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  • 27 minutes ago
The Childless Marriage
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00:02my husband and i both double income no kids retired together we were planning to travel
00:07the world together when he suddenly came clean i've publicly claimed we were child free for 30
00:13years now it's time to bring my children back home where they belong but i had seen this coming long
00:18ago and smiled meaningfully he thought i had lost my mind and continued a man passing on his line
00:24is only natural you couldn't have kids so i played along but now i owe my children an explanation
00:32he proposed a divorce wanting to take his pair of children and their mother on a family trip
00:37together i agreed immediately gracefully stepping aside and leaving when news of the divorce spread
00:42everyone sympathized with me
00:47an elderly neighbor felt my pain at her age abandoned by her husband what a miserable old age
00:53so tragic a college girl from the same apartment complex fumed on my behalf
00:58that old bastard charles is such a scumbag back then he said they'd never have kids
01:04just enjoy their twin stem now look his own son and daughter are old enough to make him a 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
01:21advised me as long as you don't divorce his children become yours they'll care for you
01:26in 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 age that my whole life had become a joke i didn't explain nor could i be bothered
01:42to refute them one by one how things would turn out for the two of us when the time came
01:46they would know charles on the other hand was writing hi he posted a family photo on social
01:51media with the caption starting today i finally have a real family in the photo he stood in the
01:56center a young man and woman on either side their faces radiating youthful pride and the woman who
02:01could carry on his bloodline had her arm linked through his smiling warmly and gracefully
02:06someone commented look at that now that's a winner in life indeed charles had one big in his youth
02:13he enjoyed the twosome life with me living freely his whole life never suffering through midnight
02:18feedings and diaper changes yet in his old age he had both a son and a daughter to bring him
02:23joy
02:23how could that not count as winning at life now that he was retired his career and reputation would
02:29no longer be affected and me at my age abandoned by my husband and left with nothing naturally invited
02:35people's sides but little did they know i had been prepared all along in this marriage he wasn't the
02:40only one acting the divorce proceedings went quickly so quickly i felt somewhat dazed charles
02:52personally drove me to the courthouse when signing his hand didn't tremble at all instead it was as if
02:57he had finally shed some burden swift and decisive he smiled at the clerk what can you do we're both
03:03old
03:03and the love is gone but at least i still have my son and daughter with me i can enjoy
03:09family
03:10happiness too the clerk looked at me apologetically eyes full of sympathy and comfort i smiled too but
03:15said nothing after the divorce with a grand gesture he hired people to clear out the bedroom i had lived
03:20in for over 30 years eagerly bringing vivian and the children home i didn't fight or argue i didn't even
03:26bother hiring a lawyer i just took my half of the savings and a few important items and moved out
03:30cleanly and efficiently the day vivian moved in i came back to pack up my last belongings as soon as
03:36i opened the door i saw brand new photos displayed in the living room our wedding photos had been
03:41replaced by their family portrait the four of them charles sat in the center vivian holding his arm
03:48with two similar looking young adults in their 20s standing on either side full of vigor when i walked in
03:54the lively atmosphere instantly turned cold as if announcing my unwelcome presence vivian greeted
04:00me with a smile oh stella did you leave something behind let me help you look for it playing the
04:10hostess like she owned the place just a few last things i'll take them all today i said indifferently
04:14charles 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 in a place
04:48like
04:48this connor chimed in i listened to the nitpick and watched charles remain silent i felt like laughing
04:52this was the home charles and i had shared for 30 years every piece of furniture carefully chosen now
04:57i was being dismissed 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
05:24while the two children sat side by side on the sofa watching tv the three of them chatting and laughing
05:29as if this home had always been like this composed of their family of four with no place for me
05:34the
05:34way charles looked at vivian was with respect for the mother of his children and guilt for having kept
05:38her as a secret lover all these years as for me i was just an old woman he had grown
05:42tired of
05:43with no children by my side deserving to fend for my
05:45self a cold laugh echoed in my heart fine since you want me gone i'll leave cleanly so you can
05:50enjoy this brief pretense of affection after all in a few days it will be turning on each other
05:56after the divorce i moved into an apartment it wasn't far from my former home but it felt like
06:01a different world i didn't feel any particular discomfort without charles in the house i actually
06:07enjoyed the peace and quiet but outsiders didn't see it that way no matter how capable and free-spirited
06:12you were in your youth you still lost in the end this was the shared opinion of relatives and friends
06:17my mother couldn't hold back tears when she saw me you're living alone now with no one to take care
06:22of you what if you get sick someday you insisted on being child free before look at you now wouldn't
06:28it be nice to have a child at least you wouldn't end up like this my father sighed his face
06:32full of
06:33regret we shouldn't have let you have your way back then if we had persuaded you more you wouldn't be
06:37in
06:37this situation now their words implicitly blamed me for insisting on being child free saying that's
06:41why i lost my husband's heart the most ridiculous thing was that my friends also thought charles
06:45hadn't done anything terribly wrong a man needs to have children charles was willing to play along with
06:50you for so many years that's already going above and beyond you were too stubborn back then all these
06:56years i've never understood what were you thinking honestly you're both old now vivian would still have
07:02to call you big sister why not just make do and live together i thought at most they'd advise me
07:06to accept charles's children i never imagined they'd suggest vivian and i share one husband
07:10but they never considered that neither child shared a single drop of blood with me even if i stayed how
07:15many good days could i possibly have what they didn't know was that the infertile one had never been me
07:23when i first insisted on being child free bearing the pressure from everyone my declaration that i would
07:28never have children was denounced as selfish and unfilial charles's parents pressured him to divorce
07:32me but he said he didn't mind as long as we could live happily together moved by his words i
07:38became
07:38even more resolute in my decision for decades i bore all the blame myself protecting his reputation
07:44even his confidence and dignity as a man only to discover he had given me nothing but a complete
07:49and utter deception he never pressured me to have children because i wasn't his only woman
07:53if i didn't give birth he could have other women bear his children and he could maintain his
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
08:13to protect his dignity as a man for that i was even willing to give up my right to be
08:17a mother
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 vivian's
08:29handwriting saying that as charles's ex-wife i must want to see him happy too and my presence would
08:34mean the world to them i let out a derisive laugh what beautiful words so high sounding they made me
08:39sick mean the world to them vivian had been charles's secret lover for 30 years having finally made it to
08:44the altar she naturally couldn't wait to gloat in front of me i took the invitation and casually glanced
08:48at it the ceremony was at the city's most luxurious five-star hotel quite an upscale venue charles must
08:54have wanted to compensate vivian for 30 years of hidden suffering with the grand wedding when my
08:58friends heard that vivian had invited me to her wedding with charles they were all furious what does
09:04he mean by this he's obviously trying to humiliate you exactly you just moved out and he's already
09:10marrying his mistress in style he's clearly trying to embarrass you you absolutely shouldn't go going would
09:16just be asking for humiliation i listened to their angry voices without feeling a single ripple in
09:21my heart in fact a smile cropped to my lips of course i'm going don't worry i'm not gonna make
09:26myself miserable my 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 the
09:45crowd receiving blessings from relatives and friends while vivian held his arm smiling warmly
09:50and elegantly the picture of a dignified hostess and i walked in with a confident expression 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
10:19person would definitely be me i picked up a glass of champagne walked slowly to charles and vivian and
10:24smiled congratulations you finally got what you wanted a flicker of triumph flashed in vivian's eye
10:30she 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
10:44the best of both worlds charles walked over with a drink and raised his glass it's all in the past
10:50i believe i stayed by your side and did my duty now i'm old and want to enjoy my later
10:57years
10:57surrounded by children i hope you can understand i i lowered my head and chuckled softly my gaze
11:04sweeping 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
11:25looked 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 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
11:57them so i've decided to transfer the property under my name to the two children to help them thrive
12:04cheers erupted from the audience chloe and connor covered their mouths excitedly and looked at vivian
12:10the three of them were expressions of assured victory but i stood up and shouted i object vivian
12:16hadn't received the property deed yet interrupted by me she was furious stella today is a wonderful day
12:22for our family of four what kind of trouble are you trying to cause charles looked at me with
12:27disgust his eyes contemptuous yet resigned stella i know you're upset about not being able to have
12:33children and jealous seeing my family but you have to accept reality we're divorced the house may
12:41have both our names on it but we're old now what use is it to us chloe and connor nodded
12:46continuously
12:47even encouraging the guests to boo me the mc also tried to persuade me mrs stella as mr charles's
12:53ex-wife you must want him to have a harmonious family and someone to care for him in old age
12:58right
12:58i put down my glass and said indifferently of course
13:04but i need to correct one thing the one who can't have children isn't me the hall fell into dead
13:11silence
13:13vivian was taken aback and charles frowned too what do you mean by that it means nothing special
13:18i shook my head gently a touch of pity in my eyes my eggs are still frozen at the egg
13:22bank
13:23perfectly healthy the doctor said they can be retrieved for embro cultivation anytime charles
13:29understood i had frozen my eggs for ivf and he was completely enraged didn't you say you didn't want
13:34children with me now we're divorced and you want ivf are you out of your mind you really don't want
13:41to
13:41bear my child that badly i slapped him hard across the face rob the mc's microphone and spoke loudly
13:47enough for everyone present to hear because the one who can't have children has never been me
13:51it's you charles you have severe olive spermia you have no fertility whatsoever the hall fell into
13:58dead silence in an instant then came an uproar charles is infertile is that true but vivian already
14:05gave him two children didn't she stella must have gone crazy she couldn't have children herself
14:10and now she's slandering charles the guests whispered among themselves and many had already
14:15pulled out their phones to record charles's face turned dark with fury vivian stood frozen
14:19her face deathly pale her lips trembling what nonsense are you spouting charles stepped forward
14:24aggressively his gaze so dark it seemed he wanted to tear me apart i let out a derisive laugh
14:28reached 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 normal
14:38and your ovarian function is excellent but mr charles's situation is not very optimist what does
14:42that mean his sperm motility is extremely low basically there is virtually no chance of conception
14:47his condition is quite severe almost no possibility even with ivf the success rate would be extremely low i
14:53understand dr lewis please don't tell him about this yet don't tell anyone else either let this be
14:58between you me and god miss stella this kind of thing can't be hidden forever when you can't conceive
15:03after marriage it will naturally come to light it's fine i'll tell him and our parents that i don't want
15:08children that i insist on being child free that way no one will know the problem lies with charles
15:15the recording finished playing a deathly silence fell all eyes turned to vivian and her two children
15:23suddenly everyone's eyes turned simultaneously toward vivian and the two children behind her
15:27her face had turned completely white and her fingertips were trembling chloe and connor fidgeted
15:32restlessly trying to flee the hall oh my god so all these years stella insisted on being child free
15:38to protect charles's dignity because he's the one who's infertile then vivian's children vivian's lips
15:44moved slightly her voice trembling you must have had someone forge it i gave a cold laugh opened a
15:49second file and a video immediately began playing on the projection screen the footage showed a dimly lit
15:53hotel room with a man and woman entangled on the bed the woman's face was flushed panting softly
15:58her voice deductive and triumphant honey i'm pregnant the man's voice followed carrying a hint
16:04of panic and resistance no way this child can't be mine can it vivian chuckled softly her voice
16:08alluring and of course it's yours but don't worry neither i nor the child need you to take responsibility
16:18what do you mean charles doesn't have children yet his wife insists on being child free and he's
16:24desperate he's been begging me to bear his children i'll just say the child is his he'll
16:29definitely treasure me like a gem the man was silent for a moment then laughed softly you really
16:33are something else vivian hooked her arm around his neck whispering softly we'll seize all the property
16:38and inheritance then we can enjoy our golden years in peace as soon as she finished speaking the man got
16:47excited and lunged down to entangle with the woman beneath him again the video ended abruptly there
16:51everyone was stunned a silence like death vivian completely collapsed onto the floor her hands
16:57clutching her wedding gown tightly her eyes filled with terror and despair charles's face had reached
17:01its most terrible expression he clenched his fists his body trembling slightly veins bulging at his
17:06temples he was clearly at the peak of rage he roared through gritted teeth
17:15he roared through gritted teeth wishing he could tear her limb from limb vivian's body shook her eyes
17:20instantly reddening as she desperately tried to explain it's not charles please listen to me explain
17:27what is there left to explain charles kicked the chair aside grabbed a champagne glass from the table
17:32and smashed it on the ground the sound of shattering glass exploded in the quiet wedding
17:36sharp and piercing you bitch how dare you deceive me i was your secret lover for 30 years and you
17:44dare to cuckler me charles's eyes turned red as if he had lost all reason he rushed forward
17:50wrapped vivian's shoulders and slapped her heart across the face the crisp sound of the slap echoed
17:55throughout the entire hall vivian staggered backward clutching her 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 beast overturned the dining table plates
18:18wine glasses and flowers scattered everywhere the scene was utter chaos chloe and connor stood to the
18:22side 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 my god how did this wedding turn into this
18:32so vivian's two children aren't even charles's this is incredible it's the drama of the year
18:38the entire wedding had completely spiraled out of control eventually with security's intervention
18:43charles was forcibly pulled away vivian was dragged out of the hotel in disgrace while chloe
18:48and connor fled in terror the wedding had become a complete joke i stood among the crowd still
18:53holding half a glass of champagne quietly savoring everything the wedding had become a complete
18:57joke 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
19:07paternity 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
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
19:48and still showed the scumbag some dignity vivian is the truly ruthless one she tricked charles into
19:53raising bastards for 30 years and almost swallowed his entire fortune public opinion had completely
20:00turned around but 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 bases the place was a complete mess but after
20:16the destruction he sat alone on the sofa staring blankly at a family portrait hanging on the wall
20:20it was a photo of him vivian chloe and connor the four of them in the photo he was smiling
20:26happily
20:26as if he owned the whole world now looking at it again he only felt the irony
20:34he picked up the frame and smashed it onto the ground glass shattered the photo splintered into
20:39pieces fake it's all fake he held his head curled up on the floor like a helpless child
20:45he had lost everything while i was just beginning my new life
20:51after the wedding my life returned to peace no it was calmer and freer than before
20:55i started doing things i truly enjoyed i went to several art exhibitions attended concerts and
21:01enrolled in a pottery class my friends laughed at me you're living more freely than young people now
21:08i smiled without saying a word actually they had forgotten that i should have been living this way
21:13when i was young it's just that back then i had poured all my energy into charles and the family
21:17now i
21:18finally had the chance to live for myself one day my mother called her voice carrying a hint of relief
21:30i smiled softly yes i had let go i had let go of the self that endured grievances to protect
21:37a man's
21:37dignity i had let go of the foolish notion that endurance would bring happiness i had let go of
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
22:12days grew more unbearable by the day vivian had been thrown out of the house and chloe and
22:16connor no longer acknowledged him as their father after all everything in the video was crystal clear
22:21they weren't charles's children but vivian's illegitimate children with another man they left
22:26with vivian not even glancing back at charles let's go he's not our father chloe said coldly
22:31charles sat alone in the empty house suddenly feeling a loneliness unlike anything he'd ever experienced
22:38he had once believed that having vivian and two children meant he had a real family but now he
22:43realized this family had never belonged to him he himself had been deceived by vivian for a full 30
22:47years he opened his phone and saw news about me the headline stella decides to donate eggs to help
22:53infertile families jumped out at him he stared at the screen his fingers trembling slightly the woman who
22:58had borne his shame for 30 years to protect his dignity was now doing something even more meaningful
23:03and what about him he had nothing left no family no children no dignity he had lost everything
23:09charles put down his phone leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes images from 30 years ago flooded
23:14his mind back then we were still young building our careers together planning our future stella when
23:20we're old let's travel the world just the two of us he had once said with a smile sure it's
23:24a promise
23:25i had agreed without hesitation but he had broken that promise it wasn't that i wasn't willing to grow
23:30old with him it was that he chose betrayal first a tear slid from the corner of charles's eye
23:34he regretted it but there's no medicine for regret in this world after hesitating for a long time
23:42charles finally dialed my number the phone rang for a long time before i answered hello
23:48stella it's me i was silent for a few seconds then spoke calmly is something the matter
23:53i i want to see you i chuckled charles do you think there's anything left to say between us
24:01i know i was wrong his voice was hoarse stella i truly know i was wrong i said nothing i
24:06know
24:06you're doing well now and i know you don't want to see me but i still want to tell you
24:11i'm sorry
24:13face to face i repeated my tone indifferent charles it's been 30 years you're telling me sorry now
24:19don't you think it's a little too late i know it's late but i cut him off charles you chose
24:25betrayal
24:25so you bear the consequences that was your choice there was a long silence on the other end
24:31stella if if we hadn't divorced would you have forgiven me i didn't answer because i didn't know
24:37the answer myself or rather this question no longer needed an answer charles live your life well
24:43those were my final words before hanging up
24:48live your life well this was the last thing i could give him
24:54the egg donation process was more complicated than i had imagined it required a series of physical
24:59examinations psychological evaluations and legal procedures but i walked through each step with
25:03steadiness the doctor told me my egg quality was excellent even after being frozen for so many years
25:08their viability remained very high mrs stella your eggs are extremely valuable they can help many
25:14families realize their dreams i smiled valuable i had once thought these eggs were the fruit of my love
25:20with charles the hope for our future children but now they had become a gift to help strangers
25:26perhaps this was better at least they would no longer be bound by charles's name after news of my
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
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 i didn't
26:01need others to define my emotions after the egg donation i decided to travel the round the world trip
26:06i had planned with charles although i couldn't complete it with him i could do it alone my first
26:10stop was paris standing beneath the eiffel tower watching the sunset slowly descend i felt a piece
26:16unlike anything i had ever experienced this city had once been a dream destination for charles and me
26:20now i had come alone but i didn't feel lonely instead i felt that this was truly my own moment
26:25without charles without the constraints of that marriage i could finally be my true self
26:30during my days in paris i visited the louvre walked along the seine and tasted authentic french
26:35pastries every day was fulfilling and joyful traveling alone freedom alone i have finally become
26:40myself again during my travels i occasionally received news from back home i heard that after
26:46being thrown out of the chan 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
26:56chloe and connor 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 another
27:06man this news was undoubtedly a devastating blow to chloe and connor they had always believed they
27:11were of the chen bloodline proud of it all these years only to discover they had no connection to
27:16the chen family whatsoever chloe confronted vivian mom what exactly is going on don't believe those
27:24videos they're all fake vivian was still trying to deny it mom the video is crystal clear you told
27:30someone else we were charles's children and said you were going to swim his property
27:34i was just enough chloe cut her off i never want to hear your lies again chloe and connor moved
27:39out
27:40of vivian's house found jobs and started new lives and vivian curled up alone in a dilapidated rental
27:45apartment 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 wind
28:21feeling exceptionally peaceful here there was no charles no vivian none of those troubling memories from the
28:27past only myself i stayed at a traditional japanese inn rising early each morning to soak in the hot
28:33springs 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 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
30:24carrying a suitcase he looked much thinner and older than before i hesitated but eventually went downstairs
30:29to meet him in the inn's tea room we sat facing each other charles looked at me his eyes complicated
30:34stella you've changed have i i picked up my teacup and took a sip people always change you would
30:41never have treated me like this before his voice carried bitterness the old you was always gentle
30:46and considerate never willing to embarrass me the old me was a fool i put down my teacup my tone
30:52calm
30:53charles you betrayed me for 30 years and now you come to me with this don't you find it ridiculous
30:58charles 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 fleeting his eyes full of desperation
31:40i stopped and turned to look at him this man i had once deeply loved now only felt like a
31:44stranger to me
31:45charles i gently freed my hand from his my tone calm yet firm some roads once traveled can never be
31:53retraced we can he said urgently i know you hate me but i can change i can make it up
31:58to you i can can
31:59you can't i cut him off charles you can't make it up 30 years of betrayal cannot be erased by
32:06a 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 hard
32:24he 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
33:09walked out of the inn and strode forward into the morning sunlight a new journey had begun
33:14my brand new life
33:19after leaving kyoto i went to many more places rome barcelona sydney new york every city left its mark
33:26with my footsteps i learned to eat alone watch movies alone go shopping alone things i once thought
33:32required two people to do it turned out i could do perfectly well alone one afternoon in paris i sat
33:38at
33:38a cafe by the same watching the passing crowds suddenly a little girl ran over looking at me with
33:44big wide eyes
33:47ma'am you're so pretty she said in her childish voice i was taken aback then smiled thank you little
33:55one
33:56her mother walked over and apologized with a smile i'm sorry my daughter is too playfee it's fine
34:01she's adorable the little girl held her mother's hand looked back at me and suddenly shouted mommy
34:06that 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
34:20longer the fool who took the blame for someone else's betrayal the current me had light in my eyes
34:25and dreams 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
34:55my own regrets although i never had my own children my eggs could help others realize their dream of
35:00becoming parents this was probably the best possible ending one day i received a letter it was from a
35:06mother who had received my eggs dear miss stella i don't know what words to use to express
35:11my gratitude my husband and i have been married for 15 years and have never had children we tried
35:17every method without success just when we were about to give up we received news from the hospital
35:23that someone was willing to donate eggs that person was you now i am pregnant and the doctor says the
35:30baby is very healthy i don't know how to thank you i just want to tell you that you have
35:34given our
35:35family new hope thank you miss stella you are the great benefactor of our entire family after reading
35:41the letter my eyes welled up with tears it turned out that helping others truly could bring happiness
35:47to oneself i carefully put the letter away in a drawer this touching moment i would forever
35:52treasure 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
36:03charles 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
36:13almost cried stella you're finally back i thought you'd never speak to me again how could that be
36:21i laughed and hugged her i just went traveling for a while to clear my head so how are you
36:29now has
36:31charles caused you any more trouble no it's completely over between us linda breathed a sigh of relief
36:38that's good stella you deserve someone better someone better i smiled linda i don't need anyone else
36:46to define my worth right now i am enough linda looked at me surprise flashing in her eyes
36:52then relief stella you really have changed become better stronger have i maybe i picked up my coffee
36:58after going through so much you've got to learn something so what are your plans next keep living
37:03of course i smiled work travel do what i love what about love linda wanked not considering finding
37:09someone new i shook my head not for now at this point in my life i just want to love
37:17myself well
37:18linda laughed well said cheers to our new era we clinked cups the aroma of coffee filling the air
37:26in this moment i felt warmth not because of romance but because of friendship not because of dependence
37:33but because of independence i finally understood that true happiness doesn't come from others
37:38but from oneself after returning home i didn't stay idle i started replanning my career in my youth i
37:46had given up many opportunities for charles now i would pick them up one by one i open a small
37:51floral
37:51design studio this was a dream i had in my youth that i never got to realize now i finally
37:56had the
37:56chance to make it a reality the studio wasn't big but it was decorated warmly every morning i would go
38:02to
38:02the flower market to select the freshest blooms then back at the studio i would trim stems match colors
38:07and create beautiful bouquets when customers came i would recommend the most suitable flowers based on
38:14their needs 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
38:24accomplishment linda a special customer walked into the studio come on in a young woman holding a baby in
38:30her 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 i just had a baby and want to treat myself i was taken aback then
38:45smiled
38:46congratulations that's the best gift of all i carefully arranged a bouquet of pink carnations and
38:51white baby's breath for her she held the flowers held her baby smiling so happily in that moment i suddenly
38:59felt that my choice had been the right one although i didn't have a child of my own i could
39:03bring
39:03happiness to others in other ways this was probably the meaning of life bringing happiness to others
39:09is also the meaning of life time flies in the blink of an eye three years had passed my floral
39:14studio
39:15had grown bigger and bigger now with three branch locations my name had also started to gain recognition
39:20in the industry many people didn't know what storms this elegant and composed florist had once 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 forward
39:32one 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
39:44i slipped the postcard into that fortune slip withered trees meet spring old matters become empty
39:50the road ahead is bright freedom lies within the heart these words i had always kept in my heart
39:56charles vivian chloe connor they had all become passers-by in my life and i had finally become
40:02the protagonist of my own story the sun was setting i sat by the studio window watching the passing crowds
40:08outside holding a cup of hot tea my heart felt a peace unlike anything before my phone rang it was
40:14a
40:14message from the hospital miss stella your donated eggs have successfully helped a fifth couple
40:19welcome their baby thank you for your great love i smiled my eyes were a bit moist but my heart
40:26was
40:26full of happiness perhaps 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
40:36had
40:36created a world of my own in this world there were flowers sunshine laughter and hope that was enough
40:43i raised my teacup and took a gentle sip outside the window the afterglow of the sunset spilled across
40:48my face warm and gentle my life has only just begun
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