Now They Want My Forgiveness - Chapter 265: Chapter 265

"Signs of poisoning," Jordan stated, his voice devoid of inflection. "And strangulation. Coroner can't confirm primary cause yet." He paused, the next words dropping like stones. "She suffered, Stella. Before the end."
Stella's gaze drifted back to the shrouded form, then found Kevin standing apart, a shadow of grief on his face. "Kevin? Why are you here?"
Kevin remained lost in his grief. The days they'd once shared all rushed back, sharpened to a razor's edge by the brutal finality before him. Seeing her life extinguished so violently, it was a gut punch.
"I called him," Jordan said quietly. "She mattered to you both. He should know it."
Kevin turned slowly, his eyes red-rimmed and hollow. "Jordan called, saying she was... gone." His voice was thick. "I had to see her. Say goodbye." He gestured weakly towards the sheet, a tremor in his hand. "But this... this is monstrous."
"Is she insane?" Stella burst out, her voice trembling on the edge of hysteria. "She's with Monroe. Doesn't she fear he'll discover this? How many lives," her voice cracked, "how many does she need to destroy?"
"Without witnesses? Without proof? She's spotless in his eyes," Jordan stated coldly. "And Monroe's blind devotion? He'd dismiss any accusation against her."
Stella shuddered violently. "How terrifying she is! Poisoning? Strangling? Wait... Did they find any of her fingerprints on Emily?"
Jordan shook his head.
'Of course.' The chilling realization settled in. 'Anna is careful. Precise. From orchestrating Grandma's death to silencing Emily. All because Emily knew her crime! So does that mean anyone who crosses her path will become her target?' Stella wondered.
Feeling the tremors intensify against him, Jordan pulled her into a fierce embrace. "Stella..."
"Why?" The word was muffled against his coat. "How does she become... like this?"
Jordan held her fiercely, offering silent, solid comfort.
Kevin stood apart, adrift. The urge to offer comfort warred with the cold understanding that he was now an outsider in her circle of solace.
Time blurred. Stella remained curled against Jordan, shock a leaden weight pressing down. The sheer brutality of Emily's end was a raw wound.
The jarring ring of Jordan's phone shattered the heavy silence. It was from the police. They said Anna was there.
Jordan ended the call. He met Stella's haunted eyes. "She's at the station. Do you want to face her?"
Stella forced herself to calm down. "Of course. I need to see her performance."
"But your condition..." Jordan said, his worry clear in his voice.
"Are we bringing Emily with us?" Stella's gaze was flint. "I need to see Anna's face when she sees what she's done."
Jordan hesitated, but Kevin's voice came from the edge of their space, quiet but firm, "She needs to go, Jordan. This has to happen."
Jordan met Stella's unwavering gaze. "Alright." His voice was steel. He took her hand, his grip an anchor. "I'm with you."
Kevin watched Stella accept Jordan's hand, her fingers curling around Jordan's without resistance. Seeing how close they were, Kevin felt a pang in his heart.
The somber black van from the coroner's office arrived, its back doors yawning open like a dark mouth.
The drive passed in suffocating silence. Stella stayed curled against Jordan's side, her head a heavy weight on his shoulder. Jordan kept her hand locked securely in his, a silent anchor against the turbulent sea of her grief.
After about half an hour, they finally arrived at the police station. Before they went in, Jordan turned to Stella, searching her face. "Ready?"
Stella seemed to have collected herself. She took a deep, steadying breath, squared her shoulders, and stepped towards the doors. "Ready."