Chapter 9
Stella’s gaze dimmed with quiet resignation. That fleeting hope had been foolish-she’d known her place ever since they chose to abandon her. “I didn’t,” she murmured, the words barely audible.
Fiona misinterpreted Stella’s expression as guilt. Her tone softened with misplaced reassurance. “We’re not accusing you, Stella. Even if you did this, we’d understand. After all, we made that deal with your kidnappers right in front of you. It’s only natural you’d resent us.
“We just want you to know Anna’s safe now. And that choice was ours, not hers. If you need to be angry, direct it at us. Just not at Anna and not like this. Her health can’t take much more.”
Stella stared at them in disbelief. “You didn’t even check the security footage?”
Fiona sighed, her expression almost pitying, “What’s the point? You’re our daughter. We know you.” The unspoken implication was clear-if they dug deeper, they’d only find proof of Stella’s guilt, and she’d be humiliated.
Fiona reached for Stella’s hand, her voice softening. “Stella, we’re just so relieved you’re home. All these years, we’ve lived in fear, terrified we’d get news that you were gone. You’re our flesh and blood. We regret what happened and wish we could have saved you.
“Whatever you’re feeling, we understand. We won’t involve the police. But please, let’s talk this through. If something had happened to Anna, wouldn’t you have felt terrible? You used to adore her.”
Stella’s voice was hollow. “Are you threatening to call the police?”
Fiona quickly backtracked, though her words still carried a warning. “No, of course not. We’re family. We can work this out. That’s why we came so late. We don’t want Eleanor to find out. You wouldn’t want to wake her, would you?”
Stella felt something inside her shatter. After three years apart, this was how they saw her. “I didn’t do it,” she insisted.
Andrew opened his mouth to speak, but Fiona cut him off. “Fine, if you don’t want to talk now, we’ll drop it. But you’ve seen our stance: Anna did nothing wrong. If you hadn’t taken all those nutrients from me in the womb, she-”
Stella couldn’t take it anymore. She’d spent her whole life believing their words, bending to their control. She snapped, “Enough. I had no control over what happened in the womb. Do you think I wanted this? If I could’ve given Anna my health, I would have. Every bit of it.”
“Look at that attitude.” Andrew jabbed a furious finger at her.
Fiona grabbed his arm, restraining him. “Come on. Didn’t you promise we’d talk to her calmly? After everything she’s been through, it’s no surprise she’d act out like this.”
20
Stella’s heart turned to ice. No matter what she said, they’d already made up their minds.
“Stella-” Fiona tried again.
But Stella cut her off. “Since you’ve already decided it was me, there’s nothing left to say.”
Fiona softened her tone. “No, we just want you to understand. The choice was ours, not Anna’s. We only came to ask you not
to-”
Stella didn’t let her finish. A bitter, broken smile touched her lips. “It’s late. I need to rest.”
When she said nothing else, Andrew still looked ready to explode, but Fiona shoved him toward the door.
1/2
Chapter 9
Right then. Andrew’s phone rang abruptly, shattering the tension. He answered, and his expression darkened instantly. “What? Alright, I understand.”
He shot Stella a sharp look. “Get dressed. Now. You’re coming with me.”
