response
39:43i slipped the postcard into that fortune slip withered trees meet spring old matters become empty
39:49the road ahead is bright freedom lies within the heart these words i had always kept in my heart
39:56charles vivian chloe connor they had all become passers-by in my life and i had finally become
40:01the protagonist of my own story the sun was setting i sat by the studio window watching the passing
40:07crowds outside holding a cup of hot tea my heart felt a peace unlike anything before my phone rang it
40:14was
40:14a message from the hospital miss stella your donated eggs have successfully helped a fifth couple welcome
40:20their baby thank you for your great love i smiled my eyes were a bit moist but my heart was
40:26full of
40:26happiness perhaps this was the best possible ending i didn't have children but i had helped many people
40:31realize their dreams i didn't have romance but i had true freedom i didn't have a family but i had
40:36created a world of my own in this world there were flowers sunshine laughter and hope that was enough
40:43i raised my teacup and took a gentle sip outside the window the afterglow of the sunset spilled across
40:48my face warm and gentle my life has only just begun
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