Chapter 287

Chapter 287:

The surrounding air seemed frozen. Stella slowly walked out of the courthouse, her steps heavy. Someone called out to her from behind, but she couldn’t hear it, nor did she want to. She didn’t have the strength to look back. She disappeared down the road, walking alone.

That afternoon, RK took Adrian back to the Kingston family home. Stella stood at the door, staring into the empty room. Adrian’s favorite toys, his cherished pillow, the dishes, and spoons he always used were all taken away. His room was left with just an empty bed and a desk—nothing else.

Earlier, when she had gone to see Adrian at kindergarten, he had cried. He clung to her clothes, sobbing, saying he didn’t want to leave her. She cried too, holding him as if he were her lifeline, promising they wouldn’t be separated. Yet that very afternoon, they had to part ways.

That evening, Stella took a bag of assorted bottles of wine and went up to the rooftop. She recalled how Adrian had often boasted about his dreams of becoming an astronomer.

He’d point to the stars in the sky and say he would discover a new one and name it after her, “Darling.” She had always teased him, calling it bragging, but deep down, she believed in his potential. He would grow up to be brilliant—of that, she was sure.

But she wouldn’t be there to witness it. She wouldn’t see him grow into the exceptional person she knew he would become. Now, she would only get two brief visits with him each week. The thought of it broke her heart. She grabbed a bottle of wine and began drinking, as if it were water.

Stella became completely drunk. She had forgotten what she wanted to do, what she needed to do. Staggering to her feet, she looked down from the rooftop. It was quiet below, with no one around and no lights in sight.

She vaguely remembered the bottle slipping from her hand as she tried to catch it. Then she fell, feeling as though she were flying. There was a sharp pain in her back... and then nothing. Stella ended her life.

When the news broke, it shocked everyone—especially RK and those who knew the full story. How could she, with Adrian still in her life, be so desperate as to try to end it all?

A neighbor found Stella and called an ambulance just in time. Fortunately, the neighbor recognized her and used Stella’s phone to call RK. His number was the most dialed contact on her phone, so it made sense that he was the first to be called.

“Hello?” RK’s voice was groggy, hoarse from being woken up so suddenly.

Exclusive content available at gⱯlnσν풆ℓs.com “Is this Mr. Kingston? I’m Stella’s neighbor. She’s... She tried to end her life. Please come to the hospital in the city center.”

RK was instantly wide awake. He looked at his phone to make sure he wasn’t dreaming, then quickly got dressed and drove to the hospital.

When RK arrived, Stella was still in the emergency room. The light above the door was on, and all he could do was wait outside.

He couldn’t understand—why would she try to end her life? She was always so strong, never defeated by anything. How could she reach such a breaking point?

He was panicked in a way he had never been before. His thoughts raced wildly, and he felt utterly helpless, unable to sit still. He waited anxiously, as if his entire ability to function had been stripped away. Finally, the emergency room light turned off.

RK jumped to his feet, his legs numb, but he rushed toward the doctor.

“Doctor, how is she?” he asked, his voice trembling.

“The patient fell from a height but was stopped by the security window of the apartment downstairs. The sharp edge of the window cut deeply into her back, and it may leave a scar. The impact from the fall has caused severe trauma to her body, and recovery will be difficult. However, her life is not in immediate danger.”

RK breathed a sigh of relief, watching as the nurses wheeled Stella into the intensive care unit. He stood outside the window, feeling like his heart was in his throat.

He knew how much Adrian meant to her—she had told him countless times how important their son was to her. He knew, and yet he had still insisted on fighting her for custody.

It was his fault. All his fault. His stubbornness, his jealousy of Tristan, his need to win—it had all led to this. If only he hadn’t been so heartless, if only he hadn’t fought her for Adrian, she would still be here, happy and living her life with their son.

Now, as he stood outside the ICU, RK made a silent promise: when she woke up, whatever she wanted, whatever she needed, he would give it to her. As long as she lived, that was all that mattered.

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