- 10 hours ago
The Childless Marriage
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00:03my 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
00:13years 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
01:04just enjoy their twin stem now look his own son and daughter are old enough to make him a
01:09grandfather chatting with old friends they couldn't help but so glamorous in your youth
01:13successful career living freely but you insisted on being child free and now you're old and all alone
01:20even my parents advised me as long as you don't divorce his children become yours
01:25they'll care for you in old age when we pass on we'll have peace mind
01:32they all thought i was forced into divorce that i was devastated that i had no one to rely on
01:37in old
01:37age that my whole life had become a joke i didn't explain nor could i be bothered to refute them
01:43one by
01:43one how things would turn out for the two of us when the time came they would know charles on
01:48the
01:48other hand was writing hi he posted a family photo on social media with the caption starting today i
01:54finally have a real family in the photo he stood in the center a young man and woman on either
01:58side
01:59their 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
02:39in 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
03:05but at least i still have my son and daughter with me i can enjoy family happiness too the clerk
03:11looked
03:12at 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
03:26a lawyer 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
03:37the
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
04:35wariness 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
04:58worthless 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
05:12coming 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
05:25while 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
05:49me
05:49gone i'll leave cleanly so you can enjoy this brief pretense of affection after all in a few days it
05:54will be turning on each other after the divorce i moved into an apartment it wasn't far from my
06:00former home but it felt like a different world i didn't feel any particular discomfort without
06:05charles in the house i actually enjoyed the peace and quiet but outsiders didn't see it that way
06:10no matter how capable and free-spirited you are in your youth you still lost in the end this was
06:15the
06:15shared 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
06:25on
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
06:39blamed me for insisting on being child free saying that's why i lost my husband's heart the most
06:43ridiculous thing was that my friends also thought charles hadn't done anything terribly wrong a man
06:47needs to have children charles was willing to play along with you for so many years
06:53that's already going above and beyond you were too stubborn back then all these years i've never
06:57understood what were you thinking honestly you're both old now vivian would still have to call you
07:02big sister why not just make do and live together i thought at most they'd advise me to accept charles's
07:07children i never imagined they'd suggest vivian and i share one husband but they never considered that
07:12neither child shared a single drop of blood with me even if i stayed how many good days could i
07:16possibly have what they didn't know is that the infertile one had never been me
07:23when i first insisted on being child free bearing the pressure from everyone my declaration that i
07:28would never have children was denounced as selfish and unfilial charles's parents pressured him to
07:32divorce me but he said he didn't mind as long as we could live happily together moved by his words
07:38i became even more resolute in my decision for decades i bore all the blame myself protecting
07:43his reputation even his confidence and dignity as a man only to discover he had given me nothing but
07:48a complete and utter deception he never pressured me to have children because i wasn't his only woman
07:53if i didn't give birth he could have other women bear his children and he could maintain his reputation
07:58as a loving husband while gaining my parents trust and support why wouldn't he play along when i
08:03discovered the truth i never imagined that my seemingly gentle husband was so deeply calculating
08:07i was wrong but my mistake was not having children my mistake was taking it upon myself to protect his
08:13dignity as a man for that i was even willing to give up my right to be a mother so
08:18i planned for years
08:19waiting for the moment when his act fell apart to 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
08:34presence would mean the world to them i let out a derisive laugh what beautiful words so high sounding
08:39they made 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
08:48casually glanced at it the ceremony was at the city's most luxurious five-star hotel quite an upscale
08:52venue charles must have wanted to compensate vivian for 30 years of hidden suffering with the grand wedding
08:57when my friends 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
09:10he's already marrying his mistress in style he's clearly trying to embarrass you you absolutely
09:15shouldn't go going would just be asking for humiliation i listened to their angry voices without
09:19feeling a single ripple in my heart in fact a smile crept to my lips of course i'm going don't
09:24worry
09:25i'm not going to make myself miserable my friend looked at me in confusion i'm just going to watch
09:30a comedy show stella the 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 warmly and
09:50elegantly the picture of a dignified hostess and i walked in with a confident expression
09:55completely unabashed when the guests saw me the smiles on their faces instantly became knowing and
10:00significant why is she here someone whispered she's not here to cause trouble is it well who can blame
10:07her being abandoned by charles anyone would feel upset they all thought i had come to cry to argue
10:14to seek sympathy but they were wrong if only one person could have the last laugh at this wedding
10:19that 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
10:41charles didn't want to hurt you so he came up with this solution the best of both worlds
10:46charles walked over with a drink and raised his glass it's all in the past i believe i stayed by
10:52your side and did my duty now i'm old and want to enjoy my later years surrounded by children
11:00i hope you can understand i i lowered my head and chuckled softly my gaze sweeping over chloe and
11:05connor behind them let them enjoy their moment of triumph for now because the storm is about to
11:09the 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 he thought
11:30perhaps 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
11:39produced a 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
11:53life vivian looked at charles tears already glistening in her eyes i have little to give them
11:57so i've decided to transfer the property under my name to the two children to help them thrive
12:04cheers erupted from the audience chloe and connor covered their mouths excitedly and looked at vivian
12:10the three of them were expressions of assured victory but i stood up and shouted i object vivian
12:16hadn't received the property deed yet interrupted by me she was furious stella today is a wonderful day
12:22for our family of four what kind of trouble are you trying to cause charles looked at me with
12:27disgust his eyes contemptuous yet resigned stella i know you're upset about not being able to have
12:33children and jealous seeing my family but you have to accept reality we're divorced the house may have
12:42both our names on it but we're old now what use is it to us chloe and connor nodded continuously
12:47even encouraging the guests to boo me the emcee also tried to persuade me mrs stella as mr charles's
12:53ex-wife you must want him to have a harmonious family and someone to care for him in old age
12:58right
12:58i put down my glass and said indifferently of course
13:04but i need to correct one thing the one who can't have children isn't me the hall fell into dead
13:11silence
13:14vivian was taken aback and charles frowned too what do you mean by that it means nothing special
13:18i shook my head gently a touch of pity in my eyes my eggs are still frozen at the egg
13:22bank
13:23perfectly healthy the doctor said they can be retrieved for embro 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
13:41bear my child that badly i slapped him hard across the face robbed the emcee'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 instant then came an uproar charles is infertile is that true but vivian already gave
14:06him 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
14:15their phones to record charles's face turned dark with fury vivian stood frozen her face deathly pale
14:20her lips trembling what nonsense are you spouting charles stepped forward aggressively his gaze so dark
14:26it seemed he wanted to tear me apart i let out a derisive laugh reached into my bag pulled out
14:30my
14:30phone and played a recording the clear voice instantly filled the entire wedding hall through
14:34the microphone stella after examination your fertility is completely normal and your ovarian function is
14:39excellent but mr charles's situation is not very optimist what does that mean his sperm motility is
14:44extremely 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
14:59god miss stella this kind of thing can't be hidden forever when you can't conceive after marriage it
15:04will naturally come to light it's fine i'll tell him and our parents that i don't want children
15:09that i insist on being child free that way no one will know the problem lies with charles the recording
15:16finished playing 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 chloe and connor fidgeted
15:32restlessly trying to flee the hall oh my god so all these years stella insisted on being child free
15:38to protect charles's dignity because he's the one who's infertile then vivian's children
15:43vivian's lips moved slightly her voice trembling you must have had someone forge it i gave a cold laugh
15:48opened a second file and a video immediately began playing on the projection screen the footage
15:52showed a dimly lit hotel room with a man and woman entangled on the bed the woman's face was
15:57flushed panting softly her voice seductive and triumphant honey i'm pregnant the man's voice
16:03followed carrying a hint of panic and resistance no way this child can't be mine can it vivian
16:07chuckled 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
16:19charles doesn't have children yet his wife insists on being child free and he's desperate he's been
16:25begging me to bear his children i'll just say the child is his he'll definitely treasure me like a gem
16:31the man was silent for a moment then laughed softly you really are something else vivian hooked her arm
16:35around his neck whispering softly we'll seize all the property and inheritance
16:41then we can enjoy our golden years in peace as soon as she finished speaking the man got excited
16:47and lunged down to entangle with the woman beneath him again the video ended abruptly there everyone
16:52was stunned a silence like death vivian completely collapsed onto the floor her hands clutching her
16:57wedding gown tightly her eyes filled with terror and despair charles's face had reached its most
17:01terrible expression he clenched his fists his body trembling slightly veins bulging at his temples
17:07he was clearly at the peak of rage vivian he roared through gritted teeth
17:15vivian he roared through gritted teeth wishing he could tear her limb from limb vivian's body shook
17:19her eyes instantly reddening as she desperately tried to explain it's not charles please listen to me
17:26explain what is there left to explain charles picked the chair aside grabbed a champagne glass
17:31from the table and smashed it on the ground the sound of shattering glass exploded in the quiet
17:36wedding venue sharp and piercing you bitch how dare you deceive me i was your secret lover for 30 years
17:44and you dare to cuckler me charles's eyes turned red as if he had lost all reason he rushed forward
17:50wrapped vivian's shoulders and slapped her heart across the face the crisp sound of the slap echoed
17:55throughout the entire hall vivian staggered backward clutching her cheek 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 out of locks the guests erupted in an uproar
18:27pulling out their phones to capture photos and videos my god how did this wedding turn into this
18:32so 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 and connor
18:48fled in terror the wedding had become a complete joke i stood among the crowd still holding half a glass
18:53champagne quietly savoring everything the wedding had become a complete joke and i had finally waited
18:58for this day wedding videos were uploaded online and quickly shot to the top of trending topics
19:06topics like paternity truth revealed at wedding ex-wife's calm counter-attack against cheaters
19:12and child-free husband cuckolded for 30 years exploded across the internet charles had become a complete
19:18pariah wherever he went there were pointing fingers and mocking jeers he valued his face above all
19:23else his reputation was the most important thing in his life now his dignity had been completely
19:29shattered turning him into a laughing stock known across the entire country and i on the contrary
19:34had become the object of everyone's sympathy stella is so pitiful to protect her husband's dignity
19:40she took the blame herself and then was treated like this she's the truly good woman she endured for
19:4730 years and still showed the scumbag some dignity vivian is the truly ruthless one she tricked
19:52charles into raising bastards for 30 years and almost swallowed his entire fortune
19:58public opinion had completely turned around but none of this mattered to me anymore what mattered more
20:03was how this farce would end after the wedding charles locked himself in his former home and hadn't
20:08stepped outside for three full days he smashed everything in the house coffee table tv faces the place
20:14was a complete mess but after the destruction he sat alone on the sofa staring blankly at a family
20:19portrait hanging on the wall it was a photo of him vivian chloe and connor the four of them
20:24in the photo he was smiling happily as if he owned the whole world now looking at it again he
20:30only felt
20:30the irony
20:34he picked up the frame and smashed it onto the ground glass shattered the photo splintered into pieces
20:39fake it's all fake he held his head curled up on the floor like a helpless child he had lost
20:46everything while i was just beginning my new life after the wedding my life returned to peace no it
20:54was calmer and freer than before i started doing things i truly enjoyed i went to several art
20:59exhibitions attended concerts and enrolled in a pottery class my friends laughed at me
21:05you're living more freely than young people now i smiled without saying a word actually they had
21:11forgotten that i should have been living this way when i was young it's just that back then i had
21:15poured all my energy into charles and the family now i finally had the chance to live for myself
21:19one 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 a
21:37man's dignity i had let go of the foolish notion that endurance would bring happiness i had let go
21:41of the man named charles mom i've made up my mind about what i want to donate my eggs there
21:48was a long
21:48silence on the other end of the line have you thought this through i have my voice was firm since
21:55the
21:55eggs are still there rather than keeping them frozen forever i might as well help people who want children
22:00but can't have them you always thinking of others i smiled without denying it letting go of the past
22:07donating eggs to help others my life is starting anew meanwhile charles's days grew more unbearable by
22:13the day vivian had been thrown out of the house and chloe and connor no longer acknowledged him as
22:18their father after all everything in the video was crystal clear they weren't charles's children but
22:23vivian's illegitimate children with another man they left with vivian not even glancing back at charles
22:28let's go he's not our father chloe said coldly charles sat alone in the empty house suddenly
22:34feeling a loneliness unlike anything he'd ever experienced he had once believed that having
22:39vivian and two children meant he had a real family but now he realized this family had never belonged
22:44to him he himself had been deceived by vivian for a full 30 years he opened his phone and saw
22:50news
22:50about me the headline stella decides to donate eggs to help infertile families jumped out at him
22:54he stared at the screen his fingers trembling slightly the woman who had borne his shame for
22:5930 years to protect his dignity was now doing something even more meaningful and what about him
23:04he had nothing 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
23:27but 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 to trail first a tear slid from the corner of charles's eye he regretted it but there's no medicine
23:36for regret in this world after hesitating for a long time charles finally dialed my number the phone rang for
23:45a long time before i answered hello stella it's me i was silent for a few seconds then spoke calmly
23:52is
23:52something the matter i i want to see you i chuckled charles do you think there's anything left to say
24:00between us i know i was wrong his voice was hoarse stella i truly know i was wrong i said
24:06nothing i know
24:06you're doing well now and i know you don't want to see me but i still want to tell you
24:12i'm sorry face to
24:13face i repeated my tone indifferent charles it's been 30 years you're telling me sorry now don't you
24:20think it's a little too late i know it's late but i cut him off charles you chose betrayal so
24:26you bear
24:26the consequences 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
24:39this 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
25:09their 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 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 my egg
25:32donation spread many people started paying attention to me the media wanted to interview me asking why i was
25:38doing this i simply answered indifferently because i have the ability to help others it's that simple
25:45and what about you and mr charles do you hate him the reporter pressed i thought for a moment and
25:50said i
25:51don't hate him but i don't love him either he was part of my life but that's in the past
25:57the reporter
25:57seemed somewhat disappointed by my answer but i didn't care i didn't need others to define my emotions
26:02after the egg donation i decided to travel the round the world trip i had planned with charles
26:07although i couldn't complete it with him i could do it alone my first stop was paris standing beneath
26:12the eiffel tower watching the sunset slowly descend i felt the peace unlike anything i had ever experienced
26:17this city had once been a dream destination for charles and me now i had come alone but i didn't
26:22feel
26:22lonely instead i felt that this was truly my own moment without charles without the constraints of that
26:28marriage i could finally be my true self during my days in paris i visited the louvre walked along the
26:34seine and tasted authentic french pastries every day was fulfilling and joyful traveling alone freedom
26:39alone i have finally become myself again during my travels i occasionally received news from back home
26:45i heard that after being thrown out of the chan household vivian's life hadn't been easy she had once
26:50relied on charles's money to live now without a source of income she could only make ends meet by doing
26:55odd jobs chloe and connor no longer had anything to do with her either after all once the video
27:00was exposed everyone knew the truth they weren't charles's children but vivian's illegitimate children
27:06with another man this news was undoubtedly a devastating blow to chloe and connor they had
27:11always believed they were of the chen bloodline proud of it all these years only to discover they
27:15had no connection to the chen family whatsoever chloe confronted vivian mom what exactly is going on
27:23don't believe those videos they're all fake vivian was still trying to deny it mom the video is
27:28crystal clear you told someone else we were charles's children and said you were going to
27:33swind his property i was just enough chloe cut her off i never want to hear your lies again chloe
27:39and
27:39connor moved out of vivian's house found jobs and started new lives and vivian curled up alone in
27:44a dilapidated rental apartment crying day after day her former elegance and nobility had long since
27:49vanished mom do you think stella is feeling pretty pleased with herself right now chloe had once asked
27:55vivian vivian didn't answer because she knew i was no longer an enemy they needed to worry about
28:02i 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
29:02during 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
29:22fortune 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
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
30:06moment then 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
30:53calm charles you betrayed me for 30 years and now you come to me with this don't you find it
30:58ridiculous charles lowered his head his hands tightly clasped i know i don't deserve to ask for
31:04your forgiveness but i truly regret it i scoffed regret do you regret losing vivian and the two
31:12children 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
31:40i 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
32:06single 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
32:23been struck 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
32:45more beautiful sights ahead waiting for me i returned to my room packed my luggage and prepared
32:50for my next destination my phone rang with a message from a friend stella charles came looking
32:55for you again don't pay him any attention he's just a scumbag i smiled and replied don't worry
33:02i've already let go letting go is not forgiving but no longer being bound by the past i dragged my
33:08suitcase walked out of the inn and strode forward into the morning sunlight a new journey had begun
33:14my brand new life after leaving kyoto i went to many more places rome barcelona sydney new york
33:25every city left its mark with my footsteps i learned to eat alone watch movies alone go shopping alone
33:31things i once thought required two people to do it turned out i could do perfectly well alone
33:36one afternoon in paris i sat at a cafe by the seine watching the passing crowds suddenly
33:42a 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
33:59my daughter is too playful it's fine she's adorable the little girl held her mother's hand looked back
34:04at me and suddenly shouted mommy that lady has stars in her eyes i was stunned stars i subconsciously
34:13touched my own face perhaps i really had changed no longer the woman who endured grievances to protect
34:18her husband's dignity no longer the fool who took the blame for someone else's betrayal the current
34:24me had light in my eyes and dreams in my heart this was probably what people called rebirth light in
34:29my eyes dreams in my heart this is my rebirth after the trip i returned home there was new progress
34:36on
34:36the egg donation the hospital told me my eggs had successfully helped three infertile couples conceive
34:40mrs stella you are truly remarkable the doctor said gratefully i smiled it's nothing remarkable just
34:48doing what i should actually donating eggs wasn't just about helping others it was also about making
34:54peace with my own regrets although i never had my own children my eggs could help others realize their
35:00dream of becoming parents this was probably the best possible ending one day i received a letter it was
35:06from a mother who had received my eggs dear miss stella i don't know what words to use to express
35:11my gratitude my husband and i have been married for 15 years and have never had children we tried
35:17every method without success just when we were about to give up we received news from the hospital that
35:23someone was willing to donate eggs that person was you now i am pregnant and the doctor says the baby
35:30is
35:30very healthy i don't know how to thank you i just want to tell you that you have given our
35:35family
35:35new hope thank you miss stella you are the great benefactor of our entire family after reading the
35:42letter my eyes welled up with tears it turned out that helping others truly could bring happiness to
35:47oneself i 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
35:59after returning home i started reconnecting with old friends because of the whole situation with charles
36:04i had grown distant from many people now i wanted to pick up those relationships again
36:08the first person i reached out to was my best friend linda when she saw me she was so excited
36:13she
36:13almost 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 so how are you
36:29now has charles
36:31caused you any more trouble no it's completely over between us linda breathed a sigh of relief
36:38that's good stella you deserve someone better someone better i smiled linda i don't need anyone else
36:46to define my worth right now i am enough linda looked at me surprise flashing in her eyes
36:52then relief stella you really have changed become better stronger have i maybe i picked up my coffee after
36:59going through so much you've got to learn something so what are your plans next keep living of course
37:04i smiled work travel do what i love what about love linda winked 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
37:28felt warmth not because of romance but because of friendship not because of dependence but because
37:34of 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 many
37:46opportunities 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
37:57it a reality the studio wasn't big but it was decorated warmly every morning i would go to the flower
38:02market to 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 their needs
38:14your mom will definitely love this bouquet these roses for your girlfriend guaranteed to make her
38:20feel your love watching the satisfied smiles of my customers my heart filled with a sense of
38:25accomplishment linda a special customer walked into the studio a young woman holding a baby in her arms
38:31hello 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 i suddenly
38:59felt that my choice had been the right one although i didn't have a child of my own i could
39:03bring happiness
39:04to others in other ways this was probably the meaning of life bringing happiness to others is
39:09also the meaning of life time flies in the blink of an eye three years had passed my floral studio
39:15had grown bigger and bigger now with three branch locations my name had also started to gain recognition
39:20in 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
39:43response i slipped the postcard into that fortune slip withered trees meet spring old matters become
39:49empty the 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
40:02the 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 piece of sun like anything before my phone
40:13rang it was a message from the hospital miss stella your donated eggs have successfully helped a fifth
40:19couple welcome their baby thank you for your great love i smiled my eyes were a bit moist but my
40:25heart
40:26was full of happiness perhaps this was the best possible ending i didn't have children but i had
40:31helped many people realize their dreams i didn't have romance but i had true freedom i didn't have a
40:36family but i had created a world of my own in this world there were flowers sunshine laughter and hope
40:42that was enough i raised my teacup and took a gentle sip outside the window the afterglow of the sunset
40:48spilled across my face warm and gentle my life has only just begun
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