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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
00:13years 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
01:19alone even 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
01:43by one how things would turn out for the two of us when the time came they would know
01:47charles on the other hand was writing hi he posted a family photo on social media with the caption
01:52starting today i finally have a real family in the photo he stood in the center a young man and
01:58woman
01:58on either side their faces radiating youthful pride and the woman who could carry on his bloodline
02:02had her arm linked through his smiling warmly and gracefully someone commented look at that
02:08now that's a winner in life indeed charles had one big in his youth he enjoyed the twosome life
02:15with me living freely his whole life never suffering through midnight feedings and diaper changes
02:19yet in his old age he had both a son and a daughter to bring him joy how could that
02:24not count as winning
02:25at life now that he was retired his career and reputation would no longer be affected
02:30and me at my age abandoned by my husband and left with nothing naturally invited people's sons
02:36but little did they know i had been prepared all along in 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
02:53to the 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
03:11the clerk looked at me apologetically eyes full of sympathy and comfort i smiled too but said nothing
03:16after the divorce with a grand gesture he hired people to clear out the bedroom i had lived in
03:20for over 30 years eagerly bringing vivian and the children home i didn't fight or argue i didn't even
03:26bother hiring a lawyer i just took my half of the savings and a few important items and moved out
03:30cleanly and efficiently the day vivian moved in i came back to pack up my last belongings as soon as
03:36i opened the door i saw brand new photos displayed in the living room our wedding photos had been
03:41replaced by their family portrait the four of them charles sat in the center vivian holding his arm
03:48with two similar looking young adults in their 20s standing on either side full of vigor when i walked
03:54in the lively atmosphere instantly turned cold as if announcing my unwelcome presence vivian greeted
04:00me with a smile oh stella did you leave something behind let me help you look for it playing the
04:10hostess like she owned the place just a few last things i'll take them all today i said indifferently
04:15charles sat on the sofa without looking up as if waiting for me to get the hint and leave
04:24charles sat on the sofa not even lifting his head casually flipping through the newspaper
04:28as if waiting for me to get the hint and leave on my own chloe and connor stood to the
04:32side their
04:33eyes filled with undisguised distance and wariness treating me like a stranger who had barged in mom
04:37this place looks a bit dated and the living room is kind of dark how about a renovation with a
04:42new
04:42style chloe said casually yeah the sofa needs replacing too so old-fashioned how did dad live
04:48in a place like this connor chimed in i listened to the nitpick and watched charles remain silent i
04:52felt like laughing this was the home charles and i had shared for 30 years every piece of furniture
04:56carefully chosen now i was being dismissed as worthless vivian affectionately held charles's arm
05:00see how opinionated the children are this house needs a complete makeover we can't short charge
05:04ourselves charles finally looked up slowly and glanced at me stella are you done packing take
05:10everything at once so you won't have to keep coming back it's awkward for everyone he meant
05:13for me to leave and never come back so i wouldn't be an eyesore to their family of four i
05:17looked
05:17away picked up my bag stood at the doorway and glanced back one last time at what had once been
05:21my home vivian leaned weakly against charles peeling an orange while the two children sat side
05:26by side on the sofa watching tv the three of them chatting and laughing as if this home had always
05:30been like this composed of their family of four with no place for me the way charles looked at
05:35vivian was with respect for the mother of his children and guilt for having kept her as a
05:39secret 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 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 former
06:00home but it felt like a different world i didn't feel any particular discomfort without charles in the
06:06house i actually enjoyed the peace and quiet but outsiders didn't see it that way no matter how
06:11capable and free-spirited you were 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
06:27look at you now wouldn't it be nice to have a child at least you wouldn't end up like this
06:31my father
06:31side his face full of regret we shouldn't have let you have your way back then if we had persuaded
06:36you 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 know was that the infertile one had never been me when i first insisted on being child free
07:25bearing the pressure from everyone my declaration that i would never have children was
07:29denounced as selfish and unfilial charles's parents pressured him to divorce me but he said he
07:34didn't mind as long as we could live happily together moved by his words i became even more
07:39resolute in my decision for decades i bore all the blame myself protecting his reputation even his
07:45confidence and dignity as a man only to discover he had given me nothing but a complete and utter deception
07:50he never pressured me to have children because i wasn't his only woman if i didn't give birth he could
07:55have other women bear his children and he could maintain his reputation as a loving husband while
07:59gaining my parents trust and support why wouldn't he play along when i discovered the truth i never
08:04imagined that my seemingly gentle husband was so deeply calculating i was wrong but my mistake was
08:10not having children my mistake was taking it upon myself to protect his dignity as a man for that i
08:15was
08:16even willing to give up my right to be a mother so i planned for years waiting for the moment
08:20when his act
08:20fell apart to deliver him a devastating blow soon i received the wedding invitation for charles and
08:27vivian's wedding the invitation was in vivian's handwriting saying that as charles's ex-wife i must
08:32want to see him happy too and my presence would mean the world to them i let out a derisive
08:36laugh
08:36what beautiful words so high sounding they made me sick mean the world to them vivian had been charles
08:41a secret lover for 30 years having finally made it to the altar she naturally couldn't wait to gloat in
08:46front of me i took the invitation and casually glanced at it the ceremony was at the city's most
08:50luxurious five-star hotel quite an upscale venue charles must have wanted to compensate vivian for 30
08:55years of hidden suffering with the grand wedding when my friends heard that vivian had invited me to
08:59her wedding with charles they were all furious what does he mean by this he's obviously trying to
09:06humiliate you exactly 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 i
09:18listened to their angry voices without feeling a single ripple in my heart in fact a smile cropped
09:22to my lips of course i'm going don't worry i'm not gonna make myself miserable my friend looked at me
09:28in confusion i'm just going to watch a 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 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
09:54completely 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
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 vivian
10:24and 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
10:46charles walked over with a drink and raised his glass it's all in the past
10:50i believe i stayed by your side and did my duty now i'm old and want to enjoy my later
10:57years surrounded by
10:58children i hope you can understand i i lowered my head and chuckled softly my gaze sweeping over
11:04chloe and connor behind them let them enjoy their moment of triumph for now because the storm is about
11:09to descend
11:15the wedding proceeded as planned on stage charles and vivian were exchanging bows holding hands and gazing
11:21at each other with tears in their eyes chloe and connor went up to give them flowers charles looked at
11:26the two young adults in their prime as if seeing his own youth reflected in them he thought perhaps
11:31this was the price of continuing one's bloodline stella would never understand this feeling which is
11:35why he had resolutely abandoned her halfway through the wedding charles suddenly produced a property
11:40deed 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 vivian looked
11:53at
11:53charles tears already glistening in her eyes i have little to give them so i've decided to transfer
11:59the property under my name to the two children to help them thrive cheers erupted from the audience
12:06chloe and connor covered their mouths excitedly and looked at vivian the three of them were expressions
12:12of assured victory but i stood up and shouted i object vivian hadn't received the property deed yet
12:18interrupted by me she was furious stella today is a wonderful day for our family of four what kind
12:24of trouble are you trying to cause charles looked at me with disgust his eyes contemptuous yet result
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
12:49boo me the mc also tried to persuade me mrs stella as mr charles's ex-wife you must want him
12:55to have a
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 dead
13:13silence 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
13:23perfectly 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 rob the mc's microphone and spoke loudly
13:47enough 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 dead
13:59silence in an instant then came an uproar charles is infertile is that true but vivian already gave
14:05him 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
14:16phones 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 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 severe
14:48but almost 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
15:15the recording finished 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 violently you must have had someone forge it i gave a cold
15:48laugh opened 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 flushed
15:57panting softly her voice seductive and triumphant honey i'm pregnant the man's voice followed carrying a
16:04hint of panic and resistance no way this child can't be mine can it vivian chuckled softly her voice
16:08of course it's alluring and cunning of course it's yours but don't worry neither i nor the child
16:14need you to take responsibility what do you mean charles doesn't have children yet his wife insists on
16:22being child free and he's desperate he's been begging me to bear his children i'll just say the child is
16:28his he'll definitely treasure me like a gem the man was silent for a moment then laughed softly you really
16:33are
16:33something else vivian hooked her arm around his neck whispering softly we'll seize all the property
16:38and inheritance then we can enjoy our golden years in peace as soon as she finished speaking the man got
16:47excited and lunged down to entangle with the woman beneath him again the video ended abruptly there
16:52everyone was stunned a silence like death vivian completely collapsed onto the floor her hands
16:57clutching her wedding gown tightly her eyes filled with terror and despair charles's face had reached its
17:01most terrible expression he clenched his fists his body trembling slightly veins bulging at his
17:06temples he 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 kicked the chair aside grabbed a champagne
17:31glass from the table and smashed it on the ground the sound of shattering glass exploded in the quiet
17:35wedding 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 throughout
17:56the 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 beast overturned the dining table plates
18:18wine glasses and flowers scattered everywhere the scene was utter chaos chloe and connor stood to the
18:22their faces ashen their bodies trembling completely at a loss the guests erupted in an uproar pulling out
18:28their phones to capture photos and videos my god how did this wedding turn into this so vivian's two
18:34children aren't even charles's this is incredible it's the drama of the year the entire wedding had
18:40completely spiraled out of control eventually with security's intervention charles was forcibly pulled
18:45away vivian was dragged out of the hotel in disgrace while chloe and connor fled in terror
18:49the wedding had become a complete joke i stood among the crowd still holding half a glass of champagne
18:54quietly savoring everything the wedding had become a complete joke and i had finally waited
18:58for 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-wives 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 laughingstock 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
20:00around but 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
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 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
20:51after 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 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 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
21:36protect a man's dignity i had let go of the foolish notion that endurance would bring happiness i had let
21:41go of the man named charles mom i've made up my mind about what i want to donate my eggs
21:47there was a
21:48long silence on the other end of the line have you thought this through i have my voice was firm
21:54since the eggs are still there rather than keeping them frozen forever i might as well help people
22:00who want children but can't have them you always thinking of others i smiled without denying it
22:06letting go of the past donating eggs to help others my life is starting anew meanwhile charles's
22:12days grew more unbearable by the day vivian had been thrown out of the house and chloe and connor no
22:17longer acknowledged 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 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
22:59years to protect his dignity was now doing something even more meaningful and what about him he had nothing
23:05left no family no children no dignity he had lost everything charles put down his phone leaned back
23:11on the sofa and closed his eyes images from 30 years ago flooded his mind back then we were still
23:16young
23:16building our careers together planning our future stella when we're old let's travel the world just
23:22the two of us he had once said with a smile sure it's a promise i had agreed without hesitation
23:27but he
23:27had broken that promise it wasn't that i wasn't willing to grow old with him it was that he chose
23:31to trail
23:32first a tear slid from the corner of charles's eye he regretted it but there's no medicine for regret
23:37in this world after hesitating for a long time charles finally dialed my number the phone rang for a
23:45long time before i answered hello stella it's me i was silent for a few seconds then spoke calmly is
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 horst stella i truly know i was wrong i said
24:06nothing
24:06i know you're doing well now and i know you don't don't want to see me but i still want
24:11to tell you
24:11i'm sorry face to face i repeated my tone indifferent charles it's been 30 years you're telling me sorry
24:18now don't you think it's a little too late i know it's late but i cut him off charles you
24:24chose betrayal
24:25so you bear the consequences that was your choice there was a long silence on the other end
24:31stella if we hadn't divorced would you have forgiven me i didn't answer because i didn't know the answer
24:37myself or rather this question no longer needed an answer charles live your life well those were my
24:43final words before hanging 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 my love
25:20with 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
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
26:20now i had come alone but i didn't feel lonely instead i felt that this was truly my own moment
26:25without charles without the constraints of that marriage i could finally be my true self during my
26:31days in paris i visited the louvre walked along the seine and tasted authentic french pastries every
26:36day was fulfilling and joyful traveling alone freedom alone i have finally become myself again
26:42during my travels i occasionally received news from back home i heard that after being thrown out
26:46of the chan household vivian's life hadn't been easy she had once relied on charles's money to live
26:51now without a source of income she could only make ends meet by doing odd jobs chloe and connor no
26:57longer had anything to do with her either after all once the video was exposed everyone knew the
27:02truth they weren't charles's children but vivian's illegitimate children with another myth this news
27:07was undoubtedly a devastating blow to chloe and connor they had always believed they were of the chen
27:12bloodline proud of it all these years only to discover they had no connection to the chen family
27:17whatsoever chloe confronted vivian mom what exactly is going on don't believe those videos they're all
27:25fake vivian 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 swing 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
28:25no vivian none of those troubling memories from the past only myself i stayed at a traditional japanese
28:31in rising early each morning to soak in the hot springs and savor exquisite kaiseki cuisine the
28:36innkeeper 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 kaya mizudora
29:04and drew a fortune slip the fortune read withered trees meet spring old matters become empty the road
29:09ahead is bright freedom lies within the heart i looked at the fortune and couldn't help but smile
29:13withered trees meet spring wasn't this exactly my current state after 30 years of winter i had finally
29:19welcomed my own spring i carefully put away the fortune slip into my wallet old matters become empty the road
29:25ahead is bright these words i would always keep in my heart on the last night before leaving kyoto
29:30i sat in the inn's courtyard gazing at the star-filled sky my phone rang it was an unfamiliar number
29:36i
29:37hesitated for a moment but answered anyway hello stella it's me it was charles's voice he had come
29:43looking 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
31:03your 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
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 pleading 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
31:44stranger to me charles i gently freed my hand from his my tone calm yet firm some roads once traveled
31:52can
31:52never be retraced we can he said urgently i know you hate me but i can change i can make
31:58it 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 from
32:1730 years ago not the you of today that you is already dead charles's body swayed as if he had
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 more
32:45beautiful sights ahead waiting for me i returned to my room packed my luggage and prepared for my
32:51next destination 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
33:26mark with my footsteps i learned to eat alone watch movies alone go shopping alone things i once thought
33:32required two people to do it turned out i could do perfectly well alone one afternoon in paris i sat
33:38at
33:38a cafe by the same watching the passing crowds suddenly a little girl ran over looking at me with big
33:45wide
33:47mom you're so pretty she said in her childish voice i was taken aback then smiled thank you
33:55little one her mother walked over and apologized with a smile i'm sorry my daughter is too playfee it's
34:01fine she's adorable the little girl held her mother's hand looked back at me and suddenly shouted mommy that
34:06lady has stars in her eyes i was stunned stars i subconsciously touched my own face perhaps i
34:15really had changed no longer the woman who endured grievances to protect her husband's dignity no longer
34:20the fool who took the blame for someone else's betrayal the current me had light in my eyes and
34:25dreams in my heart this was probably what people called rebirth light in my eyes dreams in my heart
34:31this 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
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 eggs 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
35:31healthy 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 i carefully
35:48put the letter away in a drawer this touching moment i would forever treasure in my heart helping
35:54others is also healing oneself after returning home i started reconnecting with old friends because of
36:02the whole 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 she was
36:12so 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
36:42i 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
37:07wait not considering finding someone new i shook my head not for now at this point in my life i
37:17just
37:17want to love myself well linda laughed well said cheers to our new era we clinked cups the aroma of
37:25coffee
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
37:37come from others but from oneself after returning home i didn't stay idle i started replanning my
37:44career in my youth i had given up many opportunities for charles now i would pick them up one by
37:49one i
37:50open a small floral design studio this was a dream i had in my youth that i never got to
37:54realize now i
37:56finally had the chance to make it a reality the studio wasn't big but it was decorated warmly every
38:01morning i would go to the flower market to select the freshest blooms then back at the studio i would
38:06trim stems match colors and create beautiful bouquets when customers came i would recommend the most
38:13suitable flowers based on their needs your mom will definitely love this bouquet these roses for your
38:18girlfriend guaranteed to make her feel your love watching the satisfied smiles of my customers my heart
38:24filled with a sense of accomplishment one day a special customer walked into the studio 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
38:35it for for myself her eyes sparkled i just had a baby and want to treat myself i was taken
38:44aback then
38:45smiled congratulations 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
38:58suddenly felt that my choice had been the right one although i didn't have a child of my own i
39:03could
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
39:25had once weathered and i no longer spoke of them because all of that was in the past the present
39:30me
39:30only wanted to look forward one day i received a postcard from alaska no signature just one sentence
39:37may the rest of your life be happy i knew who sent it but i didn't write back some goodbyes
39:43don't need
39:43a response 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 the
40:02protagonist of my own story the sun was setting i sat by the studio window watching the passing crowds
40:08outside holding a cup of hot tea my heart felt a piece unlike anything before my phone rang it was
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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