Now They Want My Forgiveness - Chapter 119: Chapter 119

Andrew seethed silently, his fists clenched. He felt heartbroken seeing Max like this. 'If Jordan hadn't interfered, if Mom hadn't been there, I'd have beaten Stella senseless—made sure she looked just as bad as Max! She's growing far too bold,' he thought.
Anna's eyes also welled up with tears, her face the picture of distressed sisterhood.
Lionel stood frozen, struggling to reconcile the gentle Stella he remembered with the image of her wielding a belt against her brother.
"Lionel," Anna ventured, her voice laced with faux concern, "I've been terribly worried. Stella's behavior is unhinged. Perhaps she needs professional help? It's frightening. Who knows what she might do next?"
"You think she has mental problems?" Lionel asked, a note of surprise in his voice.
Anna said, her tone carefully measured. "We all know that after everything she's been through, it's no wonder she's become so... twisted. Honestly, we should've gotten her into therapy from the beginning, then things wouldn't have gotten this bad."
Lionel's frown deepened. The brutality of the act—a sister inflicting that on her brother—seemed unfathomable. 'Is Anna right? Had trauma truly broken Stella?'
"Oh, by the way, Lionel," Anna said, "I almost forgot to tell you—Stella's married."
"Married?!" Lionel exclaimed, disbelief flooding his voice. He looked visibly stunned.
Anna felt deeply unsettled by his reaction. Her lips forming a pout of grievance, she asked softly, "Lionel, do you still care for Stella?"
Lionel flinched. The memory of Stella's bright smile felt like a physical blow. "Who?" The word was a harsh rasp.
Anna's heart sank when Lionel ignored her question. 'He's still only thinking about Stella,' she thought bitterly. But to sever his last shred of hope, Anna said flatly, "Jordan Erwin."
"Jordan Erwin? Impossible!" Jordan and Stella moved in completely different circles. How could she possibly marry him?"
"Honestly, I was shocked too. But today, Stella brought Jordan home, and they had their marriage license. We all saw it. It's real.
"If it weren't for Jordan backing her up, egging her on, Stella would never have dared beat Max like that. He's behind it all."
Lionel stood frozen, his eyes betraying unconcealable anguish.
Anna's heart ached with bitterness, unconcealed hatred blazing in her eyes. The truth was, the scheme to marry Stella off to Troy had been Anna's idea all along.
Lionel never let on in front of Anna that he still loved Stella, but she knew he cared. Just look at now, that flicker of deep feeling, unconscious and raw, was something Anna had never seen directed at her.
She had thought that only if Stella ended up with Troy, severing Lionel's last hope, would he finally be hers completely. But then Kevin appeared... and now Jordan! Anna thought bitterly. 'Why does every man fall for Stella? Why never for me?'
"You're certain about all this?" Lionel demanded, his voice tight.
"Would I lie to you?" Anna replied. "I heard they were online friends. They knew each other years ago."
"Online friends?" Lionel echoed.
Anna nodded. "Yeah, you were so close to her back then. Didn't she ever mention her online friend to you?"
Lionel realized with a pang. But he'd brushed it off, never dreamed it could be Jordan. A bitter thought struck him, 'Did I push her toward him?'
"I've got to go. Max just needs rest. Don't worry." Lionel turned and hurried out without another word.
Anna knew exactly where Lionel was going, yet she couldn't stop herself from stepping into his path. "Lionel, wait—"
Lionel didn't spare her a glance, let alone a response.