Subscribe and enjoy the best of Dramas, one episode at a time ❤️
Watch more movies at: LaughOverDrama
#drama #ceodrama #movie #revenge #chinesedrama #shortdrama #DramaSeries #RomanticDrama #CDrama #EmotionalScenes #TVDrama #moviedrama #drama86
Watch more movies at: LaughOverDrama
#drama #ceodrama #movie #revenge #chinesedrama #shortdrama #DramaSeries #RomanticDrama #CDrama #EmotionalScenes #TVDrama #moviedrama #drama86
Category
🎥
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
01:21as long as you don't divorce his children become yours they'll care for you in old age when we
01:28pass 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
01:42one by
01:43one how things would turn out for the two of us when the time came they would know charles on
01:48the other
01:48hand was riding high he posted a family photo on social media with the caption starting today i
01:53finally have a real family in the photo he stood in the center a young man and woman on either
01:58side
01:58their faces radiating youthful pride and the woman who could carry on his bloodline had her arm linked
02:03through his smiling warmly and gracefully someone commented look at that now that's a winner in life
02:10indeed charles had one big in his youth he enjoyed the twosome life with me living freely his whole
02:16life never suffering through midnight feedings and diaper changes yet in his old age he had both a son
02:22and a daughter to bring him joy how could that not count as winning at life now that he was
02:26retired
02:27his 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 size but little
02:36did 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 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
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
03:36the
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 on
04:16the 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
04:47in 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
05:09take everything 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
05:16i looked away picked up my bag stood at the doorway and glanced back one last time at what
05:21had 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
05:34charles looked at vivian was with respect for the mother of his children and guilt for having kept her
05:38as a secret lover all these years as for me i was just an old woman he had grown tired
05:42of with no
05:43children by my side deserving to fend for myself a cold laugh echoed in my heart fine since you want
05:48me gone i'll leave cleanly so you can enjoy this brief pretense of affection after all in a few days
05:54it will be turning on each other after the divorce i moved into an apartment it wasn't far from my
06:00former
06:00home but 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
06:26look 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
06:35you
06:36more you wouldn't be in this situation now their words implicitly blamed me for insisting on being
06:40child free saying that's why i lost my husband's heart the most ridiculous thing was that my friends
06:44also thought charles hadn't done anything terribly wrong a man needs to have children charles was
06:49willing to play along with you for so many years that's already going above and beyond you were too
06:55stubborn back then all these years i've never understood what were you thinking honestly you're both old
07:00now vivian would still have to call you big sister why not just make do and live together i thought
07:05at
07:05most they'd advise me to accept charles's children i never imagined they'd suggest vivian and i share
07:10one husband but they never considered that neither child shared a single drop of blood with me even if
07:14i stayed how many good days could i possibly have what they didn't know was that the infertile one had
07:18never been me when i first insisted on being child free bearing the pressure from everyone my
07:27the declaration that i would never have children was denounced as selfish and unfilial charles's parents
07:32pressured him to divorce me but he said he didn't mind as long as we could live happily together moved
07:37by his
07:37words i became even more resolute in my decision for decades i bore all the blame myself protecting his
07:44reputation even his confidence and dignity as a man only to discover he had given me nothing but a complete
07:49and utter deception
07:50he never pressured me to have children because i wasn't his only woman if i didn't give birth
07:55he could have other women bear his children and he could maintain his reputation as a loving husband
07:59while gaining my parents trust and support why wouldn't he play along when i discovered the truth
08:03i never imagined 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 even
08:16willing to give up my right to be a mother so i planned for years waiting for the moment when
08:20his act fell 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 vivian's handwriting
08:30saying that as charles's ex-wife i must want to see him happy too and my presence would mean the
08:34world to them
08:35i let out a derisive laugh what beautiful words so high sounding they made me sick mean the world to
08:40them
08:40vivian had been charles's secret lover for 30 years having finally made it to the altar
08:44she naturally couldn't wait to gloat in front of me i took the invitation and casually glanced at it
08:49the ceremony was at the city's most luxurious five-star hotel quite an upscale venue charles
08:53must 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
09:09and he's already marrying his mistress in style he's clearly trying to embarrass you
09:13you absolutely shouldn't go going would just be asking for humiliation i listen to their angry voices
09:19without feeling a single ripple in my heart in fact a smile crept to my lips of course i'm going
09:24don't worry i'm not gonna make myself miserable my friend looked at me in confusion i'm just going to
09:30watch 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
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 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
10:18that 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 vivian's
10:30eyes she leaned against charles lightly her tone gentle yet provocative thank you for coming after
10:36all back then you pretended to be child free because you couldn't conceive charles didn't want to hurt you
10:42so he came up with this solution the best of both worlds charles walked over with a drink and
10:48raised his glass it's all in the past i believe i stayed by your side and did my duty
10:54now i'm old and want to enjoy my later years surrounded by children i hope you can understand
11:01i i 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 bows holding hands and
11:21gazing at each other with tears in their eyes chloe and connor went up to give them flowers
11:25charles looked 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
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
11:52life 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 cheers
12:05erupted from the audience chloe and connor covered their mouths excitedly and looked at vivian the
12:10three of them were expressions of assured victory but i stood up and shouted i object vivian hadn't
12:17received 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 disgust
12:28his eyes contemptuous yet resigned stella i know you're upset about not being able to have children
12:33and jealous 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 want
12:55him to have a harmonious family and someone to care for him in old age right i put down my
12:59glass and said
13:00indifferently of course but i need to correct one thing the one who can't have children isn't me
13:10the hall fell into dead silence vivian was taken aback and charles frowned too what do you mean by that
13:17it means nothing special i shook my head gently a touch of pity in my eyes my eggs are still
13:21frozen
13:21at 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 say
13:33you didn't want children with me now we're divorced and you want ivf are you out of your mind you
13:40really
13:41don't want to bear my child that badly i slapped him hard across the face rob the mc's microphone and
13:46spoke loudly enough for everyone present to hear because the one who can't have children has never
13:51been me it's you charles you have severe olive spermia you have no fertility whatsoever the hall
13:58fell into dead silence in an instant then came an uproar charles is infertile is that true but vivian
14:05already gave him two children didn't she stella must have gone crazy she couldn't have children
14:10herself and now she's slandering charles the guests whispered among themselves and then he had already
14:15pulled out their phones to record charles's face turned dark with fury vivian stood frozen her face
14:19deathly pale her lips trembling slightly nonsense are you spouting charles stepped forward aggressively
14:24his gaze so dark it seemed he wanted to tear me apart i let out a derisive laugh reached into
14:29my bag
14:30pulled out my phone and played a recording the clear voice instantly filled the entire wedding hall through
14:34the microphone to stella after examination your fertility is completely normal and your ovarian
14:39function is excellent but mr charles's situation is not very optimist what does that mean his sperm
14:43motility is extremely low basically there is virtually no chance of conception his condition
14:47is quite severe almost no possibility even with ivf the success rate would be extremely low i understand
14:53dr lewis please don't tell him about this yet don't tell anyone else either let this be between you
14:58me and god mistella this kind of thing can't be hidden forever when you can't conceive after marriage
15:03it will 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
15:31chloe and connor fidgeted restlessly trying to flee the hall oh my god so all these years
15:36stella insisted on being child free to protect charles's dignity because he's the one who's
15:41infertile then vivian's children vivian's lips moved slightly her voice trembling you must have had
15:46someone forge it i gave a cold laugh opened a second file and a video immediately began playing on the
15:51projection screen the footage showed a dimly lit hotel room with a man and woman entangled on the bed
15:56the woman's face was flushed panting softly her voice seductive and triumphant honey i'm pregnant
16:02the man's voice followed carrying a hint of panic and resistance no way this child can't be mine can
16:07it vivian chuckled softly her voice alluring and of course it's yours but don't worry neither i nor the
16:14child needs you to take responsibility what do you mean charles doesn't have children yet his wife
16:21insists on being child free and he's desperate he's been begging me to bear his children i'll just
16:27say the child is his he'll definitely treasure me like a gem the man was silent for a moment
16:32then laughed softly you really are something else vivian hooked her arm around his neck whispering
16:36softly we'll seize all the property and inheritance then we can enjoy our golden years in peace
16:45as 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 there
17:27left 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 joke and i had
18:58finally 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 his
19:24reputation was the most important thing in his life now his dignity had been completely shattered
19:29turning him into a laughing stock known across the entire country and i on the contrary had become
19:35the object of everyone's sympathy stella is so pitiful to protect her husband's dignity she took the
19:41blame herself and then was treated like this she's the truly good woman she endured for 30 years and
19:48still showed the scumbag some dignity vivian is the truly ruthless one she tricked charles into raising
19:53bastards for 30 years and almost swallowed his entire fortune public opinion had completely turned around
20:00but none of this mattered to me anymore what mattered more was how this farce would end after the 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 photos splintered into
20:39pieces fake it's all fake he held his head curled up on the floor like a helpless child
20:45he had lost everything while i was just beginning my new life
20:51after the wedding my life returned to peace no it was calmer and freer than before i started doing
20:56things i truly enjoyed i went to several art exhibitions attended concerts and enrolled in
21:01a pottery class my friends laughed at me you're living more freely than young people now i smiled
21:09without saying a word actually they had forgotten that i should have been living this way when i was
21:13young it's just that back then i had poured all my energy into charles and the family now i finally
21:18had
21:18the chance to live for myself one day my mother called her voice carrying a hint of relief
21:24stella you seem different lately different yes more energetic than before as if you've let go of
21:32something i smiled softly yes i had let go i had let go of the self that endured grievances to
21:36protect
21:37a man's dignity i had let go of the foolish notion that endurance would bring happiness i had let go
21:41of
21:41the man named charles mom i've made up my mind about what i want to donate my eggs there was
21:48a long
21:48silence on the other end of the line have you thought this through i have my voice was firm
21:54since the eggs are still there rather than keeping them frozen forever i might as well help people
21:59who 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
22:11charles's days grew more unbearable by the day vivian had been thrown out of the house
22:15and chloe and connor no longer acknowledged him as their father after all everything in the video
22:20was crystal clear they weren't charles's children but vivian's illegitimate children with another man
22:25they left with vivian not even glancing back at charles let's go he's not our father chloe said
22:31coldly charles sat alone in the empty house suddenly feeling a loneliness unlike anything he'd ever
22:36experienced he had once believed that having vivian and two children meant he had a real family
22:42but now he realized this family had never belonged to him he himself had been deceived by vivian for
22:47a full 30 years he opened his phone and saw news about me the headline stella decides to donate eggs
22:52to help infertile families jumped out at him he stared at the screen his fingers trembling slightly
22:57the woman who had borne his shame for 30 years to protect his dignity was now doing something even
23:02more meaningful and what about him he had nothing left no family no children no dignity he had lost
23:08everything charles put down his phone leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes images from 30 years
23:14ago flooded his mind back then we were still young building our careers together planning our future
23:19stella when we're old let's travel the world just the two of us he had once said with a smile
23:24sure it's a promise i had agreed without hesitation but he had broken that promise it wasn't that i
23:29wasn't willing to grow old with him it was that he chose betrayal first a tear slid from the corner
23:33of charles's eye he regretted it but there's no medicine 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
23:52the matter i i want to see you i chuckled charles do you think there's anything left to say between
24:00us
24:01i know i was wrong his voice was hoarse stella i truly know i was wrong i said nothing i
24:06know you're
24:07doing well now and i know you don't want to see me but i still want to tell you i'm
24:12sorry 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
24:32hadn't divorced would you have forgiven me i didn't answer because i didn't know the answer myself or
24:38rather this question no longer needed an answer charles live your life well those were my final words
24:44before 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
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
25:32egg 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 others
25:43it's that simple and what about you and mr charles do you hate him the reporter pressed i thought for
25:49a moment and said i don't hate him but i don't love him either he was part of my life
25:55but that's in the
25:56past the reporter seemed somewhat disappointed by my answer but i didn't care i didn't need others to
26:01define my emotions after the egg donation i decided to travel the round the world trip i had planned with
26:06charles although i couldn't complete it with him i could do it alone my first stop was paris standing
26:11beneath the eiffel tower watching the sunset slowly descend i felt the peace unlike anything i had
26:17ever experienced this city had once been a dream destination for charles and me now i had come
26:21alone 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 and
26:37joyful traveling alone freedom alone i have finally become myself again during my travels i occasionally
26:43received news from back home i heard that after being thrown out of the chan household vivian's life
26:48hadn't been easy she had once relied on charles's money to live now without a source of income she could
26:54only make ends meet by doing odd jobs chloe and connor no longer had anything to do with her either
26:58after all once the video was exposed everyone knew the truth they weren't charles's children but vivian's
27:05illegitimate children with another man this news was undoubtedly a devastating blow to chloe and
27:09connor they had always believed they were of the chen bloodline proud of it all these years only to
27:14discover they had no connection to the chen family whatsoever chloe confronted vivian mom
27:21what exactly is going on don't believe those videos they're all fake vivian was still trying to deny
27:27it mom the video is crystal clear you told someone else we were charles's children and said you were
27:32going to swind his property i was just enough chloe cut her off i never want to hear your lies
27:38again
27:38chloe and connor moved out of vivian's house found jobs and started new lives and vivian curled up
27:44alone in a dilapidated rental apartment crying day after day her former elegance and nobility had long
27:49since vanished mom do you think stella is feeling pretty pleased with herself right now chloe had once
27:54asked vivian 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
28:33the hot springs and savor exquisite kaiseki cuisine the innkeeper was a kind middle-aged woman seeing me
28:39alone she couldn't help asking ma'am are you traveling alone yes i answered with a smile doesn't traveling
28:48alone feel lonely i thought for a moment and said sometimes but more often it's a kind of freedom
28:55the innkeeper nodded showing an understanding smile you're right freedom is more precious than anything
29:01during my days in kyoto i also visited kaya mizudora and drew a fortune slip the fortune read withered
29:07trees meet spring old matters become empty the road ahead is bright freedom lies within the heart i looked
29:12at the fortune and couldn't help but smile withered trees meet spring wasn't this exactly my current state
29:17after 30 years of winter i had finally welcomed my own spring i carefully put away the fortune slip
29:22into my wallet old matters become empty the road ahead is bright these words i would always keep
29:28in my heart on the last night before leaving kyoto i sat in the inn's courtyard gazing at the star
29:33-filled
29:33sky my phone rang it was an unfamiliar number i hesitated for a moment but answered anyway hello
29:39stella 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 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 at your inn i walked to the window pulled back
30:19the
30:19curtain and sure enough saw a familiar figure standing below charles was wearing a dark overcoat carrying a
30:25suitcase he looked much thinner and older than before i hesitated but eventually went downstairs to meet him
30:30in the inn's tea room we sat facing each other charles looked at me his eyes complicated stella you've
30:35changed have i i picked up my teacup and took a sip people always change you would never have treated
30:42me like this before his voice carried bitterness the old you was always gentle and considerate
30:47never willing to embarrass me the old me was a fool i put down my teacup my tone calm charles
30:54you
30:54betrayed me for 30 years and now you come to me with this don't you find it ridiculous charles lowered
30:59his head his hands tightly clasped i know i don't deserve to ask for your forgiveness but
31:04i 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 mouth
31:19but couldn't speak charles you don't need to answer me i stood up looking down at him because your answer
31:26no longer matters to me i turned to leave but charles suddenly stood up and grabbed my wrist
31:32stella give me a chance let's start over please his voice was fleeting his eyes full of desperation
31:39i stopped and turned to look at him this man i had once deeply loved now only felt like a
31:44stranger
31:44to me charles i gently freed my hand from his my tone calm yet firm some roads once traveled can
31:52never
31:53be retraced we can he said urgently i know you hate me but i can change i can make it
31:58up to you i can can
31:59you can't i cut him off charles you can't make it up 30 years of betrayal cannot be erased by
32:06a single
32:06sorry his eyes reddened his voice trembling stella do you really not love me anymore i looked at him
32:12not a single ripple in my heart love i shook my head gently charles i loved the you from 30
32:17years
32:18ago not the you of today that you is already dead charles's body swayed as if he had been struck
32:24hard
32:24he released my hand stepped back looking as if he had aged 10 years in an instant i understand his
32:29voice was hoarse and low stella i wish you happiness i didn't answer just nodded faintly then turned and
32:36left the moment i walked out of the tea room i let out a long breath 30 years of entanglement
32:41had
32:41finally come to a close i didn't look back because i knew there were even more beautiful
32:46sights 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
33:10in 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 a
33:38cafe by the same watching the passing crowds suddenly a little girl ran over looking at me
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
34:13own face perhaps i really had changed no longer the woman who endured grievances to protect her husband's
34:19dignity no longer the fool who took the blame for someone else's betrayal the current me had light in
34:24my eyes and dreams in my heart this was probably what people called rebirth light in my eyes dreams
34:31in my heart this is my rebirth after the trip i returned home there was new progress on the egg
34:36donation the 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 should
34:50actually donating eggs wasn't just about helping others it was also about making peace with my own
34:55regrets 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
35:18success 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
35:48i carefully put the letter away in a drawer this touching moment i would forever treasure in my
35:53heart helping others is also healing oneself
35:59after returning home i started reconnecting with old friends because of the whole situation
36:03with charles i had grown distant from many people now i wanted to pick up those relationships
36:08again the first person i reached out to was my best friend linda when she saw me she was so
36:12excited
36:13she almost cried stella you're finally back i thought you'd never speak to me again how could that be
36:22i laughed and hugged her i just went traveling for a while to clear my head
36:28so how are you now has charles caused you any more trouble no it's completely over between us linda
36:35breathed a sigh of relief that's good stella you deserve someone better someone better i smiled
36:44linda i don't need anyone else to define my worth right now i am enough linda looked at me surprise
36:51splashing in her eyes then relief stella you really have changed become better stronger have i maybe
36:57i picked 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 went 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
37:31not because of dependence but because of independence i finally understood that true
37:36happiness doesn't come from others but from oneself after returning home i didn't stay idle i started
37:43replanning my career in my youth i had given up many opportunities for charles now i would pick
37:49them up one by one i open a small floral design studio this was a dream i had in my
37:53youth that i
37:54never got to realize now i finally had the chance to make it a reality the studio wasn't big but
37:59it was
37:59decorated warmly every morning i would go to the flower market to select the freshest blooms then back
38:05at the studio i would trim stems match colors and create beautiful bouquets when customers came i would
38:12recommend the most suitable flowers based on their needs your mom will definitely love this bouquet
38:17these roses for your girlfriend guaranteed to make her feel your love watching the satisfied
38:22smiles of my customers my heart filled with a sense of accomplishment linda a special customer
38:27walked into the one in a young woman holding a baby in her arms hello she said with a smile
38:32i'd like
38:32to order a bouquet certainly who is it for for myself her eyes sparkled i just had a baby and
38:42want
38:43to treat myself i was taken aback then smiled congratulations that's the best gift of all
38:48i carefully arranged a bouquet of pink carnations and white baby's breath for her she held the flowers
38:54held her baby smiling so happily in that moment i suddenly felt that my choice had been the right one
39:00although i didn't have a child of my own i could bring happiness to others in other ways
39:05this was probably the meaning of life bringing happiness to others is also the meaning of life
39:10time flies in the blink of an eye three years had passed my floral studio had grown bigger and bigger
39:16now with three branch locations my name had also started to gain recognition in the industry
39:21many people didn't know what storms this elegant and composed florist had once weathered
39:25and i no longer spoke of them because all of that was in the past the present me only wanted
39:30to look
39:31forward one day i received a postcard from alaska no signature just one sentence may the rest of your
39:38life be happy i knew who sent it but i didn't write back some goodbyes don't need a response i
39:44slipped
39:45the postcard into that fortune slip withered trees meet spring old matters become empty the road ahead is
39:51bright freedom lies within the heart these words i had always kept in my heart charles vivian chloe
39:58connor they had all become passers-by in my life and i had finally become the protagonist of my own
40:03story the sun was setting i sat by the studio window watching the passing crowds outside holding a cup of
40:09hot tea my heart felt a piece of sun like anything before my phone rang it was a message from
40:15the hospital
40:15miss stella your donated eggs have successfully helped a fifth couple welcome their baby
40:20thank you for your great love i smiled my eyes were a bit moist but my heart was full of
40:26happiness
40:26perhaps this was the best possible ending i didn't have children but i had helped many people realize
40:31their dreams i didn't have romance but i had true freedom i didn't have a family but i had created
40:37a
40:37world of my own in this world there were flowers sunshine laughter and hope that was enough i raised my
40:44tea cup and took a gentle sip outside the window the afterglow of the sunset spilled across my face
40:49warm and gentle my life has only just begun
Comments