Chapter 4
“Uncle Al…”
Jenna’s eyes welled with tears as she threw herself into Alaric’s arms.
Outside the hospital room, Stella stood frozen, her face ashen.
She suddenly remembered how in her previous life, Alaric had given her what he called “custom vitamins” specifically formulated for her health.
Back then, she’d been touched by his apparent concern and faithfully taken them every day.
Despite years of marriage, they never had children.
When they underwent fertility testing, the doctors found hormonal issues in Stella.
Desperate to conceive, she began fertility treatments with painful injection after injection. Her stomach became covered in bruises, and the hormones caused her to gain weight.
But even with all that suffering, she never got pregnant.
Her doctor had questioned whether something in her diet or supplements might be interfering with the fertility
treatments.
Stella had considered countless possibilities, but never suspected the vitamins Alaric gave her.
Yet now…
Stella staggered backward, unable to bear the revelation.
Alaric, how could you be so cruel…
Just then-
“Miss Forbes?”
Alaric’s bodyguard happened to walk by, surprised to see her at the door.
Stella hastily thrust the jade pendant into his hands.
“Give this to Alaric.”
Then she turned and left without looking back.
Today was Stella’s birthday.
08:54
Addio To The Stand–In Past, This Time I Chose To Reclaim My Own Life
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Chapter 4
Since she would be leaving soon, the normally reserved woman had thrown an unusually lavish birthday party for her friends.
To her surprise, Alaric arrived with Jenna in tow.
“Your gift,” Alaric said coldly, tossing a small box to her.
Looking down, she saw it contained a diamond ring.
Just like in her previous life.
How ironic. What most would use for a proposal, Alaric gave as a casual birthday gift.
It was a clear message that their marriage was nothing more than charity on his part.
In her previous life, Stella had wept with gratitude over this ring.
This time, she handed it back without hesitation.
“Didn’t you receive what I sent with your bodyguard?”
If he’d seen the family heirloom she’d returned, he should have understood she wasn’t planning to marry him.
Alaric frowned.
“I didn’t look at it. I’ve told you before–I don’t need things. Don’t give me gifts.”
Stella paused, then realized what had happened.
Alaric had probably seen the package and simply assumed it was a gift from her, so he hadn’t even bothered to open
- it.
Stella recalled how, in her previous life, when sorting through Alaric’s belongings after his death, she had discovered dust–covered boxes piled in the basement storage room.
They contained every gift she had ever given him.
The necklace she had spent a week carving for his 25th birthday.
The blessed rosary she had obtained after spending three days at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, begging a priest to perform a special blessing when Alaric fell ill at 33.
The calming incense she had learned to make from scratch when he began suffering from headaches at 40.
All those thoughtful presents had been carelessly tossed into storage, never even opened.
Meanwhile, Jenna’s folded paper stars, cheap neckties, and even simple notes had been carefully preserved in his
safe.
With a bitter smile, Stella didn’t bother explaining. She simply turned away to attend to her other guests.
08:54
Addio To The Stand In Past, This Time I Chose To Reclaim My Own Life
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Chapter 4
Halfway through the party, Jenna suddenly collapsed against Alaric
“Unde Al, my head is spinning.”
Alaric’s expression instantly changed.
“Are you sick or did you eat something bad? I’m taking you to the hospital.”
Without another word, he scooped Jenna up and left.
Stella frowned,
As the host, she would be responsible if anything happened to Jenna at her party.
Not wanting any trouble before her departure, she followed them.
But as she approached Alaric’s black luxury sedan, she heard Jenna’s breathy moans-
“Uncle Al… I’m burning up… and I feel… I feel throbbing… down there…”
