Chapter 21
Camilla stared at her son in bewilderment, watching as Alaric’s fists clenched with determination.
“I will get Stella back,” he declared, his voice leaving no room for argument. “As long as she’s still in this world.”
“No matter how far she’s gone, I’ll find her.”
In that brief moment, everything had become clear to Alaric.
Compared to the nightmare–where both of them died after twenty years of hollow marriage–their real situation still held hope.
So what if Stella had left? As long as she was alive somewhere in this world, he could win her back.
He believed deep down that Stella’s love for him couldn’t have simply vanished. She had only left because he’d hurt her too deeply, forcing her to escape.
Now that he finally understood his own heart, if he pursued her properly, they could still have their chance.
Camilla looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Alaric, what are you talking about? Stella’s gone to a classified government project. How could you possibly find her?”
Alaric’s expression remained calm. “I’ll find a way. And if I can’t find her, then I’ll wait for her.”
“Ten years, twenty years–I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
“You can’t be serious!” Camilla was genuinely stunned.
But seeing the resolve in her son’s eyes, she knew there was no changing his mind.
After all, he was no longer the malleable boy they could direct. He had become his own man, and neither she nor Steven could influence his decisions anymore.
Alaric sprang into action immediately. After leaving the hospital, he contacted everyone in his considerable network, trying to discover which project and facility Stella had joined.
But the project was indeed classified at the highest level. Even with all his resources and connections, he couldn’t get any solid information.
So he pivoted to a different strategy, beginning to heavily invest in various aerospace initiatives.
While such projects were primarily government–controlled, private investors could join through substantial
donations and investments.
Alaric poured money in without concern for cost, laying groundwork patiently, knowing that eventually he would discover Stella’s whereabouts.
M.. Oum I ifo
96.4%
Chapter 211
At the wedding, Steven and Camilla had told guests that Stella had been injured, postponing the ceremony by a month.
But as a month passed with no sign of Stella, people began asking questions.
Steven and Camilla finally admitted that Stella had broken the engagement.
Everyone expected the Gilbert family to quickly find another suitable match for Alaric.
Instead, Alaric made a public declaration that he would wait for Stella.
He didn’t specify where she had gone, only stating that she was studying abroad, and that he would wait however long it took for her return.
The story of the reformed playboy waiting for his love captured public imagination.
The Gilberts and Forbes were already prominent families, and both Alaric and Stella were considered exceptionally attractive representatives of their generation, with substantial online followings.
Alaric’s declaration of love quickly became a trending topic across social media.
Meanwhile, at Stennis Space Center…
“Did you guys see that viral story? That billionaire heir–Alaric Gilbert–made this dramatic public announcement that he’s going to wait for his fiancée who’s supposedly studying abroad.”
“I saw that! Isn’t he the one who treated his fiancée like garbage before?”
“Totally. Remember when she bought those birthday messages for him on billboards all over the city? When reporters asked what he thought, he literally said it was ‘a waste of money and embarrassingly tacky.”
“That’s the one! This is like some ridiculous redemption romance playing out in real life. Talk about damage
control.”
“What was his fiancée’s name again?”
“Stella Forbes, I think.”
The researchers chatting suddenly turned toward their colleague, who had been silently eating with her head down the entire time.
“Wait a minute… she has exactly the same name as you, Stella. Even the last name.”
— To Reclaim My Own Life
