Chapter 24
After six months together, Marcus brought Stella home to meet his family.
Unlike the intimidating wealthy families Stella had imagined. Marcus’s parents weren’t cold and scary at all- they were actually super warm and welcoming.
His mom was especially adorable, taking one look at Stella and falling in love with her instantly.
She set up a whole room for Stella at their house, decorating everything from the bedsheets to the pillows to the furniture in this cute, girly style.
She even gave Stella her own walk-in closet, filling it with clothes she’d personally helped design.
All made specifically for Stella.
Stella felt like a little doll being lovingly dressed up by Marcus’s mom.
She was overwhelmed, like this couldn’t possibly be real.
The joy mixed with pure terror.
And worry.
Whenever she felt like this, Marcus’s mom could always read her mind.
She’d take Stella’s hands and speak so sincerely.
‘I’ve been wanting to do this forever. I can’t have kids, so after we adopted Marcus I always hoped we could have a daughter too. But we were so busy with work all these years that we never got around to it. Thank
God you’re here now.”
Marcus’s dad was pretty quiet, but he’d always back up his wife when she said stuff like that.
Marcus would take Stella’s hand too, holding it in his warm palm.
Feeling that warmth, Stella finally started believing it was real.
They were all telling Stella she was worthy of love.
Marcus’s mom’s affection for Stella was so obvious that Marcus would joke about being jealous, saying his twenty years as their son couldn’t compete with their new “little cotton ball.”
During all the teasing and laughter, Stella realized she was smiling way more.
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Chapter 24
So this is what family feels like?
Stella couldn’t believe it.
Could she really have a family?
Could she actually… stop running and stay here?
After drifting for over twenty years, her heart finally felt like it had somewhere to land.
The walls she’d built around herself were slowly crumbling.
Marcus openly introduced Stella to all his friends, and she naturally fit into their circle. The group would hang out pretty regularly.
That night, they hit up a karaoke bar like usual.
In the dim room filled with music, Stella was sitting to the side when she felt something cool touch her
finger.
She looked down and saw a diamond sparkling on her ring finger.
She blinked in surprise and looked up at the guy next to her.
Under the purple lights, Marcus’s eyes were sincere and serious.
Even though the music drowned out most sounds, Stella could read his lips.
“Stella Harper, will you marry me?”
The music kept playing, nobody noticing them in their corner with their hands intertwined.
Stella’s heart was racing.
But she pushed down the fluttery feeling, leaned close to Marcus’s ear, and smiled.
“That was way too casual. I’m making you propose again properly.”
Marcus didn’t seem bothered by the rejection at all, just chuckled softly: “Deal.”
Stella and Marcus got married a year later.
When Stella won the award she’d been dreaming of, Marcus proposed to her in front of everyone.
This time, they finally got to pour out all their love for each other in public.
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Chapter 24
They chose to have the wedding at the group home where they’d grown up – the place where they first met.
On the wedding day, Stella saw Mr. and Mrs. Reed for the first time in ages.
They looked way older and worn down. Word was that Mrs. Reed’s health had taken a hit and Mr. Reed was emotionally drained. This past year, he’d barely been involved with the company at all.
Just one year had aged them so much.
When they saw Stella, they seemed like they had a lot to say, but her polite but distant attitude shut them.
down. In the end, they said nothing.
Watching Stella affectionately call Marcus’s parents “mom and dad” left the Reeds looking lost and
heartbroken.
Their Stella had once tried to be close with them too.
They just hadn’t treasured it.
In a corner of the wedding venue, a young man in a wheelchair stared blankly at the bride on stage,
completely lost in thought.
He clutched a beat-up notebook like it was his most precious possession, gently stroking it.
The bride’s every smile was exactly like in his dreams.
Except the man beside her wasn’t him.
‘Mister, the bride is really pretty, isn’t she?” A little kid noticed him sitting alone and tried to make
conversation.
‘Yeah… she’s beautiful.”
Ryan’s voice came out hoarse.
The kid was confused: “If she’s so pretty, why are you crying?”
“Am I crying?”
Ryan wiped his eyes messily – tears had been streaming down his face without him realizing.
“You’re a crybaby, mister.”
Ryan forced out a smile that looked worse than crying.
“I’m crying because she’s happy. I’m happy for her.”
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Chapter 24
“Don’t you want to go talk to that lady?”
Ryan shook his head: “No, I did something wrong and made her upset. Just watching her from far away is
enough.”
The kid just said “oh,” not really understanding.
Ryan looked up at the crowd, where Stella was beaming with joy, her eyes full of love as she looked at
Marcus.
He watched the whole ceremony, and as everyone cheered their final blessings, he quietly wheeled himself away, his silhouette lonely and tragic.
But he was smiling.
This was enough.
Stella, I hope you’re happy.
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