Stella POV
As I slowly opened my eyes, the world around me was a blur of movement and muted colors. The rhythmic swaying of the carriage beneath me told me that I was being transported somewhere, but my mind struggled to catch up with the reality of the situation. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I found myself surrounded by guards, their stern faces a stark reminder of the gravity of the circumstances.
I tried to piece together the fragments of my memory, struggling to make sense of it all. How had I ended up here? The last thing I remembered was the overwhelming rush of emotions as I rushed towards the mansion, fueled by a desperate determination to set things right.
"This can't be happening," I muttered to myself, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me like a heavy stone. The realization slowly dawned on me, sending a chill down my spine. I had regressed back in time, thrust into a world that I thought I had left behind.
The enormity of the situation threatened to overwhelm me, the pressure mounting with each passing moment. But amidst the chaos of my thoughts, one thing remained clear: I had to find my brother. No matter the cost, I couldn't let history repeat itself.
Gathering my resolve, I pushed aside the doubts and fears that threatened to consume me. With a deep breath, I steadied myself and focused on the task at hand. My brother needed me, and I wouldn't rest until I had found him.
As the carriage rumbled on, I closed my eyes and let the steady rhythm lull me into a sense of calm. With each passing mile, the anticipation grew, driving me forward with a fierce determination.
Finally, the carriage came to a halt, and I found myself standing before the imposing gates of the mansion. The air was thick with tension, the weight of grief palpable in the stillness of the night.
As I pushed open the door, tears streaming down my cheeks, my eyes fell upon the scene before me like a dagger to the heart. There, in the center of the room, lay my mother in a casket, her form still and serene in death. And beside her stood my brother, his face a mask of pain and grief, his eyes hollow and empty.
The sight struck me like a physical blow, my chest constricting with the weight of sorrow. How could this be happening? How could our mother be gone, leaving us alone?
But as I stumbled forward, reaching out to touch her cold hand, my brother's voice shattered the silence like thunder in a storm. "Don't touch my mother," he growled, his words dripping with menace.
His rejection stung like a slap to the face, the pain cutting through me like a knife. "Big brother, it's me," I cried, my voice choked with emotion, my eyes pleading for understanding.
But he remained unmoved, his resolve unyielding as he lifted our mother's body into his arms, cradling her gently as he made his way towards the church. And as he disappeared from view, leaving me alone with my grief, the echoes of his words lingered in the empty room, a painful reminder of the fractures that had torn our family apart.
...
Inside the family manor
With his mother's passing, the weight of responsibility fell squarely on Rian's shoulders. As the next in line to uphold their family's legacy, he took on the duties with unwavering dedication, ensuring that everything and everyone remained intact in the wake of their loss.
Yet, even as he navigated through the aftermath, there remained unfinished business. He couldn't shake the memory of the day he was summoned to the royal family to offer condolences. Despite his efforts, he was met with coldness and disregard, particularly from his fiancée, the king's daughter, who showed no interest in him or his family's grief.
Her disrespectful behavior grated on him, especially considering how he had always bent over backwards to please her, despite her spoiled demeanor. But now, with his newfound resolve and position, he refused to let her continue to dictate the terms of their relationship.
"Today, I must end this engagement," he resolved, determined to no longer allow her to treat him as an afterthought. With a firm resolve, he set out to confront her and put an end to a relationship that had long been built on empty promises and disrespect.
As Rian stepped out of his office, his eyes met Stella's figure waiting by the side. She looked worn and tired, as if she hadn't eaten for days. He felt a pang of guilt but quickly pushed it aside, steeling himself against any emotions that threatened to resurface.
Ignoring her presence, he strode purposefully towards the exit, determined to put as much distance between them as possible.
"Um... Big brother..."
Stella's voice trailed off as she saw him moving farther away, her words falling on deaf ears. Rian didn't spare her a glance, his focus fixed on the path ahead.
Confusion clouded Stella's features as she watched him go, unable to meet his gaze. "Is he going to the royal palace?" she murmured to herself, a bitter edge creeping into her tone. "Surely that woman would be there."
She knew about his visits to the palace, knew that he had never truly connected with the princess. Their interactions had always been strained, her behavior deemed annoying by many. And Stella herself had often felt the same way.
But now, as she stood there watching him walk away, a whirlwind of emotions churned within her. She wanted to reach out, to bridge the gap that had formed between them, but she didn't know how.
As Rian disappeared from view, Stella's shoulders slumped in defeat. She knew that their relationship was fractured, perhaps beyond repair. And as she turned to leave, a sense of loneliness washed over her, leaving her feeling adrift in a sea of uncertainty. The reason of this was still unknown to her .
As Rian strode out of his mansion towards the waiting carriage, he was greeted by his personal guard, Richard.
"Greetings, young master," Richard said with a respectful nod.
Rian acknowledged him with a brief nod, a silent signal to proceed. With a sense of purpose, he climbed into the carriage, ready to depart for the royal palace.
Meanwhile, Stella watched from a distance, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. As she observed her brother's departure towards the palace, she couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. Biting her lip anxiously, she wrestled with her inner turmoil, unsure of what to do next, a single thought in her mind ...
"Why Brother "