Now They Want My Forgiveness - Chapter 57: Chapter 57
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Stella said, "Okay."
The private investigator's number quickly came through. Stella contacted him.
Stella said firmly, "I need you to look into my kidnapping three years ago. Money is no object. I'll pay whatever it takes."
The private investigator said, "Are you Stella Hayes? And you suspect your kidnapping back then was premeditated?"
Stella said, "Yes, it's no use reporting it to the police now. It's been too many years. They did file a report back then, but never found my kidnapper. Still, I think your investigation might have better chances."
The private investigator said, "Three years is quite some time, but fortunately, it's not too far in the past. That should make it relatively manageable to investigate."
A flicker of joy crossed Stella's face. She asked, "So, you're actually willing to take this job?"
The private investigator replied, "Once the job's done, my fee is 150 thousand."
Stella said, "I'll give you 300 thousand."
The private investigator said, "Deal."
Later that day, Eleanor visited Stella. After a brief stay, Stella had Mary escort Eleanor home.
Fiona arrived that afternoon, her face set in a disapproving scowl the moment she walked in. She snapped, "Stella, I admit your father shouldn't have hit you without understanding the situation.
"But what kind of nonsense did you spout in front of Eleanor? Are you so determined to turn this whole household upside down? Does it make you happy to see everyone miserable?
"Your brother used to say you only came back to seek revenge on all of us, and I refused to believe it. I always thought you were perfect. But look what you've done now."
Stella was about to speak, but after Fiona's relentless tirade, she lost all desire to say anything.
Fiona bellowed, "What's with your silence? You see our family thriving these past three years while you've suffered, and now you want to drag us all down to your miserable level?
"Stella, you're out of your mind. If you're sick, go get treatment. Why drag us all down with you? And Anna came to see you even though she was feeling awful, but you just screamed at her and sent her away.
"What do you want from us? What do you expect me to do?"
Stella shot Fiona a cold glance, unnervingly calm. She asked, "Are you quite finished?"
Fiona snapped, "What now? What else do you want?"
Stella said coldly, "Now that you've had your say, get out."
Fiona was livid. She thought, 'I am her mother. How dare she speak to her like this?' She sneered, "Fine. I was going to take care of you today, but since this is how you want it, I'm leaving right now.
"Don't expect me to lift a finger if you end up dying in this hospital." With that, she stood up to leave.
Stella let out a cold, cynical laugh. She said, "Take care of me? Have you ever cared for me? From the moment I was born, when you didn't have enough milk, you gave it all to Anna.
"It was okay if you fed me the formula. But you think taking care of both of us is too tiring, so you often forget to feed me.
"When I was sick, you wouldn't even give me medicine or take me to the doctor. You just left me lying there to suffer alone, as if it didn't matter whether I lived or died.
"At every parent-teacher conference, you and Andrew would split up, one for Anna, one for Max. Neither of you ever showed up for mine.
"I wanted to take extracurricular classes. I loved the piano. But you dismissed me, saying I had no talent and refused to let me learn. Meanwhile, you secretly signed Anna up for dance, piano, and all sorts of other classes.
"At every school sports day, you'd only show up for Anna's events and completely ignore mine. Even the allowance you gave her was always more than what I got. Have you forgotten all of this?"
A flicker of unease crossed Fiona's eyes. She turned to Stella and snapped, "What exactly are you saying? Are you trying to settle old scores with me now?"
Stella shot back, "Yes, I am settling scores with you. I could even understand all your favoritism, but the one thing I'll never understand is why you never saved me? Is it my fault I ended up like this?
"Am I the messed-up one? If only any of you had shown me a shred of care, I wouldn't have become this broken. How dare you blame me? What gives you the right?"
Fiona flushed with humiliation. She said, "Stella, how dare you talk to me like that? I'm your mother, after all. Have you forgotten all you've done? You even sued our whole family.
"No matter how we treated you, how dare you sue us?"
The private investigator's number quickly came through. Stella contacted him.
Stella said firmly, "I need you to look into my kidnapping three years ago. Money is no object. I'll pay whatever it takes."
The private investigator said, "Are you Stella Hayes? And you suspect your kidnapping back then was premeditated?"
Stella said, "Yes, it's no use reporting it to the police now. It's been too many years. They did file a report back then, but never found my kidnapper. Still, I think your investigation might have better chances."
The private investigator said, "Three years is quite some time, but fortunately, it's not too far in the past. That should make it relatively manageable to investigate."
A flicker of joy crossed Stella's face. She asked, "So, you're actually willing to take this job?"
The private investigator replied, "Once the job's done, my fee is 150 thousand."
Stella said, "I'll give you 300 thousand."
The private investigator said, "Deal."
Later that day, Eleanor visited Stella. After a brief stay, Stella had Mary escort Eleanor home.
Fiona arrived that afternoon, her face set in a disapproving scowl the moment she walked in. She snapped, "Stella, I admit your father shouldn't have hit you without understanding the situation.
"But what kind of nonsense did you spout in front of Eleanor? Are you so determined to turn this whole household upside down? Does it make you happy to see everyone miserable?
"Your brother used to say you only came back to seek revenge on all of us, and I refused to believe it. I always thought you were perfect. But look what you've done now."
Stella was about to speak, but after Fiona's relentless tirade, she lost all desire to say anything.
Fiona bellowed, "What's with your silence? You see our family thriving these past three years while you've suffered, and now you want to drag us all down to your miserable level?
"Stella, you're out of your mind. If you're sick, go get treatment. Why drag us all down with you? And Anna came to see you even though she was feeling awful, but you just screamed at her and sent her away.
"What do you want from us? What do you expect me to do?"
Stella shot Fiona a cold glance, unnervingly calm. She asked, "Are you quite finished?"
Fiona snapped, "What now? What else do you want?"
Stella said coldly, "Now that you've had your say, get out."
Fiona was livid. She thought, 'I am her mother. How dare she speak to her like this?' She sneered, "Fine. I was going to take care of you today, but since this is how you want it, I'm leaving right now.
"Don't expect me to lift a finger if you end up dying in this hospital." With that, she stood up to leave.
Stella let out a cold, cynical laugh. She said, "Take care of me? Have you ever cared for me? From the moment I was born, when you didn't have enough milk, you gave it all to Anna.
"It was okay if you fed me the formula. But you think taking care of both of us is too tiring, so you often forget to feed me.
"When I was sick, you wouldn't even give me medicine or take me to the doctor. You just left me lying there to suffer alone, as if it didn't matter whether I lived or died.
"At every parent-teacher conference, you and Andrew would split up, one for Anna, one for Max. Neither of you ever showed up for mine.
"I wanted to take extracurricular classes. I loved the piano. But you dismissed me, saying I had no talent and refused to let me learn. Meanwhile, you secretly signed Anna up for dance, piano, and all sorts of other classes.
"At every school sports day, you'd only show up for Anna's events and completely ignore mine. Even the allowance you gave her was always more than what I got. Have you forgotten all of this?"
A flicker of unease crossed Fiona's eyes. She turned to Stella and snapped, "What exactly are you saying? Are you trying to settle old scores with me now?"
Stella shot back, "Yes, I am settling scores with you. I could even understand all your favoritism, but the one thing I'll never understand is why you never saved me? Is it my fault I ended up like this?
"Am I the messed-up one? If only any of you had shown me a shred of care, I wouldn't have become this broken. How dare you blame me? What gives you the right?"
Fiona flushed with humiliation. She said, "Stella, how dare you talk to me like that? I'm your mother, after all. Have you forgotten all you've done? You even sued our whole family.
"No matter how we treated you, how dare you sue us?"
End of Now They Want My Forgiveness Chapter 57. Continue reading Chapter 58 or return to Now They Want My Forgiveness book page.