Chapter 3
“Guaranteed overbid,” Alaric declared. “Whatever anyone else bids, I’ll add another million on top.”
It was an unconditional commitment – he would secure “Amore” at any cost.
The color drained from Stella’s face.
“Alaric,” she said, her voice trembling. “Do you really have to do this? I’ve never asked you for anything, but please, I’m begging you – let me have my mother’s work?”
Her mother had spoken about this sculpture countless times. It was the piece Stella had wanted most to recover.
Alaric’s expression remained impassive. “Sorry, but Jenna rarely shows interest in anything.”
Stella’s bidding paddle lowered in defeat.
Though her parents had left her a substantial inheritance, her available cash couldn’t compete with Alaric’s wealth.
Elena Parker’s “Amore” was ultimately delivered to Jenna.
“Thank you so much, Uncle Al! I love it!”
Jenna accepted it joyfully, but then her grip suddenly loosened.
CRASH!
The ceramic masterpiece hit the floor, shattering into pieces.
Her mother’s favorite creation was destroyed after all.
Stella collected the fragments with tears in her eyes and took them home, carefully attempting to reassemble them.
She had barely started when her housekeeper approached.
“Miss Forbes, Miss Somers is here. She’s kneeling outside the gate, saying she won’t get up until you personally forgive her.”
“She says… unless you come out and tell her she’s forgiven, she’ll stay there.”
Stella didn’t even look up.
“I’m not seeing her.”
A little while later, the skies opened up in a torrential downpour.
Alaric stormed into Stella’s mansion, his face dark with anger.
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Addio To The Stand–In Past, This Time I Chose To Reclaim My Own Life
Chapter 3
“What the hell is wrong with you, Stella?”
The usually composed man was now burning with rage.
“Jenna’s been kneeling out there for an hour in the rain! Is it really so hard to walk outside and say one damn word of forgiveness?”
Stella’s hands, still piecing together fragments, finally paused.
“She chose to kneel there,” she replied coldly. “She destroyed my mother’s work. Why should I comfort her and pretend everything’s fine?”
“You-!”
Alaric was furious, but before he could continue, his assistant rushed in.
“Mr. Gilbert! Miss Somers has collapsed!”
“What?”
Alaric’s expression transformed instantly into panic.
He glanced at Stella, still calmly piecing together the fragments. In a burst of rage, he swept his hand across the table, sending the partially reassembled sculpture crashing to the floor.
“You heartless bitch!”
With those words, he rushed outside and carried the rain–soaked Jenna in his arms.
Stella stared at the ceramic pieces- now shattered beyond repair as tears she’d been holding back finally spilled
over.
She was heartless?
For years, she had followed him like a shadow, desperate for even a glance, and what had she received in return?
A cruel death in her past life.
Cold indifference in this one.
Who was truly heartless here?
Stella wiped away her tears and picked up the irreparable fragments one by one.
Alaric Gilbert.
I won’t love you anymore.
Not even a little. Never again.
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Chapter 3
Having resolved to sever all ties, Stella packed up everything Alaric had ever given her and shipped it back to the
Gilbert estate.
“Gifts” was a generous term – each item had been purchased by his assistant under pressure from his parents.
Only one item remained a jade pendant, a Gilbert family heirloom too precious to mail. Stella decided to return it
in person.
But arriving outside Jenna’s hospital room, she overheard the young woman speaking.
“Uncle Al, you shouldn’t be so good to me. I’m afraid I’ll get used to it, and then after you’re married, I won’t know how to adjust…”
Through the glass panel in the door, Stella watched as Alaric’s face filled with tender concern. He instinctively raised his hand, seemingly unable to resist the urge to embrace Jenna.
But he restrained himself.
His hand ultimately landed on top of the girl’s head, his gaze filled with controlled longing.
“Don’t say such silly things. Even after I’m married, I’ll always take care of you.”
Jenna’s eyes brightened, only to dim again as Alaric continued.
“I’ve told you, you can think of me as your real uncle. I’ll look after you for life.”
Disappointment flickered across Jenna’s face as she lowered her head.
“Just an uncle?” she murmured. “But after you’re married, you’ll soon have your own children. What will I be then?”
“There won’t be any.”
This time, Alaric responded without a moment’s hesitation.
“Stella and I won’t have children.”
Jenna looked up in surprise. “Why not?”
Alaric gazed down at her, his expression filled with emotions too complex to decipher.
“I’ve already arranged for long–term contraceptives. After we’re married, I’ll make sure Stella takes them daily. We
won’t have children.”
“Jenna, I will always be your uncle, and everything I own will eventually be yours.”
“So please, don’t worry, okay?”
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