Stella's fingers dug into the cold wall, her knuckles turning white as she fought to keep herself upright. The hallway seemed to spin around her, the world tilting on its axis. Ansel's voice cut through the fog of her pain, his words sharp and accusatory. "Stella, why are you being so unreasonable? Nobody is perfect—where has your tolerance gone?" His tone was rising, a sign of his mounting frustration.
She could see it in his eyes, the impatience that had once been directed at her tormentors now aimed at her. The man who had once stood by her side, ready to face the world, was now the one causing her pain. "Ansel," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the roaring in her ears, "you were there. You saw what they did to me."
Ansel's forehead throbbed, a vein pulsing with the force of his anger. This was the same look he had worn when he had defended her, when he had raged against Elara and her daughter. But now, the anger was directed at Stella, and it cut deeper than any physical blow. "Stella! How did you become so bitter after just two years? If you can't find it in yourself to forgive her, then at least apologize to Elara! I can't stand the thought of people mocking my fiancée as a spiteful, resentful woman!"
The words hit Stella like a physical blow. She stumbled back, her hand releasing the wall to reach for her chest, as if she could hold her heart together. "Your mother's decision to end her life was her own weakness," Ansel continued, his voice a harsh whisper. "If she had considered your youth, your father wouldn't have had to remarry! Don't blame all your misfortune on Elara and her daughter. Her mother made mistakes, but she didn't deserve to die! If you, like your mother, are going to stubbornly wallow in your misery, then it's no wonder you're plagued by nightmares!"
He spat out the word "nightmares" with such revulsion that Stella felt it like a slap. The man who had once promised to protect her, who had once been her rock, was now the one throwing her past in her face. The pain was unbearable, a physical force that threatened to crush her.
"Ansel," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "unless she dies before my eyes, I will never forgive her!" The words were a declaration of war, a line drawn in the sand. She could see the shock on his face, the disbelief. But there was something else there too, a flicker of anger that quickly turned to disgust.
In that moment, Stella felt something inside her break. The man she had loved, the man who had once been her everything, was now a stranger. She could see it in his eyes, the way he looked at her with a mixture of pity and disdain. She had become a burden to him, a problem he needed to solve.
Trembling uncontrollably, Stella could no longer hold herself up. She staggered backward, her legs threatening to give out beneath her. Ansel reached out to steady her, his hands finding her arms. But as he did, he noticed the swelling and bruising on her knee. "How did you hurt your knee so badly?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Forget it," Stella muttered, pulling away from him. "If you won't apologize, I'll do it for you, but you mustn't be so disrespectful in the future." She didn't want his pity, didn't want his concern. All she wanted was for him to leave, to take his betrayal and his lies and get out of her life.
With a strength she didn't know she had, Stella wrenched her hand away from Ansel's grasp. Her face was ashen as she pointed toward the door. "Get out! All of you, get out!" Her voice echoed off the walls, a desperate plea for him to leave.
Ansel, recognizing her vulnerability, tried to soothe her with a comforting embrace. But Elara, tears streaming down her face, bowed deeply. "Stella, I'm leaving now. Please, don't torment yourself over this." As she turned to leave, she spun too quickly, crashing into the doorframe and falling sideways.
Ansel instantly released Stella and rushed to catch her. They both tumbled out into the hallway together. Despite everything, Elara's head still struck the doorframe, instantly turning red with a hint of blood seeping out. Ansel scrambled to his feet, cradling her as he rushed towards the elevator. "Elara, does it hurt? I'm taking you to see a doctor right now!"
The doorway finally fell silent, the echo of Ansel's footsteps fading into the distance. Stella was left alone, her heart sinking to the depths. After ten years of knowing each other and ten years of love, they had reached this point of estrangement.
With a deep breath, Stella took out her phone and booked a flight for the day of the wedding. With seven days left, it was just enough time to clear away everything from the past. Ansel was right; one must look forward. From now on, she would sever all ties with the joys and sorrows of the past!