Even Ryan didnât know, so probably no one else did. Maybe Erin was really that terrible back then, wanting to bully her so badly that he sent people after her.
After all, he despised her so much at the time, even if he had a bit of a liking for her, it couldnât overcome the long-standing hatred he had for her. Besides, he was in love with Stella without even realizing it.
Stella, unable to find any answers, slowly lowered her eyelashes. and looked at Erin, still bathed in sunlight. Her icy fingers unconsciously brushed against his faceâ¦
As her fingertips touched his cold, stiff cheek, Stella seemed to want to embrace him, but she never made a move. She just stared silently at himâ¦
After what felt like an eternity, Stella spoke up again to Ryan, âArenât you going to ask who killed him?â
Ryan focused on Stellaâs slender figure and sighed softly, âHe wanted to protect you, so it doesnât really matter who did itâ¦â
Even if Erin had staged it to look like a suicide, no matter how convincing it was, Ryan couldnât be fooled. It must have been Erin being too violent, forcing Stella to pull the trigger. But because his love for Stella was so intense, Erin couldnât bear to let her take even a shred of responsibility, which is why he staged it as a suicide before his death.
Ryan pondered for a long time, and if he were in Erinâs shoes, he would have done the same. Some peopleâs love is obsessive, willing to give everything, even their livesâ¦
But this ending brought relief to the departed, yet not necessarily to the living, especially to the person who pulled the trigger and killed him. So who can really say who won or lost in this years-long love-hate entanglement?
Ryan wouldnât blame Stella because she was the person his friend wanted to protect. He would honor his friendâs last wish. But Stella would blame herself, after all, she had killed someone. Whether it was guilt or fear, these emotions would torment her.
And it was true, when the sound of sirens came from downstairs, Stellaâs fingers involuntarily tightened.
She wanted to embrace the person she had once loved before the police arrived, but she never found the courage.
Until the police came upstairs, rushing towards her and pulling her up, she looked into Erinâs fading figure and felt a sudden pang in her heart.
She knew the police would take away his body, and from then on, she would never see Erin againâ¦
With an unknown surge of strength, she broke free from the policeâs grasp and rushed towards Erin, falling to her knees and embracing his stiff bodyâ¦
She held him, burying her head in the crook of his neck, just like she used to, but she couldnât feel his warmth anymore, only cold skin and rigidityâ¦
At that moment, Stella finally realized that Erin was truly gone, never to return. The man who said he loved her and hurt her was really deadâ¦
Her tears fell like flowing water, âErin, Iâm sorryâ¦â
She turned her head and gently kissed Erinâs pale cheek, then raised her hand and touched the brows and eyes that were deeply imprinted in her heartâ¦
As she touched his tightly closed eyes, Stella remembered that whether it was when they were young or grown up, those eyes always held complex emotions when they looked at herâ¦
There was hatred, dislike, and a hint of pity. Beneath that pity, there was probably love. She didnât know how conflicted he must have been at the time. After all, he despised her so much, yet he also loved her. How agonizing it must have been for himâ¦
Stella was hesitant to let go, as she delicately caressed his face, but the police urged and pulled her away, forcefully removing her from the sceneâ¦
In her line of sight, Erin, sitting by the window, bathed in sunlight, gradually receded. Slowly, he merged with the light until nothing could be seenâ¦