A deeply emotional short drama that explores the cracks in a relationship strained by silence and unmet expectations. "The Childless Marriage" delves into the social pressure, hidden grief, and the ultimate test of love when a couple faces the void where a family was meant to be. A poignant look at whether love is enough to bridge the gap.
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#shortdrama #thechildlessmarriage #relationship #familysecrets #emotional #marriageproblems #drama #trendingvideo #shortfilm #mustwatch
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Short filmTranscript
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
00:59that 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
01:21advised me as long as you don't divorce his children become yours they'll care for you
01:26in old age when we pass on we'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 that my whole life had become a joke i didn't explain nor could i be bothered
01:42to refute them one by one how things would turn out for the two of us when the time came
01:46they would know charles on the other hand was riding high he posted a family photo on social
01:51media with the caption starting today i finally have a real family in the photo he stood in the
01:56center a young man and woman on either side their faces radiating youthful pride and the woman who
02:01could carry on his bloodline had her arm linked through his smiling warmly and gracefully someone
02:07commented look at that now that's a winner in life indeed charles had one big in his youth
02:13he enjoyed the twosome life with me living freely his whole life never suffering through
02:18midnight feedings and diaper changes yet in his old age he had both a son and a daughter to bring
02:23him joy how could that not count as winning at life now that he was retired his career and reputation
02:28would no longer be affected and me at my age abandoned by my husband and left with nothing
02:34naturally invited people's sons 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
02:58some burden swift and decisive he smiled at the clerk what can you do we're both old and the love
03:04is gone
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
04:25sofa not even lifting his head casually flipping through the newspaper as if waiting for me to get
04:29the hint and leave on my own chloe and connor stood to the side their eyes filled with undisguised
04:34distance and weariness treating me like a stranger who had barged in mom this place looks a bit dated
04:39and the living room is kind of dark how about a renovation with a new style chloe said casually
04:43yeah the sofa needs replacing too so old-fashioned how did dad live in a place like this connor chimed
04:49in i listened to the nitpick and watched charles remain silent i felt like laughing this was the
04:53home charles and i had shared for 30 years every piece of furniture carefully chosen now i was being
04:57dismissed as worthless vivian affectionately held charles's arm see how opinionated the children
05:01are this house needs a complete makeover we can't short charge ourselves charles finally looked up
05:06slowly and glanced 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 while the two
05:25children sat side by side on the sofa watching tv the three of them chatting and laughing as if this
05:30home had always been like this composed of their family of four with no place for me the way charles
05:35looked at vivian was with respect for the mother of his children and guilt for having kept her as a
05:38secret lover all these years as for me i was just an old woman he had grown tired of with
05:43no children
05:43by my side deserving to fend for myself a cold laugh echoed in my heart fine since you want me
05:49gone i'll
05:49leave cleanly so you can enjoy this brief pretense of affection after all in a few days it will be
05:54turning on each other after the divorce i moved into an apartment it wasn't far from my former home
06:00but it felt like a different world i didn't feel any particular discomfort without charles in the
06:05house i actually enjoyed the peace and quiet but outsiders didn't see it that way no matter how
06:11capable and free-spirited you are in your youth you still lost in the end this was the shared opinion
06:16of relatives and friends my mother couldn't hold back tears when she saw me you're living alone now
06:21with no one to take care of you what if you get sick someday you insisted on being child free
06:25before look at you now wouldn't it be nice to have a child at least you wouldn't end up like
06:31this my
06:31father sighed his face full of regret we shouldn't have let you have your way back then if we had
06:35persuaded you more you wouldn't be in this situation now their words implicitly blamed me for insisting on
06:40being child free saying that's why i lost my husband's heart the most ridiculous thing was that
06:44my friends also thought charles hadn't done anything terribly wrong a man needs to have children
06:48charles was willing to play along with you for so many years that's already going above and beyond
06:54you were too stubborn back then all these years i've never understood what were you thinking
06:59honestly you're both old now vivian would still have to call you big sister why not just make do
07:04and 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
07:13single drop of blood with me even if i stayed how many good days could i possibly have what they
07:17didn't
07:17know was that the infertile one had never been me when i first insisted on being child free bearing
07:26the pressure from everyone my declaration that i would never have children was denounced as selfish
07:30and unfilial charles's parents pressured him to divorce me but he said he didn't mind as long as we
07:35could live happily together moved by his words i became even more resolute in my decision for decades
07:41i bore all the blame myself protecting his reputation even his confidence and dignity as a man
07:46only to discover he had given me nothing but a complete and utter deception he never pressured
07:51me to have children because i wasn't his only woman if i didn't give birth he could have other
07:55women bear his children and he could maintain his reputation as a loving husband while gaining my
07:59parents trust and support why wouldn't he play along when i discovered the truth i never imagined that
08:05my seemingly gentle husband was so deeply calculating i was wrong but my mistake was not having children
08:10my mistake was taking it upon myself to protect his dignity as a man for that i was even willing
08:16to
08:16give up my right to be a mother so i planned for years waiting for the moment when his act
08:20fell apart
08:21to deliver him a devastating blow
08:25soon i received the wedding invitation for charles and vivian's wedding the invitation was in
08:29vivian's handwriting saying that as charles's ex-wife i must want to see him happy too and my presence
08:34would mean the world to them i let out a derisive laugh what beautiful words so high sounding they
08:39made me sick mean the world to them vivian had been charles's secret lover for 30 years having
08:43finally made it to the altar she naturally couldn't wait to gloat in front of me i took the invitation
08:47and casually glanced at it the ceremony was at the city's most luxurious five-star hotel quite an
08:52upscale venue charles must have wanted to compensate vivian for 30 years of hidden suffering with the
08:57grand wedding when my friends heard that vivian had invited me to her wedding with charles
09:00they were all furious what does he mean by this he's obviously trying to humiliate you
09:08exactly you just moved out and he's already marrying his mistress in style he's clearly
09:12trying to embarrass you you absolutely shouldn't go going would just be asking for humiliation
09:17i listened to their angry voices without feeling a single ripple in my heart in fact a smile crept
09:22to my lips of course i'm going don't worry i'm not going to make myself miserable my friend looked
09:28at me in confusion i'm just going to watch a comedy show stella
09:34the show is about to begin
09:40on the wedding day the ballroom was decorated magnificently charles stood in the center of
09:45the crowd receiving blessings from relatives and friends while vivian held his arm smiling
09:50warmly and elegantly the picture of a dignified hostess and i walked in with a confident expression
09:54completely unabashed when the guests saw me the smiles on their faces instantly became knowing
10:00and significant why is she here someone whispered she's not here to cause trouble is it well who can
10:06blame her being abandoned by charles anyone would feel upset they all thought i had come to cry to
10:14argue to seek sympathy but they were wrong if only one person could have the last laugh at this wedding
10:18that person would definitely be me i picked up a glass of champagne walked slowly to charles and
10:23vivian and smiled congratulations you finally got what you wanted a flicker of triumph flashed in
10:30vivian's eyes she leaned against charles lightly her tone gentle yet provocative thank you for coming
10:35after all back then you pretended to be child free because you couldn't conceive
10:40charles didn't want to hurt you so he came up with this solution the best of both worlds charles walked
10:47over with a drink and raised his glass it's all in the past i believe i stayed by your side
10:52and did my
10:53duty now i'm old and want to enjoy my later years surrounded by children i hope you can understand i
11:01i lowered my head and chuckled softly my gaze sweeping over chloe and connor behind them
11:06let them enjoy their moment of triumph for now because 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 a
11:40d i once thought i would die childless and alone in my old age but heaven has been kind to
11:46me
11:46my beloved vivian has given me a son and a daughter allowing me to live a complete 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
12:05from the audience chloe and connor covered their mouths excitedly and looked at vivian the three
12:11of them were expressions of assured victory but i stood up and shouted i object vivian hadn't received
12:17the property deed yet interrupted by me she was furious stella today is a wonderful day for our
12:23family of four what kind of trouble are you trying to cause charles looked at me with disgust his eyes
12:28contemptuous yet resigned stella i know you're upset about not being able to have children and
12:34jealous seeing my family but you have to accept reality we're divorced the house may have both our
12:42names on it but we're old now what use is it to us chloe and connor nodded continuously even encouraging
12:48the guests to boo me the mc also tried to persuade me mrs stella as mr charles's ex-wife you
12:54must
12:54want him to have a harmonious family and someone to care for him in old age right i put down
12:59my glass
13:00and said indifferently of course but i need to correct one thing the one who can't have children
13:09isn't me the hall fell into dead silence vivian was taken aback and charles frowned too what do you mean
13:16by that it means nothing special i shook my head gently a touch of pity in my eyes my eggs
13:21are still
13:21frozen at the egg bank perfectly healthy the doctor said they can be retrieved for embryo cultivation
13:28anytime charles understood i had frozen my eggs for ivf and he was completely enraged didn't you
13:33say you didn't want children with me now we're divorced and you want ivf are you out of your mind
13:40you really don't want to bear my child that badly i slapped him hard across the face rob the mc's
13:45microphone and spoke loudly enough for everyone present to hear because the one who can't have
13:50children has never been me it's you charles you have severe olive spermia you have no fertility
13:57whatsoever the hall fell into dead silence in an instant then came an uproar charles is infertile
14:03is that true but vivian already gave him two children didn't she stella must have gone crazy
14:09she couldn't have children herself and now she's slandering charles the guests whispered among
14:14themselves and then he had already pulled out their phones to record charles's face turned dark with fury
14:18vivian stood frozen her face deathly pale her lips trembling what nonsense are you spouting
14:23charles stepped forward aggressively his gaze so dark it seemed he wanted to tear me apart
14:27i let out a derisive laugh reached into my bag pulled out my phone and played a recording
14:31the clear voice instantly filled the entire wedding hall through the microphone
14:35to stella after examination your fertility is completely normal and your ovarian function is
14:39excellent but mr charles's situation is not very optimistic what does that mean his sperm motility is
14:43extremely low basically there is virtually no chance of conception his condition is quite severe
14:48almost no possibility even with ivf the success rate would be extremely low i understand dr lewis
14:54please don't tell him about this yet don't tell anyone else either let this be between you me and god
14:59miss stella 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 being 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 suddenly everyone's eyes
15:24turned simultaneously toward vivian and the two children behind her her face had turned completely white
15:29and her fingertips were trembling chloe and connor fidgeted restlessly trying to flee the hall oh
15:34my god so all these years stella insisted on being child free to protect charles's dignity because he's
15:41the one who's infertile then vivian's children vivian's lips moved slightly her voice trembling
15:45you must have had someone forge it i gave a cold laugh opened a second file and a video immediately
15:50began playing on the projection screen the footage showed a dimly lit hotel room with a man and woman
15:55entangled on the bed the woman's face was flushed panting softly her voice seductive and triumphant
16:00honey i'm pregnant the man's voice followed carrying a hint of panic and resistance no way
16:05this child can'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 needs 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 in
16:44peace as soon as she finished speaking the man got excited and lunged down to entangle with the woman
16:48beneath him again the video ended abruptly there everyone was stunned a silence like death vivian
16:55completely collapsed onto the floor her hands clutching her wedding gown tightly her eyes filled
16:59with terror and despair charles's face had reached its most terrible expression he clenched his fists
17:03his body trembling slightly veins bulging at his temples he was clearly at the peak of rage he roared
17:16through gritted teeth wishing he could tear her limb from limb vivian's body shook her eyes instantly
17:20reddening as she desperately tried to explain it's not charles please listen to me explain what is
17:27there left to explain charles picked the chair aside grabbed a champagne glass from the table and smashed
17:32it on the ground the sound of shattering glass exploded in the quiet wedding venue sharp and piercing
17:37you bitch how dare you deceive me i was your secret lover for 30 years and you dare to cuckler
17:46me
17:46charles's eyes turned red as if he had lost all reason he rushed forward wrapped vivian's shoulders
17:51and slapped her heart across the face the crisp sound of the slap echoed throughout the entire hall
17:56vivian staggered backward clutching her cheeks tears streaming from her eyes
18:01and you dare to cry you deceived me for 30 years cuckled me and i've spent so much money on
18:09these
18:09bastards charles charles calm down someone rushed up to restrain charles but he had already gone
18:13completely mad he shoved everyone aside and like an enraged feast overturned the dining table plates
18:18wine glasses and flowers scattered everywhere the scene was utter chaos chloe and connor stood to the
18:22side their faces ashen their bodies trembling completely at a loss the guests erupted in an uproar
18:27pulling out their phones to capture photos and videos oh my god how did this wedding turn into
18:32this so vivian's two children aren't even charles's this is incredible it's the drama of the year
18:38the entire wedding had completely spiraled out of control eventually with security's intervention
18:43charles was forcibly pulled away vivian was dragged out of the hotel in disgrace while chloe
18:48and connor fled in terror the wedding had become a complete joke i stood among the crowd still holding
18:53half a glass of champagne quietly savoring everything the wedding had become a complete
18:57joke 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
19:07paternity truth 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 blame
19:41herself and then was treated like this she's the truly good woman she endured for 30 years and still
19:49showed 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 wedding
20:05charles locked himself in his former home and hadn't stepped outside for three full days
20:09he smashed everything in the house coffee table tv bases 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
20:20it was a photo of him vivian chloe and connor the four of them in the photo he was smiling
20:26happily
20:26as if he owned 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 photo splintered
20:39into pieces 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
20:51after 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
21:00and enrolled in a pottery class my friends laughed at me you're living more freely than young people
21:07now i smiled without saying a word actually they had forgotten that i should have been living this
21:13way when i was young it's just that back then i had poured all my energy into charles and the
21:17family
21:17now i finally had the chance to live for myself one day my mother called her voice carrying a hint
21:22of
21:22relief stella you seem different lately different yes more energetic than before as if you've let go
21:32of something i smiled softly yes i had let go i had let go of the self that endured grievances
21:36to protect
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
22:07the past 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
22:22weren't charles's children but vivian's illegitimate children with another man they left with vivian not
22:27even glancing back at charles let's go he's not our father chloe said coldly charles sat alone in the
22:33empty house suddenly feeling a loneliness unlike anything he'd ever experienced he had once believed
22:39that having vivian and two children meant he had a real family but now he realized this family had
22:44never belonged 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 world
23:21just the two of us he had once said with a smile sure it's a promise i had agreed without
23:26hesitation
23:26but he had broken that promise it wasn't that i wasn't willing to grow old with him it was that
23:31he
23:31chose betrayal first a tear slid from the corner of charles's eye he regretted it but there's no
23:36medicine for regret in this world
23:40after hesitating for a long time charles finally dialed my number the phone rang for a long time
23:45before i answered hello stella it's me i was silent for a few seconds then spoke calmly is something the
23:53matter i i want to see you i chuckled charles do you think there's anything left to say between us
24:01i know i was wrong his voice was hard stella i truly know i was wrong i said nothing i
24:06know you're doing
24:07well now and i know you don't want to see me but i still want to tell you i'm sorry
24:12face to face i
24:14repeat it my tone indifferent charles it's been 30 years you're telling me sorry now don't you think
24:20it's a little too late i know it's late but i cut him off charles you chose betrayal so you
24:26bear the
24:26consequences that was your choice there was a long silence on the other end stella if if we hadn't
24:32divorced would you have forgiven me i didn't answer because i didn't know the answer myself or rather
24:38this question no longer needed an answer charles live your life well those were my final words before
24:44hanging up live 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
24:59examinations 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 years
25:08their viability remained very high mrs stella your eggs are extremely valuable they can help many
25:14families realize their dreams i smiled valuable i had once thought these eggs were the fruit of
25:20my love with charles the hope for our future children but now they had become a gift to help
25:25strangers perhaps this was better at least they would no longer be bound by charles's name after news
25:31of my 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
26:11paris 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 had
26:21come 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 fulfilling
26:37and joyful traveling alone freedom alone i have finally become myself again during my travels i
26:43occasionally received news from back home i heard that after being thrown out of the chen 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
26:58do with her either after all once the video was exposed everyone knew the truth they weren't
27:03charles's children but vivian's illegitimate children with another man this news was undoubtedly a
27:08devastating blow to chloe and connor they had always believed they were of the chen bloodline proud of
27:13it all these years only to discover they had no connection to the chen family whatsoever
27:19chloe confronted vivian mom what exactly is going on don't believe those videos they're all fake
27:25vivian was still trying to deny it mom the video is crystal clear you told someone else we were
27:31charles's children and said you were going to swind his property i was just enough chloe cut her off
27:37i never want to hear your lies again chloe and connor moved out of vivian's house found jobs and started
27:42new lives and vivian curled up alone in a dilapidated rental apartment crying day after day
27:47her former elegance and nobility had long since vanished mom do you think stella is feeling pretty
27:52pleased with herself right now chloe had once asked vivian vivian didn't answer because she knew i was
27:58no longer an enemy they needed to worry about i was living too well so well that they didn't even
28:05have
28:05the right to be jealous after leaving paris i flew to kyoto this ancient city had a completely
28:13different charm from paris i strolled along the bamboo grove path in arashima listening to the
28:19rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind feeling exceptionally peaceful here there was no charles
28:24no vivian none of those troubling memories from the past only myself i stayed at a traditional japanese
28:31inn rising early each morning to soak in the hot springs and savor exquisite kaiseki cuisine
28:36the innkeeper was a kind middle-aged woman seeing me alone she couldn't help asking ma'am are you
28:42traveling alone yes i answered with a smile doesn't traveling alone feel lonely i thought for a moment and
28:51said sometimes but more often it's a kind of freedom the innkeeper nodded showing an understanding smile
28:58you're right freedom is more precious than anything during my days in kyoto i also visited
29:04kaya mizudora and drew a fortune slip the fortune read withered trees meet spring old matters become
29:08empty the road ahead is bright freedom lies within the heart i looked at the fortune and couldn't help
29:13but smile withered trees meet spring wasn't this exactly my current state after 30 years of winter
29:18i had finally welcomed my own spring i carefully put away the fortune slip into my wallet old matters
29:23become empty the road ahead is bright these words i would always keep in my heart on the last night
29:29before leaving kyoto i sat in the inn's courtyard gazing at the star-filled sky my phone rang it was
29:35an unfamiliar number i hesitated for a moment but answered anyway hello stella it's me it was charles's
29:42voice 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
29:54see you see me i gave a cold laugh charles what is there left for us to see i know
30:00i was wrong and i
30:01know you don't forgive me but but i really want to talk to you face to face i was silent
30:06for a 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
30:41you would 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 calm charles you betrayed me for 30 years and now you come to me with this don't you find
30:57it
30:58ridiculous charles lowered his head his hands tightly clasped i know i don't deserve to ask for your
31:04forgiveness but i truly regret it i scoffed regret do you regret losing vivian and the two children
31:13or 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
31:25your answer no longer matters to me i turned to leave but charles suddenly stood up and grabbed my
31:32wrist stella give me a chance let's start over please his voice was fleeting his eyes full of
31:38desperation i stopped and turned to look at him this man i had once deeply loved now only felt like
31:44a stranger to me charles i gently freed my hand from his my tone calm yet firm some roads once
31:51traveled
31:52can never be retraced we can he said urgently i know you hate me but i can change i can
31:58make it up to
31:58you i can can you can't i cut him off charles you can't make it up 30 years of betrayal
32:04cannot be
32:05erased by a single sorry his eyes reddened his voice trembling stella do you really not love me anymore
32:11i looked at him not a single ripple in my heart love i shook my head gently charles i love
32:17the you
32:17from 30 years ago not the you of today that you is already dead charles's body swayed as if he
32:23had been
32:23struck hard he released my hand stepped back looking as if he had aged 10 years in an instant
32:28i understand his voice was hoarse and low stella i wish you happiness i didn't answer just nodded
32:35faintly then turned and left the moment i walked out of the tea room i let out a long breath
32:4030 years
32:41of entanglement had finally come to a close i didn't look back because i knew there were even more
32:45beautiful sights ahead waiting for me i returned to my room packed my luggage and prepared for my next
32:51destination my phone rang with a message from a friend stella charles came looking for you again
32:56don't pay him any attention he's just a scumbag i smiled and replied don't worry i've already let go
33:03letting go is not forgiving but no longer being bound by the past i dragged my suitcase walked out of
33:10the
33:10inn and strode forward into the morning sunlight a new journey had begun my brand new life
33:19after leaving kyoto i went to many more places rome barcelona sydney new york every city left its mark
33:26with my footsteps i learned to eat alone watch movies alone go shopping alone things i once
33:32thought required two people to do it turned out i could do perfectly well alone one afternoon in paris
33:37i sat at a cafe by the seine watching the passing crowds suddenly a little girl ran over looking at
33:44me
33:44with big wide eyes ma'am you're so pretty she said in her childish voice i was taken aback then
33:53smiled
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 own
34:13face 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
34:24my eyes 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 my
34:55own regrets although i never had my own children my eggs could help others realize their dream of becoming
35:00parents this was probably the best possible ending one day i received a letter it was from a mother who
35:07had received my eggs dear miss stella i don't know what words to use to express my gratitude my husband
35:13and i have been married for 15 years and have never had children we tried every method without success
35:19just when we were about to give up we received news from the hospital that someone was willing to donate
35:25eggs that person was you now i am pregnant and the doctor says the baby is very healthy i don't
35:32know
35:32how to thank you i just want to tell you that you have given our family new hope thank you
35:37miss stella
35:37you are the great benefactor of our entire family after reading the letter my eyes welled up with tears
35:43it turned out that helping others truly could bring happiness to oneself i carefully put the letter
35:49away in a drawer this touching moment i would forever treasure in my heart helping others is
35:55also healing oneself after returning home i started reconnecting with old friends because of the
36:03whole situation with charles i had grown distant from many people now i wanted to pick up those
36:07relationships again the first person i reached out to was my best friend linda when she saw me
36:12she was so excited she almost cried stella you're finally back i thought you'd never speak to me again
36:20how could that be i 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 i smiled
36:44linda i don't need anyone else to define my worth right now i am enough linda looked at me surprise
36:51flashing in her eyes then relief stella you really have changed become better stronger have i maybe i
36:58picked up my coffee after going through so much you've got to learn something so what are your plans
37:02next keep living of course i smiled work travel do what i love what about love linda wanked not
37:08considering finding someone new i shook my head not for now at this point in my life i just want
37:17to
37:17love myself well linda laughed well said cheers to our new era we clinked cups the aroma of coffee
37:26filling the air in this moment i felt warmth not because of romance but because of friendship not
37:32because of dependence but because of independence i finally understood that true happiness doesn't come
37:37from others but from oneself after returning home i didn't stay idle i started replanning my career
37:44in my youth i had given up many opportunities for charles now i would pick them up one by one
37:50i open a small floral design studio this was a dream i had in my youth that i never got
37:54to realize
37:55now i finally had the chance to make it a reality the studio wasn't big but it was decorated warmly
38:00every morning i would go to the flower market to select the freshest blooms then back at the studio
38:05i would trim stems match colors and create beautiful bouquets when customers came i would recommend the
38:12most suitable flowers based on their needs your mom will definitely love this bouquet these roses for
38:18your girlfriend guaranteed to make her feel your love watching the satisfied smiles of my customers
38:23my heart filled with a sense of accomplishment linda a special customer walked into the line in a young
38:29woman holding a baby in her arms hello she said with a smile i'd like to order a bouquet certainly
38:35who is it for for myself her eyes sparkled i just had a baby and want to treat myself i
38:44was taken
38:44aback then smiled congratulations that's the best gift of all i carefully arranged a bouquet of pink
38:50carnations and white baby's breath for her she held the flowers held her baby smiling so happily
38:56in that moment i suddenly felt that my choice had been the right one although i didn't have a child
39:02of
39:02my own i could bring happiness to others in other ways this was probably the meaning of life bringing
39:08happiness to others is also the meaning of life time flies in the blink of an eye three years had
39:13passed my floral studio had grown bigger and bigger now with three branch locations my name had also
39:19started to gain recognition in the industry many people didn't know what storms this elegant and
39:24composed florist had once weathered and i no longer spoke of them because all of that was in the past
39:29the present me only wanted to look forward one day i received a postcard from alaska no signature
39:35just one sentence may the rest of your life be happy i knew who sent it but i didn't write
39:41back
39:41some goodbyes don't need a response i slipped the postcard into that fortune slip withered trees meet
39:48spring old matters become empty the road ahead is bright freedom lies within the heart these words
39:54i had always kept in my heart charles vivian chloe connor they had all become passers-by in my life
40:00and i had finally become the protagonist of my own story the sun was setting i sat by the studio
40:06window
40:06watching the passing crowds outside holding a cup of hot tea my heart felt a piece unlike anything
40:12before my phone rang it was a message from the hospital miss stella your donated eggs have successfully
40:18helped a fifth couple welcome their baby thank you for your great love i smiled my eyes were a bit
40:24moist but my heart was full of happiness perhaps this was the best possible ending i didn't have
40:30children but i had helped many people realize their dreams i didn't have romance but i had true freedom
40:34i didn't have a family but i had created a world of my own in this world there were flowers
40:40sunshine
40:40laughter and hope that was enough i raised my teacup and took a gentle sip outside the window the
40:47afterglow of the sunset spilled across my face warm and gentle my life has only just begun
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