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FULL MOVIES ENGLISH SUB (2026) - FULL | Reelshort
#drama #cdrama #romantic #love #movie #shortdrama
FULL MOVIES ENGLISH SUB (2026) - FULL | Reelshort
#drama #cdrama #romantic #love #movie #shortdrama
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Short filmTranscript
00:02my husband and i both double income no kids retired together we were planning to travel
00:07the world together when he suddenly came clean i've publicly claimed we were child free for 30
00:13years 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 that old bastard
01:00charles is such a scumbag back then he said they'd never have kids just enjoy their twin stem now look
01:07his own son and daughter are old enough to make him a grandfather chatting with old friends they
01:11couldn't help but so glamorous in your youth successful career living freely but you insisted
01:17on being child free and now you're old and all alone even my parents as long as you don't divorce
01:23his children become yours they'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 other
01:48hand 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 sides 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
03:04but 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
03:36the
03:37door i saw brand new photos displayed in the living room our wedding photos had been replaced by their
03:42family portrait the four of them charles sat in the center vivian holding his arm with two similar
03:49looking young adults in their 20s standing on either side full of vigor when i walked in the lively
03:55atmosphere instantly turned cold as if announcing my unwelcome presence vivian greeted me with a smile
04:03oh stella did you leave something behind let me help you look for it playing the hostess like
04:10she owned the place just a few last things i'll take them all today i said indifferently charles sat
04:15on the sofa without looking up as if waiting for me to get the hint and leave charles sat on
04:25the
04:25sofa not even lifting his head casually flipping through the newspaper as if waiting for me to get
04:29the hint and leave on my own chloe and connor stood to the side their eyes filled with undisguised
04:34distance and wariness treating me like a stranger who had barged in mom this place looks a bit dated
04:39and the living room is kind of dark how about a renovation with a new style chloe said casually
04:43yeah the sofa needs replacing too so old-fashioned how did dad live in a place like this connor chimed
04:49in
04:49i listened to the nitpick and watched charles remain silent i felt like laughing this was the home
04:53charles and i had shared for 30 years every piece of furniture carefully chosen now i was being
04:57dismissed as worthless vivian affectionately held charles's arm see how opinionated the children
05:01are this house needs a complete makeover we can't short charge ourselves charles finally looked up
05:06slowly and glanced at me stella are you done packing take everything at once so you won't have to keep
05:11coming back it's awkward for everyone he meant for me to leave and never come back so i wouldn't be
05:15an
05:15eyesore to their family of four i looked away picked up my bag stood at the doorway and glanced back
05:20one
05:20last time at what had once been my home vivian leaned weakly against charles peeling an orange while the two
05:25children sat side by side on the sofa watching tv the three of them chatting and laughing as if this
05:30home had always been like this composed of their family of four with no place for me the way charles
05:35looked at vivian was with respect for the mother of his children and guilt for having kept her as a
05:39secret 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
05:49leave cleanly so you can enjoy this brief pretense of affection after all in a few days it will be
05:54turning on each other after the divorce i moved into an apartment it wasn't far from my former home
06:00but it felt like a different world i didn't feel any particular discomfort without charles in the
06:06house 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 look at you now wouldn't it be nice to have a child at least you wouldn't end up like
06:31this my
06:31father sighed his face full of regret we shouldn't have let you have your way back then if we had
06:35persuaded you more you wouldn't be in this situation now their words implicitly blamed me for insisting
06:40on being 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 honestly
07:00you're both old now vivian would still have to call you big sister why not just make do and live
07:05together i thought at most they'd advise me to accept charles's children i never imagined they'd
07:09suggest vivian and i share one husband but they never considered that neither child shared a single
07:13drop of blood with me even if i stayed how many good days could i possibly have what they didn't
07:17know
07:17was that the infertile one had never been me when i first insisted on being child free bearing the
07:26pressure from everyone my declaration that i would never have children was denounced as selfish and
07:30unfilial charles's parents pressured him to divorce me but he said he didn't mind as long as we could
07:35live happily together moved by his words i became even more resolute in my decision for decades i bore all
07:42the blame myself protecting his reputation even his confidence and dignity as a man only to discover
07:47he had given me nothing but a complete and utter deception he never pressured me to have children
07:52because i wasn't his only woman if i didn't give birth he could have other women bear his children
07:56and he could maintain his reputation as a loving husband while gaining my parents trust and support
08:01why wouldn't he play along when i discovered the truth i never imagined that my seemingly gentle husband
08:06was so deeply calculating i was wrong but my mistake was not having children my mistake was taking it
08:12upon myself to protect his dignity as a man for that i was even willing to give up my right
08:17to be a
08:17mother so i planned for years waiting for the moment when his act fell apart to deliver him a devastating
08:22blow soon i received the wedding invitation for charles and vivian's wedding the invitation was in
08:29vivian's handwriting saying that as charles's ex-wife i must want to see him happy too and my presence
08:34would mean the world to them i let out a derisive laugh what beautiful words so high sounding they
08:39made me sick mean the world to them vivian had been charles a secret lover for 30 years having
08:43finally made it to the altar she naturally couldn't wait to gloat in front of me i took the invitation
08:47and casually glanced at it the ceremony was at the city's most luxurious five-star hotel quite an
08:52upscale venue charles must have wanted to compensate vivian for 30 years of hidden suffering with the
08:57grand wedding when my friends heard that vivian had invited me to her wedding with charles
09:00they were all furious what does he mean by this he's obviously trying to humiliate you
09:08exactly you just moved out and he's already marrying his mistress in style he's clearly
09:12trying to embarrass you you absolutely shouldn't go going would just be asking for humiliation i
09:18listen to their angry voices without feeling a single ripple in my heart in fact a smile crept
09:22to my lips of course i'm going don't worry i'm not going to make myself miserable my friend looked
09:28at me in confusion i'm just going to watch a comedy show stella 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 completely
09:55unabashed when the guests saw me the smiles on their faces instantly became knowing and significant
10:00why is she here someone whispered she's not here to cause trouble is it well who can blame her
10:08being abandoned by charles anyone would feel upset they all thought i had come to cry to argue to seek
10:15sympathy but they were wrong if only one person could have the last laugh at this wedding that person
10:19would definitely be me i picked up a glass of champagne walked slowly to charles and vivian and smiled
10:27congratulations you finally got what you wanted a flicker of triumph flashed in vivian's eyes
10:31she leaned against charles lightly her tone gentle yet provocative thank you for coming
10:35after all back then you pretended to be child free because you couldn't conceive
10:40charles didn't want to hurt you so he came up with this solution the best of both worlds charles
10:47walked over with a drink and raised his glass it's all in the past i believe i stayed by your
10:52side and
10:53did my duty now i'm old and want to enjoy my later years surrounded by children i hope you can
11:01understand i 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 charles
11:25looked at the two young adults in their prime as of seeing his own youth reflected in them
11:29he thought perhaps this was the price of continuing one's bloodline stella would never understand this
11:34feeling which is why he had resolutely abandoned her halfway through the wedding charles suddenly
11:39produced a property deed i once thought i would die childless and alone in my old age but heaven has
11:45been
11:45kind to me my beloved vivian has given me a son and a daughter allowing me to live a complete
11:52life
11:53vivian looked at charles tears already glistening in her eyes i have little to give them so i've
11:58decided to transfer the property under my name to the two children to help them thrive cheers erupted
12:05from the audience chloe and connor covered their mouths excitedly and looked at vivian the three of them
12:11more expressions of assured victory but i stood up and shouted i object vivian hadn't received the
12:17property deed yet interrupted by me she was furious stella today is a wonderful day for our family of
12:24four what kind of trouble are you trying to cause charles looked at me with disgust his eyes contemptuous
12:29yet resigned stella i know you're upset about not being able to have children and jealous seeing my
12:35family but you have to accept reality we're divorced the house may have both our names on it but we're
12:43old now what use is it to us chloe and connor nodded continuously even encouraging the guests to boo me
12:49the mc also tried to persuade me mrs stella as mr charles's ex-wife you must want him to have
12:55a
12:55harmonious family and someone to care for him in old age right i put down my glass and said indifferently
13:02of course but i need to correct one thing the one who can't have children isn't me the hall fell
13:11into
13:11dead silence vivian was taken aback and charles frowned too what do you mean by that it means
13:17nothing special i shook my head gently a touch of pity in my eyes my eggs are still frozen at
13:22the egg
13:22bank perfectly healthy the doctor said they can be retrieved for embryo cultivation anytime charles
13:29understood i had frozen my eggs for ivf and he was completely enraged didn't you say you didn't
13:34want children with me now we're divorced and you want ivf are you out of your mind you really don't
13:41want to bear my child that badly i slapped him hard across the face rob the mc's microphone and spoke
13:47loudly enough for everyone present to hear because the one who can't have children has never been me
13:51it's you charles you have severe olive spermia you have no fertility whatsoever the hall fell into 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 slightly 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
14:48severe but almost no possibility even with ivf the success rate would be extremely low i understand dr
14:53lewis please don't tell him about this yet don't tell anyone else either let this be between you
14:58me and god mistela this kind of thing can't be hidden forever when you can't conceive after marriage it will
15:04naturally come to light it's fine i'll tell him and our parents that i don't want children that i insist
15:10on being child free that way no one will know the problem lies with charles the recording finished playing
15:17a 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 infertile
15:42than vivian's children vivian's lips moved slightly her voice trembling violently you must have had
15:46someone forge it i gave a cold laugh opened a second file and a video immediately began playing
15:51on the projection screen the footage showed a dimly lit hotel room with a man and woman entangled on
15:56the bed the woman's face was flushed panting softly her voice seductive and triumphant honey
16:01i'm pregnant the man's voice followed carrying a hint of panic and resistance no way this child can't be
16:06mine can it vivian chuckled softly her voice alluring and of course it's yours but don't worry
16:12neither i nor the child need you to take responsibility what do you mean charles doesn't
16:20have children yet his wife insists on being child free and he's desperate he's been begging me to bear
16:26his children i'll just say the child is his he'll definitely treasure me like a gem the man was silent
16:31for a moment then laughed softly you really are something else vivian hooked her arm around his neck
16:36whispering 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 terrible
17:02expression he clenched his fists his body trembling slightly veins bulging at his temples he was
17:07clearly 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
17:22it's not charles please listen to me explain what is there left to explain charles kicked the chair
17:30aside grabbed a champagne glass from the table and smashed it on the ground the sound of shattering
17:34glass exploded in the quiet wedding venue sharp and piercing you bitch how dare you deceive me
17:40i was your secret lover for 30 years and you dare to cuckler me charles's eyes turned red as if
17:48he had
17:48lost all reason he rushed forward wrapped vivian's shoulders and slapped her heart across the face
17:53the crisp sound of the slap echoed throughout the entire hall vivian staggered backward clutching her
17:59cheek tears streaming from her eyes and you dare to cry you deceived me for 30 years cuckled me and
18:07i've spent so much money on these bastards charles charles calm down someone rushed up to restrain charles
18:12but he had already gone completely mad he shoved everyone aside and like an enraged beast overturned the
18:17dining table plates wine glasses and flowers scattered everywhere the scene was utter chaos
18:21chloe and connor stood to the side their faces ashen their bodies trembling completely at a loss
18:25the guests erupted in an uproar pulling out their phones to capture photos and videos
18:30my god how did this wedding turn into this so vivian's two children aren't even charles's
18:35this is incredible it's the drama of the year the entire wedding had completely spiraled out of control
18:41eventually with security's intervention charles was forcibly pulled away
18:45vidian 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
18:53champagne quietly 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 paternity
19:08truth 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 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
20:04after the wedding charles locked himself in his former home and hadn't stepped outside for three full
20:09days he smashed everything in the house coffee table tv faces the place was a complete mess but after the
20:16destruction he sat alone on the sofa staring blankly at a family portrait hanging on the wall it was a
20:21photo of him vivian chloe and connor the four of them in the photo he was smiling happily as if
20:27he owned
20:27the 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 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
20:46while 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 protect
21:37a man's dignity i had let go of the foolish notion that endurance would bring happiness i had let go
21:41of
21:41the man named charles mom i've made up my mind about what i want to donate my eggs there was
21:48a long
21:48silence on the other end of the line have you thought this through i have my voice was firm
21:54since the eggs are still there rather than keeping them frozen forever i might as well help people who
22:00want 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 days
22:12grew 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
22:39that having vivian and two children meant he had a real family but now he realized this family had
22:44never belonged to him he himself had been deceived by vivian for a full 30 years he opened his phone
22:49and saw news about me the headline stella decides to donate eggs to help infertile families jumped out at
22:54him he stared at the screen his fingers trembling slightly the woman who had borne his shame for 30 years
22:59to protect his dignity was now doing something even more meaningful and what about him he had
23:04nothing left no family no children no dignity he had lost everything charles put down his phone
23:10leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes images from 30 years ago flooded his mind back then we
23:16were
23:16still young building our careers together planning our future stella when we're old let's travel the world
23:21just the two of us he had once said with a smile sure it's a promise i had agreed without
23:26hesitation
23:27but he had broken that promise it wasn't that i wasn't willing to grow old with him it was that
23:31he chose betrayal first a tear slid from the corner of charles's eye he regretted it but there's no
23:36medicine for regret in this world after hesitating for a long time charles finally dialed my number
23:44the phone rang for a long time before i answered hello stella it's me i was silent for a few
23:50seconds
23:51then spoke calmly is something the matter i i want to see you i chuckled charles do you think there's
23:59anything left to say between us i know i was wrong his voice was horrid stella i truly know i
24:04was wrong
24:05i said nothing i know you're doing well now and i know you don't want to see me but i
24:11still want to
24:11tell you i'm sorry face to face i repeated my tone indifferent charles it's been 30 years you're
24:18telling me sorry now don't you think it's a little too late i know it's late but i cut him
24:23off charles
24:24you chose betrayal so you bear the consequences that was your choice there was a long silence on
24:30the other end stella if if we hadn't divorced would you have forgiven me i didn't answer because i
24:36didn't know the answer myself or rather this question no longer needed an answer charles live
24:42your life well those were my final words before hanging up live your life well this was the last
24:50thing i could give him the egg donation process was more complicated than i had imagined it required
24:58a series of physical examinations psychological evaluations and legal procedures but i walked
25:03through each step with steadiness the doctor told me my egg quality was excellent even after being frozen
25:07for so many years their viability remained very high mrs stella your eggs are extremely valuable
25:13they can help many families realize their dreams i smiled valuable i had once thought these eggs were
25:19the fruit of my love with charles the hope for our future children but now they had become a gift
25:25to help strangers perhaps this was better at least they would no longer be bound by charles's name
25:30after news of my egg donation spread many people started paying attention to me the media wanted to
25:36interview me asking why i was doing this i simply answered indifferently because i have the ability to
25:42help others it's that simple and what about you and mr charles do you hate him the reporter pressed
25:49i thought for a moment and said i don't hate him but i don't love him either he was part
25:54of my life
25:55but that's in the past the reporter seemed somewhat disappointed by my answer but i didn't care i
26:01didn't need others to define my emotions after the egg donation i decided to travel the round the
26:05world trip i had planned with charles although i couldn't complete it with him i could do it alone
26:10my first stop was paris standing beneath the eiffel tower watching the sunset slowly descend
26:14i felt the peace unlike anything i had ever experienced this city had once been a dream
26:19destination for charles and me now i had come alone but i didn't feel lonely instead i felt that
26:24this was truly my own moment without charles without the constraints of that marriage i could
26:29finally be my true self during my days in paris i visited the louvre walked along the seine and
26:34tasted 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 chen household vivian's life hadn't been easy
26:49she had once relied on charles's money to live now without a source of income
26:53she could only make ends meet by doing odd jobs chloe and connor no longer had anything to do with
26:58her either after all once the video was exposed everyone knew the truth they weren't charles's
27:04children but vivian's illegitimate children with another man this news was undoubtedly a devastating
27:09blow to chloe and connor they had always believed they were of the chen bloodline proud of it all these
27:14years only to discover they had no connection to the chen family whatsoever chloe confronted vivian
27:20mom what exactly is going on don't believe those videos they're all fake vivian was still trying to
27:26deny it mom the video is crystal clear you told someone else we were charles's children and said you
27:32were going to swind his property i was just enough chloe cut her off i never want to hear your
27:38lies again
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
27:55asked 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
29:01anything during my days in kyoto i also visited kaya mizudora and drew a fortune slip the fortune read
29:06withered trees meet spring old matters become empty the road ahead is bright freedom lies within the heart
29:11i looked at the fortune and couldn't help but smile withered trees meet spring wasn't this exactly my
29:16current state 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 found i asked your friend his voice was hoarse stella i
29:54want to see you see me i gave a cold laugh charles what is there left for us to see
29:59i know i was wrong
30:01and i know you don't forgive me but but i really want to talk to you face to face i
30:05was silent for 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
30:41you would never have treated me like this before his voice carried bitterness the old you was always
30:46gentle and considerate never willing to embarrass me the old me was a fool i put down my teacup my
30:52tone calm charles you betrayed me for 30 years and now you come to me with this don't you find
30:57it
30:58ridiculous charles lowered his head his hands tightly clasped i know i don't deserve to ask for your
31:04forgiveness but i truly regret it i scoffed regret do you regret losing vivian and the two children
31:13or do you regret being laughed at by the whole world charles's face turned pale he opened his 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 pleading 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 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 love the you from 30
32:18years ago
32:18not the you of today that you is already dead charles's body swayed as if he had been struck
32:24hard he released my hand stepped back looking as if he had aged 10 years in an instant i understand
32:29his voice was hoarse and low stella i wish you happiness i didn't answer just nodded faintly then
32:36turned and left the moment i walked out of the tea room i let out a long breath 30 years
32:41of entanglement
32:41had finally 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 inn 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 seine watching the passing crowds suddenly a little girl ran over looking at me with big
33:45wide eyes ma'am you're so pretty she said in her childish voice i was taken aback then smiled thank
33:55you little one her mother walked over and apologized with a smile i'm sorry my daughter is too playfy
34:01it's fine she's adorable the little girl held her mother's hand looked back at me and suddenly shouted
34:06mommy that lady 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 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 success
35:20just when we were about to give up we received news from the hospital that someone was willing to donate
35:25eggs that person was you now i am pregnant and the doctor says the baby is very healthy i don't
35:32know
35:32how to thank you i just want to tell you that you have given our family new hope thank you
35:37miss stella
35:37you are the great benefactor of our entire family after reading the letter my eyes welled up with tears
35:44it turned out that helping others truly could bring happiness to oneself i carefully put the letter away in
35:49a drawer this touching moment i would forever treasure in my heart helping others is also healing
35:55oneself after 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 again
36:08the first person i reached out to was my best friend linda when she saw me she was so excited
36:13she almost
36:13cried stella you're finally back i thought you'd never speak to me again how could that be i laughed
36:23and hugged her i just went traveling for a while to clear my head so how are you now has
36:31charles caused
36:31you any more trouble no it's completely over between us linda breathed a sigh of relief that's good
36:38stella you deserve someone better someone better i smiled linda i don't need anyone else to define
36:47my worth right now i am enough linda looked at me surprise flashing in her eyes then relief stella
36:54you really have changed become better stronger have i maybe i picked up my coffee after going through so
36:59much you've got to learn something so what are your plans next keep living of course i smiled work
37:05travel do what i love what about love linda waved not considering finding someone new
37:11i shook my head not for now at this point in my life i just want to love myself well
37:18linda laughed
37:20well said cheers to our new era we clinked cups the aroma of coffee filling the air in this moment
37:27i felt
37:28warmth not because of romance but because of friendship not because of dependence but because of independence
37:34i finally understood that true happiness doesn't come from others but from oneself
37:40after returning home i didn't stay idle i started replanning my career in my youth i had given up
37:46many opportunities for charles now i would pick them up one by one i open a small floral design studio
37:52this was a dream i had in my youth that i never got to realize now i finally had the
37:56chance to make it a
37:57reality the studio wasn't big but it was decorated warmly every morning i would go to the flower market to
38:03select the freshest blooms then back at the studio i would trim stems match colors and create beautiful
38:08bouquets 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
38:24accomplishment linda a special customer walked into the studio come on in a young woman holding a baby
38:30in her arms hello she said with a smile i'd like to order a bouquet certainly who is it for
38:38for myself her eyes sparkled
38:41i just had a baby and want to treat myself i was taken aback then smiled congratulations that's the
38:48best gift of all i carefully arranged a bouquet of pink carnations and white baby's breath for her
38:52she held the flowers held her baby smiling so happily in that moment i suddenly felt that
38:59my choice had been the right one although i didn't have a child of my own i could bring 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
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
39:29the present me only wanted to look forward one day i received a postcard from alaska no signature
39:35just one sentence may the rest of your life be happy i knew who sent it but i didn't write
39:41back
39:42some goodbyes don't need a response i slipped the postcard into that fortune slip withered trees
39:47meet spring old matters become empty the road ahead is bright freedom lies within the heart
39:53these words i had always kept in my heart charles vivian chloe connor they had all become passersby
40:00in my life and i had finally become the protagonist of my own story the sun was setting i sat
40:05by the
40:06studio window watching the passing crowds outside holding a cup of hot tea my heart felt a piece of
40:11done like anything before my phone rang it was a message from the hospital miss stella your donated
40:17eggs have successfully helped a fifth couple welcome their baby thank you for your great love
40:22i smiled my eyes were a bit moist but my heart was full of happiness perhaps this was the best
40:28possible
40:28ending i didn't have children but i had helped many people realize their dreams i didn't have romance
40:33but i had true freedom i didn't have a family but i had created a world of my own in
40:38this world
40:39there were flowers sunshine laughter and hope that was enough i raised my teacup and took a gentle sip
40:45outside the window the afterglow of the sunset spilled across my face warm and gentle my life has only just
40:51begun
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