Now They Want My Forgiveness - Chapter 244: Chapter 244

The sky was growing darker, and since they were at a dump, there were no lights around. Stella pulled out her phone, turned on the flashlight, and continued searching through the trash.
After what felt like forever, Stella finally caught sight of something familiar. But when she picked it up, she saw that Eleanor's phone was completely smashed, beyond repair.
Jordan took a look at it. "Maybe we can take it to the forensic team and see if there are any fingerprints on it besides Eleanor's."
Stella said, "Forget it. The phone was tossed here, so any fingerprints would have worn off long ago. And if they went to this much trouble, they probably thought we'd check for prints and wipe them."
"Let's just try anyway. You never know," Jordan insisted.
Stella didn't hold out much hope, but since Jordan was so set on it, she just went along with him. On the way back, Stella didn't say a word, just messing with the phone the whole time.
Noticing that Jordan kept watching her, she shot him a glance. "What's up?"
"What are you doing?" he asked.
Stella caught the look in his eyes and felt a gentle warmth spread through her heart. "Are you afraid I won't be able to make it?" she asked.
Jordan didn't say a word, but his grip on the steering wheel tightened. Stella laughed, yet her smile quickly faded, giving way to sorrow.
Stella said, "Eleanor's death hit me hard. The police still haven't figured out if it was suicide or murder. But I know my grandmother; she would never take her own life.
"She was still making plans for a wonderful future with me. It has to be murder. I'm not going anywhere until I catch the person who did this."
"And what if you find the killer?" Jordan asked. He spoke with extra care, worried he might touch a nerve and make things worse for her.
Stella hadn't had someone talk to her like this for ages, so she explained, "The person who ruined my life is still out there, and I still haven't seen the Hayes family get what they deserve.
"I won't give up and die now; it'd be too unfair to me. Even if the whole world turns its back on me, I'll still love myself."
A smile tugged at the corners of Jordan's mouth, clearly satisfied with her answer. Stella asked, "Why do you care so much about whether I'd do something stupid?"
Jordan kept his eyes on the road and said, "Honestly, I'm all alone in this world too. So what do you say we team up and keep each other company?"
Stella just kept staring at him. Jordan started to feel a bit creeped out by her stare and found himself at a loss for words. After what felt like forever, he asked, "What's wrong?"
Stella gave a gentle smile. "Jordan, the way I see you isn't the same as how everyone else does. Deep down, you're so sensitive, and you care a lot about what people think.
"All that cold, tough exterior you show the world—that's just a mask, isn't it? You're all alone now, with no one to have your back or support you, so you put on an intimidating front to protect yourself. Am I right?"
Something flickered in Jordan's eyes, his gaze growing more intense.
Stella said, "I like the idea of us sticking together. When I was in Middle-South Yaria, I was doing alright; never thought about ending it all, always believed I could escape someday.
"When I was trapped in that mountain village, I felt hopeless many times. Even after returning, I nearly died countless times. But I never gave up on life because I'd figured something out.
"We only have one life, so why waste it? There are still so many beautiful places I haven't seen. From now on, I'll live fully. Each day I'm alive, I'll make it count."
Jordan made sure the road was clear ahead and offered his pinky for a promise. "So, pinky swear?"