- 10 hours ago
The Childless Marriage
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:03my husband and i both double income no kids retired together we were planning to travel
00:07the world together when he suddenly came clean i've publicly claimed we were child free for 30
00:13years now it's time to bring my children back home where they belong but i had seen this coming long
00:18ago and smiled meaningfully he thought i had lost my mind and continued a man passing on his line
00:24is only natural you couldn't have kids so i played along but now i owe my children an explanation
00:32he proposed a divorce wanting to take his pair of children and their mother on a family trip
00:37together i agreed immediately gracefully stepping aside and leaving when news of the divorce spread
00:42everyone sympathized with me an elderly neighbor felt my pain at her age abandoned by her husband
00:52what a miserable old age so tragic a college girl from the same apartment complex fumed on my behalf
00:58that old bastard charles is such a scumbag back then he said they'd never have kids just enjoy
01:05their twin stem now look his own son and daughter are old enough to make him a grandfather chatting
01:10with old friends they couldn't help but so glamorous in your youth successful career living freely but
01:16you insisted on being child free and now you're old and all alone even my parents advised me
01:21as you don't divorce his children become yours they'll care for you in old age when we pass on
01:29we'll have peace mind they all thought i was forced into divorce that i was devastated that i had no
01:36one
01:36to rely on in old age that my whole life had become a joke i didn't explain nor could i
01:42be bothered to
01:42refute them one by one how things would turn out for the two of us when the time came they
01:47would know
01:47charles on the other hand was writing hi he posted a family photo on social media with the caption
01:53starting 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 had
02:03her arm linked through his smiling warmly and gracefully someone commented look at that now that's
02:09a winner in life indeed charles had one big in his youth he enjoyed the twosome life with me living
02:16freely his whole life never suffering through midnight feedings and diaper changes yet in his old
02:21age he had both a son and a daughter to bring him joy how could that not count as winning
02:25at life
02:26now that he was retired his career and reputation would no longer be affected
02:31and me at my age abandoned by my husband and left with nothing naturally invited people's signs but
02:36little 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 to
02:53the courthouse when signing his hand didn't tremble at all instead it was as if he had finally shed some
02:59burden swift and decisive he smiled at the clerk what can you do we're both old and the love is
03:04gone but at least i still have my son and daughter with me i can enjoy family happiness too the
03:11clerk
03:11looked at me apologetically eyes full of sympathy and comfort i smiled too but said nothing after the
03:17divorce with a grand gesture he hired people to clear out the bedroom i had lived in for over 30
03:21years
03:21eagerly bringing vivian and the children home i didn't fight or argue i didn't even bother hiring a
03:26lawyer i just took my half of the savings and a few important items and moved out cleanly and
03:31efficiently the day vivian moved in i came back to pack up my last belongings as soon as i opened
03:37the
03:37door i saw brand new photos displayed in the living room our wedding photos had been replaced by their
03:42family portrait the four of them charles sat in the center vivian holding his arm with two similar
03:50looking young adults in their 20s standing on either side full of vigor when i walked in the
03:54lively atmosphere instantly turned cold as if announcing my unwelcome presence vivian greeted me
04:00with 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 away
05:17picked up my bag stood at the doorway and glanced back one last time at what had once been my
05:22home
05:22vivian leaned weakly against charles peeling an orange while the two children sat side by side on
05:27the sofa watching tv the three of them chatting and laughing as if this home had always been like
05:31this composed of their family of four with no place for me the way charles looked at vivian was with
05:36respect for the mother of his children and guilt for having kept her as a secret lover all these
05:39years as for me i was just an old woman he had grown tired of with no children by my
05:44side deserving
05:45to fend for myself a cold laugh echoed in my heart fine since you want me gone i'll leave cleanly
05:50so you can enjoy this brief pretense of affection after all in a few days it will be turning on
05:55each
05:55other after the divorce i moved into an apartment it wasn't far from my former home but it felt like
06:02a
06:02different world i didn't feel any particular discomfort without charles in the house i
06:06actually enjoyed the peace and quiet but outsiders didn't see it that way no matter how capable and
06:12free-spirited you were in your youth you still lost in the end this was the shared opinion of relatives
06:17and friends my mother couldn't hold back tears when she saw me you're living alone now with no one to
06:22take care of you what if you get sick someday you insisted on being child free before look at you
06:27now
06:28wouldn't it be nice to have a child at least you wouldn't end up like this my father sighed his
06:32face full of regret we shouldn't have let you have your way back then if we had persuaded you more
06:36you wouldn't be in this situation now their words implicitly blamed me for insisting on being child
06:41free saying that's why i lost my husband's heart the most ridiculous thing was that my friends also
06:45thought charles hadn't done anything terribly wrong a man needs to have children charles was willing to play
06:49along with you for so many years that's already going above and beyond you were too stubborn back then
06:56all these years i've never understood what were you thinking honestly you're both old now vivian
07:01would still have to call you big sister why not just make do and live together i thought at most
07:06they'd advise me to accept charles's children i never imagined they'd suggest vivian and i share one
07:10husband but they never considered that neither child shared a single drop of blood with me even if i
07:15stayed how many good days could i possibly have what they didn't know was that the infertile one had never
07:22been me when i first insisted on being child free bearing the pressure from everyone my declaration
07:28that i would never have children was denounced as selfish and unfilial charles's parents pressured
07:32him to divorce me but he said he didn't mind as long as we could live happily together moved by
07:37his
07:38words 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
07:49complete and utter deception he never pressured me to have children because i wasn't his only woman
07:54if i didn't give birth he could have other women bear his children and he could maintain his
07:58reputation as a loving husband while gaining my parents trust and support why wouldn't he play
08:02along when i discovered the truth i never imagined that my seemingly gentle husband was so deeply
08:07calculating i was wrong but my mistake was not having children my mistake was taking it upon myself to
08:13protect his dignity as a man for that i was even willing to give up my right to be a
08:17mother
08:17so i planned for years waiting for the moment when his act fell apart to deliver him a devastating blow
08:25soon i received the wedding invitation for charles and vivian's wedding the invitation was in
08:29vivian's handwriting saying that as charles's ex-wife i must want to see him happy too and my
08:34presence would mean the world to them i let out a derisive laugh what beautiful words so high-sounding
08:39they made me sick mean the world to them vivian had been charles's secret lover for 30 years having
08:43finally made it to the altar she naturally couldn't wait to gloat in front of me i took the invitation
08:47and 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
09:13trying 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 cropped
09:23to my lips of course i'm going don't worry i'm not going to make myself miserable
09:27my friend looked at me in confusion i'm just going to watch a comedy show stella
09:34the show is about to begin
09:40on the wedding day the ballroom was decorated magnificently charles stood in the center of
09:45the crowd receiving blessings from relatives and friends while vivian held his arm smiling
09:50warmly and elegantly the picture of a dignified hostess and i walked in with a confident expression
09:55completely unabashed when the guests saw me the smiles on their faces instantly became knowing and
10:00significant why is she here someone whispered she's not here to cause trouble is it well who can blame
10:07her being abandoned by charles anyone would feel upset they all thought i had come to cry to argue
10:14to seek sympathy but they were wrong if only one person could have the last laugh at this wedding
10:19that person would definitely be me i picked up a glass of champagne walked slowly to charles and 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 raised
10:48his
10:48glass it's all in the past i believe i stayed by your side and did my duty now i'm old
10:55and want to
10:56enjoy my later years surrounded by children i hope you can understand i i lowered my head and chuckled
11:03softly my gaze sweeping over chloe and connor behind them let them enjoy their moment of triumph for now
11:08because the storm is about to descend
11:15the wedding proceeded as planned on stage charles and vivian were exchanging vows holding hands and
11:21gazing at each other with tears in their eyes chloe and connor went up to give them flowers charles
11:26looked 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
11:53life vivian looked at charles tears already glistening in her eyes i have little to give them
11:57so i've decided to transfer the property under my name to the two children to help them thrive cheers
12:05erupted from the audience chloe and connor covered their mouths excitedly and looked at vivian the
12:11three 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
13:22at 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
13:34you didn't want children with me now we're divorced and you want ivf are you out of your mind you
13:41really
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
14:15had already pulled out their phones to record charles's face turned dark with fury vivian stood
14:19frozen her face deathly pale her lips trembling slightly nonsense are you spouting charles stepped
14:24forward aggressively his gaze so dark it seemed he wanted to tear me apart i let out a derisive laugh
14:29reached into my bag pulled out my phone and played a recording the clear voice instantly filled the
14:33entire wedding hall through the microphone stella after examination your fertility is completely
14:38normal and your ovarian function is excellent but mr charles's situation is not very optimistic
14:42what does that mean his sperm motility is extremely low basically there is virtually no
14:46chance of conception his condition is quite severe almost no possibility even with ibf the
14:51success rate would be extremely low i understand dr lewis please don't tell him about this yet
14:56don't tell anyone else either let this be between you me and god mistella this kind of thing
15:01can't be hidden forever when you can't conceive after marriage it will naturally come to light
15:05it's fine i'll tell him and our parents that i don't want children that i insist on being child
15:11free that way no one will know the problem lies with charles the recording finished playing a deathly
15:18silence fell all eyes turned to vivian and her two children suddenly everyone's eyes turned
15:24simultaneously toward vivian and the two children behind her her face had turned completely white and her
15:30fingertips were trembling chloe and connor fidgeted restlessly trying to flee the hall oh my god
15:35so all these years stella insisted on being child free to protect charles's dignity because he's
15:41the one who's infertile then vivian's children vivian's lips moved slightly her voice trembling
15:46you must have had someone forge it i gave a cold laugh opened a second file and a video immediately
15:51began playing on the projection screen the footage showed a dimly lit hotel room with a man and
15:55a woman entangled on the bed the woman's face was flushed panting softly her voice seductive and
16:00triumphant honey i'm pregnant the man's voice followed carrying a hint of panic and resistance no
16:05way this child can't be mine can it vivian chuckled softly her voice alluring and of course it's yours
16:11but don't worry neither i nor the child need you to take responsibility what do you mean charles
16:20doesn't have children yet his wife insists on being child free and he's desperate he's been begging me
16:26to bear his children i'll just say the child is his he'll definitely treasure me like a gem the man
16:31was silent for a moment then laughed softly you really are something else vivian hooked her arm around
16:35his neck whispering softly we'll seize all the property and inheritance then we can enjoy our
16:43golden years in peace as soon as she finished speaking the man got excited and lunged down
16:48to entangle with the woman beneath him again the video ended abruptly there everyone was stunned
16:53a silence like death vivian completely collapsed onto the floor her hands clutching her wedding gown
16:58tightly her eyes filled with terror and despair charles's face had reached its most terrible expression
17:02he clenched his fists his body trembling slightly veins bulging at his temples he was clearly at the
17:08peak of rage vivian he roared through gritted teeth
17:15vivian he roared through gritted teeth wishing he could tear her limb from limb
17:18vivian's body shook her eyes instantly reddening as she desperately tried to explain
17:23it's not charles please listen to me explain what is there left to explain charles picked 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
17:48had lost 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
17:59cheeks tears streaming from her eyes and you dare to cry you deceived me for 30 years cuckled me
18:06and i've spent so much money on these bastards charles charles calm down someone rushed up to
18:12restrain charles but he had already gone completely mad he shoved everyone aside and like an enraged
18:16feast overturned the dining table plates wine glasses and flowers scattered everywhere the scene was utter
18:21chaos chloe and connor stood to the side their faces ashen their bodies trembling completely out of
18:25silence the 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
18:41control eventually with security's intervention charles was forcibly pulled away vivian was dragged
18:46out of the hotel in disgrace while chloe and connor fled in terror the wedding had become a complete
18:51joke i stood among the crowd still holding half a glass of champagne quietly savoring everything
18:55the wedding had become a complete joke and i had finally waited for this day
19:02wedding videos were uploaded online and quickly shot to the top of trending topics topics like
19:08paternity 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 laughing stock known across the entire country and i on the contrary had become
19:35the object of everyone's sympathy stella is so pitiful to protect her husband's dignity she took the blame
19:41herself and then was treated like this she's the truly good woman she endured for 30 years and still
19:49showed the scumbag some dignity vivian is the truly ruthless one she tricked charles into raising
19:54bastards 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 he smashed
20:10everything in the house coffee table tv bases the place was a complete mess but after the destruction
20:16he sat alone on the sofa staring blankly at a family portrait hanging on the wall it was a photo
20:21of him
20:22vivian chloe and connor the four of them in the photo he was smiling happily as if he owned the
20:28whole
20:28world 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 pieces
20:39fake 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
21:23relief stella you seem different lately different yes more energetic than before
21:31as if you've let go of something i smiled softly yes i had let go i had let go of
21:35the self that
21:36endured grievances to protect a man's dignity i had let go of the foolish notion that endurance
21:40would bring happiness i had let go of the man named charles mom i've made up my mind about what
21:46i want to donate my eggs there was a long silence on the other end of the line have you
21:51thought this
21:51through i have my voice was firm since the eggs are still there rather than keeping them frozen
21:58forever i might as well help people who want children but can't have them you always thinking
22:04of others i smiled without denying it letting go of the past donating eggs to help others my life is
22:10starting anew meanwhile charles's days grew more unbearable by the day vivian had been thrown out
22:15of the house and chloe and connor no longer acknowledged him as their father after all
22:19everything in the video was crystal clear they weren't charles's children but vivian's illegitimate
22:24children with another man they left with vivian not even glancing back at charles let's go he's not
22:30our father chloe said coldly charles sat alone in the empty house suddenly feeling a loneliness unlike
22:35anything he'd ever experienced he had once believed that having vivian and two children meant he had a
22:41real family but now he realized this family had never belonged to him he himself had been deceived
22:46by vivian for a full 30 years he opened his phone and saw news about me the headline stella decides
22:52to
22:52donate eggs to help infertile families jumped out at him he stared at the screen his fingers trembling
22:57slightly the woman who had borne his shame for 30 years to protect his dignity was now doing something
23:02even more meaningful and what about him he had nothing left no family no children no dignity
23:08he had lost everything charles put down his phone leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes
23:12images from 30 years ago flooded his mind back then we were still young building our careers together
23:18planning our future stella when we're old let's travel the world just the two of us he had once said
23:23with a smile sure it's a promise i had agreed without hesitation but he had broken that promise it wasn't
23:29i wasn't willing to grow old with him it was that he chose the trail first a tear slid from
23:33the
23:33corner of 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
23:46before i answered hello stella it's me i was silent for a few seconds then spoke calmly is something
23:53the matter i i want to see you i chuckled charles do you think there's anything left to say between
24:00us i know i was wrong his voice was horrid stella i truly know i was wrong i said nothing
24:06i know 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 face
24:14i repeated my tone indifferent charles it's been 30 years you're telling me sorry now don't you think
24:20it's a little too late i know it's late but i cut him off charles you chose betrayal so you
24:26bear
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
25:44it'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
25:55of my life
25:55but that's in the past the reporter seemed somewhat disappointed by my answer but i didn't care
26:00i didn't need others to define my emotions after the egg donation i decided to travel the round
26:05on the world trip i had planned with charles although i couldn't complete it with him i could
26:09do it alone my 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 finally be my
26:30true self during my days in paris i visited the louvre walked along the same and tasted authentic
26:35french pastries every day was fulfilling and joyful traveling alone freedom alone i have finally
26:40become myself again during my travels i occasionally received news from back home i heard that after
26:46being thrown out of the chen household vivian's life hadn't been easy she had once relied on charles's
26:51money to live now without a source of income she could only make ends meet by doing odd jobs chloe
26:56and
26:57connor no longer had anything to do with her either after all once the video was exposed
27:01everyone knew the truth they weren't charles's children but vivian's illegitimate children with
27:06another man this news was undoubtedly a devastating blow to chloe and connor they had always believed
27:11they were of the chen bloodline proud of it all these years only to discover they had no connection
27:16to the chen family whatsoever chloe confronted vivian mom what exactly is going on don't believe
27:24those videos they're all fake vivian was still trying to deny it mom the video is crystal clear
27:29you told someone else we were charles's children and said you were going to swind his property
27:34i was just enough chloe cut her off i never want to hear your lies again chloe and connor moved
27:40out of vivian's house found jobs and started new lives and vivian curled up alone in a dilapidated
27:45rental apartment crying day after day her former elegance and nobility had long since vanished
27:50mom do you think stella is feeling pretty pleased with herself right now chloe had once asked vivian
27:55vivian didn't answer because she knew i was no longer an enemy they needed to worry about
28:02i was living too well so well that they didn't even have the right to be jealous
28:09after leaving paris i flew to kyoto this ancient city had a completely different charm from paris
28:15i strolled along the bamboo grove path in arashima listening to the rustling of bamboo leaves in the
28:20wind feeling exceptionally peaceful here there was no charles no vivian none of those troubling memories
28:27from the past only myself i stayed at a traditional japanese inn rising early each morning to soak in the
28:33hot springs and savor exquisite kaiseki cuisine the innkeeper was a kind middle-aged woman seeing me alone
28:39she couldn't help asking ma'am are you traveling alone yes i answered with a smile doesn't traveling
28:48alone feel lonely i thought for a moment and said sometimes but more often it's a kind of freedom
28:55the innkeeper nodded showing an understanding smile you're right freedom is more precious than anything
29:02during my days in kyoto i also visited kaya mizudora and drew a fortune slip the fortune read withered trees
29:07meet spring old matters become empty the road ahead is bright freedom lies within the heart i looked at
29:12the fortune and couldn't help but smile withered trees meet spring wasn't this exactly my current
29:16state after 30 years of winter i had finally welcomed my own spring i carefully put away the fortune slip
29:22into my wallet old matters become empty the road ahead is bright these words i would always keep in my
29:28heart on the last night before leaving kyoto i sat in the inn's courtyard gazing at the star-filled sky
29:34my phone rang it was an unfamiliar number i hesitated for a moment but answered anyway
29:38hello stella it's me it was charles's voice he had come looking for me again
29:50charles how did you get this number i frowned i asked your friend his voice was hoarse
29:54stella i want to see you see me i gave a cold laugh charles what is there left for us
29:59to see
29:59i know i was wrong and i know you don't forgive me but but i really want to talk to
30:04you face to face
30:05i was silent for a moment then finally sighed fine i'm in kyoto leaving tomorrow
30:12i know i'm already here i was stunned he was already here where are you i asked downstairs that you're
30:18in
30:18i walked to the window pulled back the curtain and sure enough saw a familiar figure standing below
30:23charles was wearing a dark overcoat carrying a suitcase he looked much thinner and older than before i
30:27hesitated but eventually went downstairs to meet him in the inn's tea room we sat facing each other
30:32charles looked at me his eyes complicated stella you've changed have i i picked up my teacup and took
30:39a sip people always change you would never have treated me like this before his voice carried
30:44bitterness the old you was always gentle and considerate never willing to embarrass me the old
30:50me was a fool i put down my teacup my tone calm charles you betrayed me for 30 years and
30:55now you
30:56come to me with this don't you find it ridiculous charles lowered his head his hands tightly clasped
31:02i know i don't deserve to ask for your forgiveness but i truly regret it i scoffed regret do you
31:10regret
31:10losing vivian and the two children or do you regret being laughed at by the whole world charles's face
31:18turned pale he opened his mouth but couldn't speak charles you don't need to answer me i stood up
31:24looking down at him because your answer no longer matters to me
31:29i turned to leave but charles suddenly stood up and grabbed my wrist stella give me a chance
31:34let's start over please his voice was fleeting his eyes full of desperation i stopped and turned to
31:41look at him this man i had once deeply loved now only felt like a stranger to me charles
31:46i gently freed my hand from his my tone calm yet firm some roads once traveled can never be retraced
31:54we can he said urgently i know you hate me but i can change i can make it up to
31:58you i can can you
31:59can't i cut him off charles you can't make it up 30 years of betrayal cannot be erased by a
32:06single sorry
32:07his eyes reddened his voice trembling stella do you really not love me anymore
32:11i looked at him not a single ripple in my heart love i shook my head gently charles i love
32:17the you
32:17from 30 years ago not the you of today that you is already dead charles's body swayed as if he
32:23had
32:23been struck hard he released my hand stepped back looking as if he had aged 10 years in an instant
32:28i understand his voice was hoarse and low stella i wish you happiness i didn't answer just nodded
32:35faintly then turned and left the moment i walked out of the tea room i let out a long breath
32:4030 years
32:41of entanglement had finally come to a close i didn't look back because i knew there were even
32:45more beautiful sights ahead waiting for me i returned to my room packed my luggage and prepared
32:50for my next destination my phone rang with a message from a friend stella charles came looking
32:56for you again don't pay him any attention he's just a scumbag i smiled and replied don't worry
33:02i've already let go letting go is not forgiving but no longer being bound by the past i dragged my
33:08suitcase walked out of the inn and strode forward into the morning sunlight a new journey had begun
33:14my brand new life after leaving kyoto i went to many more places rome barcelona sydney new york
33:25every city left its mark with my footsteps i learned to eat alone watch movies alone go shopping alone
33:31things i once thought required two people to do it turned out i could do perfectly well alone
33:36one afternoon in paris i sat at a cafe by the same watching the passing crowds suddenly
33:42a little girl ran over looking at me with big wide eyes
33:47ma'am you're so pretty she said in her childish voice i was taken aback then smiled
33:54thank you little one her mother walked over and apologized with a smile i'm sorry my daughter is
34:00too playfy it's fine she's adorable the little girl held her mother's hand looked back at me
34:05and suddenly shouted mommy that lady has stars in her eyes i was stunned stars i subconsciously touched
34:13my own face perhaps i really had changed no longer the woman who endured grievances to protect her
34:19husband's dignity no longer the fool who took the blame for someone else's betrayal the current
34:24me had light in my eyes and dreams in my heart this was probably what people called rebirth light in
34:30my eyes dreams in my heart this is my rebirth after the trip i returned home there was new progress
34:36on
34:36the egg donation the hospital told me my eggs had successfully helped three infertile couples conceive
34:41mrs stella you are truly remarkable the doctor said gratefully i smiled it's nothing remarkable just
34:48doing what i should actually donating eggs wasn't just about helping others it was also about making
34:55peace with my own regrets although i never had my own children my eggs could help others realize their
35:00dream of becoming parents this was probably the best possible ending one day i received a letter
35:05it was from a mother who had received my eyes dear miss stella i don't know what words to use
35:11to
35:11express my gratitude my husband and i have been married for 15 years and have never had children
35:17we tried every method without success just when we were about to give up we received news from the
35:23hospital that someone was willing to donate eggs that person was you now i am pregnant and the doctor
35:30says the baby is very healthy i don't know how to thank you i just want to tell you that
35:34you have
35:35given our family new hope thank you miss stella you are the great benefactor of our entire family
35:41after reading the letter my eyes welled up with tears it turned out that helping others truly could
35:46bring happiness to oneself i carefully put the letter away in a drawer this touching moment
35:51i would forever treasure in my heart helping others is also healing oneself
35:59after returning home i started reconnecting with old friends because of the whole situation with charles
36:04i had grown distant from many people now i wanted to pick up those relationships again the first person
36:09i reached out to was my best friend linda when she saw me she was so excited she almost cried
36:15stella you're finally back i thought you'd never speak to me again how could that be
36:22i laughed and hugged her i just went traveling for a while to clear my head so how are you
36:30now has charles
36:31caused you any more trouble no it's completely over between us linda breathed a sigh of relief
36:38that's good stella you deserve someone better someone better i smiled linda i don't need anyone else to
36:47define my worth right now i am enough linda looked at me surprise flashing in her eyes then relief
36:53stella you really have changed become better stronger have i maybe i picked up my coffee after
36:59going through so much you've got to learn something so what are your plans next keep living of course
37:04i smiled work travel do what i love what about love linda winked not considering finding someone new
37:11i shook my head not for now at this point in my life i just want to love myself well
37:18linda laughed
37:20well said cheers to our new era we clinked cups the aroma of coffee filling the air in this moment
37:27i felt warmth not because of romance but because of friendship not because of dependence but because
37:34of independence i finally understood that true happiness doesn't come from others but from oneself
37:40after returning home i didn't stay idle i started replanning my career in my youth i had given up
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
37:57a reality the studio wasn't big but it was decorated warmly every morning i would go to the flower market
38:03to select the freshest blooms then back at the studio i would trim stems match colors and create
38:08beautiful bouquets when customers came i would recommend the most suitable flowers based on their
38:14needs your mom will definitely love this bouquet these roses for your girlfriend guaranteed to make
38:20her feel your love watching the satisfied smiles of my customers my heart filled with a sense of
38:25accomplishment linda a special customer walked into the studio a young woman holding a baby in her arms
38:31hello she said with a smile i'd like to order a bouquet certainly who is it for
38:38for myself her eyes sparkled i just had a baby and want to treat myself i was taken aback then
38:45smiled
38:47congratulations that's the best gift of all i carefully arranged a bouquet of pink carnations and
38:51white baby's breath for her she held the flowers held her baby smiling so happily in that moment i suddenly
38:59felt that my choice had been the right one although i didn't have a child of my own i could
39:03bring
39:03happiness to 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
39:15grown bigger and bigger now with three branch locations my name had also started to gain recognition
39:20in the industry many people didn't know what storms this elegant and composed florist had once weathered
39:26and i no longer spoke of them because all of that was in the past the present me only wanted
39:31to 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
40:03the 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 peace unlike anything before my phone rang it was a message from the hospital
40:16miss stella your donated eggs have successfully helped a fifth couple welcome their baby
40:21thank you for your great love i smiled my eyes were a bit moist but my heart was full of
40:26happiness
40:27perhaps this was the best possible ending i didn't have children but i had helped many
40:31people realize their dreams i didn't have romance but i had true freedom i didn't have a family but i
40:37had created a world of my own in this world there were flowers sunshine laughter and hope that was
40:43enough i raised my teacup and took a gentle sip outside the window the afterglow of the sunset spilled
40:48across my face warm and gentle my life has only just begun
Comments