Three Years After They Abandoned Me - Chapter 48: Chapter 48

Stella thought bitterly, 'It's unbelievable. Henry has the nerve to say it, and they believe it. They probably know deep down it isn't true, yet they still choose to collude and stubbornly insist on this fabricated "fact."
'This is my so-called family, my very own flesh and blood.'
Stella demanded, "Max, don't you really know what kind of person Henry is?"
Max paused and then said, "What kind of person is Henry? We've all seen how good he's been to you. What more do you want?
"Honestly, we'd love for you to find someone better, but with the way things are for you right now, is that even possible?"
Stella's single voice was no match for their four. They could twist black into white with their words, while all she could do was swallow her simmering rage in silence.
She managed to maintain her rare composure and said, "I'm calling off this engagement with Henry, whether you agree or not.
"If you have a problem with that, then either marry Anna off to him, get the Quinn family to invest, or, Max, you can always cash in on your looks.
"I'm sure plenty of sugar mommies would be happy to sponsor you. Just stop trying to pawn this off on me."
The others were enraged, but this time, Stella seized the initiative, cutting them off before they could say a word. She said, "And one more thing, believe it or not, I will make sure Henry ends up behind bars. That's all. I'm exhausted. Get out."
With that, Stella flung herself down, making it clear she had no intention of speaking to her family.
They looked at Stella, wanting to say something, but she defiantly pulled the covers over herself, making it clear she had no intention of listening.
Fiona snapped, "Stella, you'll be the death of us all. You ungrateful wretch." With that final remark, she and her family of four stormed out.
Tears streamed down Stella's face. She thought, 'Why was I born into a family like this? What did I do in my previous life to deserve so much suffering in this one?
'If it weren't for Grandma still being alive, I would have cut all ties with them without hesitation. What else can I do now but endure this?'
Stella lay there and drifted into sleep without even realizing it. As she slowly regained consciousness, the first thing she saw was Henry looming over her, a twisted smile playing on his lips.
Stella wasn't fazed. After all she'd been through, nothing could shake her now.
Noticing Stella's composure and with nothing left to hide, Henry dropped all pretense before her. He said, "See, Stella? This is what your desperate struggle to come home has earned you.
"Your family all believes in me. Even if I dragged you away right now, they wouldn't lift a finger to stop me."
Stella knew it all too well. Back in that smaller town of Middle-South Yaria, she had already realized one truth: if she didn't save herself, no one would.
She asked, "Henry, haven't you heard the saying—'play with fire and you'll get burned'?"
Henry's smug, triumphant grin widened once again. He sneered, "So what? Did you think being in a hospital would stop me from drawing your blood?"
Stella fixed Henry with a death glare. She said, "Henry, I may be too weak right now to fight you off, but if you dare lay a finger on me, I'll drag you down with me."
Henry stood there, the very picture of a man who held all the cards. He sneered, "Go ahead, let's see how you plan to take me down with you."
Stella scanned her surroundings, looking for anything she could use as a weapon. After searching everywhere and finding nothing, she fixed him with a death glare.
She said, "I'll kill myself right in front of you. There's no way you'll ever get a single drop of my blood. I've heard all about it. Lately, you haven't found anyone else to be your blood donor except me.
"Your precious first love has such a rare blood type. If she gets too upset, she won't make it either."
Hearing this, Henry lunged forward and grabbed her by the neck, his eyes blazing with brutal fury. He snarled, "How dare you threaten me? Don't forget, the fate of your family's company is still firmly in my hands."
Stella scoffed, "After how they've treated me, why would I care about the company's fate?"
Henry kept his predatory gaze locked on her.
Stella stood her ground, unflinching. When it came to enemies, she always knew that she had to be scarier than they were.
After what felt like an eternity, Henry finally released his grip on her. A sinister smirk curled at the corners of his lips, unreadable yet deeply unsettling. He said, "Stella, you'll never escape my grasp."
With that, he rose and strode out, his threat still hanging in the air.
Stella couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen, but she just couldn't put her finger on what it was.
She didn't have her phone now, so there was no way to access the secret recordings she'd made earlier. Although she'd already backed up the audio files to her computer before her phone broke, she didn't have her computer with her either.
Stella stared blankly, feeling completely at a loss. She felt like she was back to the same old days. But at least in the hospital, she felt free.
Before long, a nurse came in with her medication.
All Stella wanted was to recover quickly. She thought, 'The more life tries to knock me down, the harder I have to fight to survive.'
So she took the medication. She vaguely noticed something off about the nurse, but she was too exhausted to dwell on it.
Just then, a knock came at the door. Stella turned to see Lionel. She turned her head away, ignoring Lionel completely.
Lionel was carrying many items, including a pack of adult diapers, which he set down on her bedside table.
He said, "Stella, I know you don't want to see me right now, but after everything you've been through, I just had to come and check on you."
Stella remained silent.
Lionel continued, "I brought you some supplies you might need. If there's anything else, just let me know."
Stella shot a cold glance at the items on the nightstand and said, "Take them away. I don't want any of this."
Lionel said, "You do need them, Stella, I know. Please don't push me away. Even as your future brother-in-law, it's only right for me to help you with these things."
Stella scoffed bitterly, "I'd rather die of humiliation than accept your help."
Lionel said, "Stella, I know it will take time for you to forgive me, but that's okay. I'll keep trying to make things right until you do."
Stella shot Lionel a cold look and asked, "Is my forgiveness really that important to you?"
Lionel nodded solemnly.
Stella said coldly, "True. Only my forgiveness can ease your conscience. Lionel, tell me, do you know how Henry's previous two wives died?"
A shadow crossed Lionel's face, his expression darkening. He thought, 'Stella knew it all now.'
Noticing Lionel's expression, Stella understood everything. She sneered, "So you knew all along. Of course you did, otherwise, how could you explain those things you told me before?"
Lionel said, "Stella, please, just hear me out. I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid that in our current situation, even if I did tell you, you wouldn't believe me."
Stella fixed him with a cold, unwavering stare. She accused, "Lionel, this is the second time you've just stood by and watched me plunge into a fiery pit. Admit it, you've been in love with Anna all along.
"All that kindness was just a setup so you could stab me in the back when I needed you most, wasn't it?"
Lionel shouted, "No."
He tried to explain himself, but Stella cut him off coldly, refusing to listen to a single word.
She snapped, "Shut up! Nothing you say could ever make me trust you again. How could I have ever fallen for someone like you? I regret it with every fiber of my being. Do you get that now?"
Lionel's expression froze. He stammered, "Stella."
Stella snapped, "Don't you dare call me that. Get out."
Lionel hesitated, then continued with difficulty, "Actually, I came here for a reason."
Stella felt her head grow woozy, an unsettling sensation she couldn't quite place. Seeing Lionel pull out a syringe, she demanded, "What are you doing?"
Lionel took her arm and held it down firmly. He said, "Stella, I know I'm hurting you, but I have to do this."
Stella couldn't move a muscle. Her body was paralyzed as if under some invisible control. All she could do was watch helplessly as Lionel drew blood from her arm.
Lionel said, "Don't blame me, I had no choice."