Keegan closed his mouth and remained silent. Both he and Stella were conserving what little strength they had left in the freezing night. Stella was drained of energy. Her lips were turning into a bluish hue from the cold. Her mind was starting to blur, but she clung to the branch with sheer determination.All of a sudden, a noise echoed from the shore. Stella snapped back to reality and said, "Keegan, they're here! They're here!"She turned her head, but the person behind her had vanished without her noticing.The bitter cold seemed to intensify. Stella's face grew even paler, as she shouted Keegan's name into the empty stretch of water. Yet, all that met her cries was the relentless sound of the flowing river.Stella released her grip on the branch, intending to swim away. However, she discovered that she was tethered to the branch. Before letting go, Keegan had mustered the last ounces of his strength to secure her in place with a belt. Even if she was weak, the belt would provi
"Is there any chance he's still alive?" Felicity's voice trembled, as she asked.Vermont didn't know what to say. Although he was adept at comforting others, he did not feel as optimistic as usual at that moment. The odds of Keegan surviving that night were slim. First, he did not know how to swim. And, secondly, the conditions of the water were nearly impossible to swim in, especially while injured.The body of the man who had plunged off the bridge with Keegan was recovered the next afternoon. Yet, there was still no news about Keegan.Vermont let out a sigh. "No news might just be good news. Stella didn't suffer any severe injuries when she jumped into the water. But she's been unconscious for a long time. Meanwhile, Marshall told us that Keegan was heavily injured. It's possible that someone saved him, but he's still out due to his injuries."Felicity's face turned pale. "What will Stella do when she wakes up?" she asked.For the past few days, Stella had been in and out of fe
"What's that?" Felicity asked."It's commonly known as facial blindness. It's a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to recognize faces. This means that the perpetrator can't distinguish people, especially strangers. So, he would rely on people's clothing, body shape, and voice to identify them. His previous doctor said he developed this condition because of a tumor in his brain. This all started after he got surgery to remove the tumor," explained Vermont.He continued, "The police have checked with his family, friends, and colleagues. He indeed had this condition. And, because he couldn't recognize faces, he became paranoid and developed a peculiar personality. He even developed bipolar disorder. Due to this, he wasn't prosecuted after the assault but was sent to a mental hospital instead."His ex-wife and friends mentioned that his temperament was unpredictable. He was intensely possessive, especially after falling ill. He would suspect that he was being cheated o
Marshall picked up on Felicity's change in demeanor. He lowered his gaze and asked, "How's Stella doing?""Her fever has subsided, but she hasn't regained consciousness yet," Vermont replied, as he assessed Kayla's presence.Marshall noticed his gaze and clarified, "Ms. Wilson got wind of Stella's situation and wanted to visit her. She got in touch with me, and I gave her a lift since I was on my way here."Vermont nodded. "Please come in, Ms. Wilson."Kayla stepped in while carrying a gift.Meanwhile, Felicity was meticulously tending to Stella's hands with a towel. When she saw Kayla approaching, she nodded at her in acknowledgment before resuming her task.Stella was on the hospital bed, looking pale. Her cheeks seemed slightly sunken, and her features looked sharp. Her current appearance was quite different from the perpetually cheerful and eloquent young woman they knew.After hearing the entire story from her father, Kayla could not fathom just how deeply Stella loved Keeg
Marshall was taken aback by Felicity's remark. He felt guilty and murmured, "There's no doubt that my actions have led to what happened here, but I really didn't foresee that taking on this case would lead to such consequences..."Felicity felt even more frustrated upon hearing that. "What do you mean you didn't foresee this? You literally took on a divorce case. Are you telling me you didn't know about the condition that your client's husband was suffering from? Did you not know what kind of person he was? How many years have you been in this profession? Do you just charge into cases with only passion? It's fine if you don't fear for your life, but don't let your actions drag others into it! How dare you claim you never saw this coming when someone is unconscious while the other is nowhere to be found? You will have blood on your hands if Keegan is found dead!"Marshall's face darkened, as he listened to Felicity's harsh words.Vermont thought that Felicity had gone a bit too far a
Stella's eyes were filled with tears, as she looked around in confusion. She saw Trevor sitting at the foot of the bed, gently applying ointment to her injured feet while Felicity was sleeping in a nearby chair.Stella then glanced at the window and noticed that the room was brightly lit. It was a stark contrast to the pitch-black darkness in her dreams. Her body ached all over, and she could still feel the lingering chill in her bones.Stella withdrew her gaze, looked at Trevor, and softly called out his name.Her voice caught her by surprise; it came out hoarse and strained. Trevor jolted at the sound and looked at her abruptly."Stella, you're awake. How are you feeling? Do you need anything? Are you in pain? Are you thirsty or hungry?" Trevor was emotional. His words were stumbling over each other.Felicity, who had been dozing off, was now wide awake. She jumped up from her chair and rushed over while being almost on the verge of tears. "Stella! You're finally awake! I was so
Trevor felt that being transparent at times like these was better than hiding the truth. Even if they managed to keep the reason behind Keegan's absence a secret, Stella would likely harbor resentment for being kept in the dark once she found out.Trevor closed his eyes and gently held Stella's shoulder, "Stella, try to stay calm and listen to me. Keegan... hasn't been found yet."Stella immediately stopped trying to break free. She turned her head to look at Trevor, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief, "What do you mean he hasn't been found?"Trevor's voice grew hoarser, "The search and rescue team has combed through the river twice, and there has been no sign of Keegan. Th-they say he might have been swept to a different part of the waters. The search area has been expanded, but it's been three days now..." It was improbable that Keegan was still alive, but Trevor did not voice that out.The color drained even further from Stella's already pale face.Trevor thought s
"What makes you say that?" The doctor asked.Trevor briefly recounted the situation, and the doctor said, "I see. People can respond differently to the loss of a loved one. Your sister might be displaying unexpected strength, but she could also need time to come to terms with it. The only thing you and your family can do is just be there for her."Trevor nodded as he took the doctor's advice.Stella seemed resolute in her belief that Keegan was still alive. She ate her meals on time and actively participated in rehabilitation. Before she knew it, a week had passed.When friends came to visit, Stella would behave just as she normally would. This facade carried an underlying unease. Yet, no one dared to touch the subject. Only Stella would ask Trevor about the progress in the hospital's search efforts with unwavering determination every single day.Each time Felicity overheard, it sent shivers down her spine. Just two days prior, they had recovered Keegan's watch and one of his shoe