Chapter 2240
Chapter 2240
Hearing her son’s voice, Elena finally felt some of the tension leave her shoulders.
“Which country are you in right now?” she asked, her voice tight in the quiet living room.
On the other end, Nicholas replied, “I want my freedom. Stop worrying about where I am—and don’t try to contact me for a while. I’ll reach out when I feel like it.”
Elena’s grip tightened around the phone, sadness filling her eyes.
“Just tell Mom where you are, okay?” she pleaded.
Nicholas let out a short, impatient scoff. “If I tell you, you’ll never stop asking questions. Forget it. I’ve got nothing else to say.”
Elena opened her mouth, but the call had already ended.
She let out a long, weary sigh. “What is wrong with that child? He ran overseas again and still won’t tell me where he is.”
Wren relaxed slightly and tried to reassure her. “Men like to wander. Don’t worry so much.”
Elena shot him a sharp look. “He got that from you.”
Wren swallowed whatever comeback he had and stayed quiet.
Cecilia had watched everything. Once she and Nathaniel were alone, she couldn’t hold back. “What just happened?”
Nathaniel replied, “I told Nicholas to call Mom so she’d stop worrying.”
Cecilia frowned. “How did you get him to cooperate?”
“He’s always wanted to beat me. A little reverse psychology was enough.” Nathaniel’s tone was casual, almost dismissive.
He didn’t mention that he had sent Nicholas to a remote, desolate place overseas.
Short of a miracle, Nicholas would likely never make it back.
With Nicholas handled, life gradually returned to normal.
Cecilia’s days became peaceful—spending time with family, shopping, meeting friends, and taking care of the kids. Her life felt comfortable, steady.
But not everyone was so fortunate.
Stella had spent nearly two years in a psychiatric ward. What had once been an act had turned into reality, and madness now clouded her eyes.
“Don’t hit me… please… spare me…” she whimpered into the empty hallway.
No one was there, yet she remained convinced that unseen figures were out to harm her.
When Cecilia saw her again, Stella was still like that.
Even so, she recognized her.
The moment she spotted Cecilia, she blurted out, “Ceci, I was wrong. I really understand now. You’ve made me pay for two years—hasn’t that been enough? Please… let me go.”
Cecilia looked at her calmly, without the burning hatred she once felt.
“I forgave you once, and you teamed up with Nicholas to hurt me again. Why should I trust you now?”
Stella tugged at her tangled hair. “I swear, I won’t hurt you again. I promise.”
Cecilia’s voice remained steady. “Words don’t mean anything.”
Lowering her head, Stella muttered, “Then I’ll write a promise. I will.”
In truth, the Stella standing before her no longer posed much of a threat. But Cecilia wasn’t willing to take that risk.
She wasn’t afraid for herself—but she would never gamble with her children’s safety.
“Stella, stay here,” Cecilia said. “Letting you live a normal life in this place is the most mercy I can offer.”
From then on, she made sure Stella had a room to herself, away from the other patients.
Stella nodded repeatedly. “Okay… okay… okay.”
As long as she wasn’t being beaten, it was already better than before.
Cecilia turned and walked away, unsure when—if ever—she would come back.