When Love Comes Late

The night before their departure, Stella kept a solitary vigil by Matthews bedside in the hospital.

Out of the blue, her phone rang, flashing an unfamiliar number.

Intrigued, Stella answered.

Silence hung on the line after she connected, sending a shiver down her spine as she suspected it might be Sanford.

Sure enough, the silence was broken by a familiar voice, its low tones slicing through the quiet.

Stella, I know Matthew hasnt woken up yet.

I want to send my doctors over-maybe they can find a way to wake him up sooner.noveldrama

Predictably, Stella rebuffed his offer.

She felt a complex brew of emotions toward Sanford, thinking they might have been friends if his lineage hadnt cast such a long shadow.

Sensing her coolness, Sanford quickly apologized.

Stella, Im really sorry. He didnt mention how he had tried to stop Declan and make amends.

After a pause, Stellas voice was tinged with skepticism as she asked, Were you really a student that my father sponsored? Sanford sighed, his voice tinged with regret.

That was just a ruse to get close to your father.

I hid my true identity right from the start.

But I wont deny, the time I spent with your family taught me much, and I felt the warmth of a real family.

For that, Im deeply thankful to both your parents.

Stella, having suspected as much, pressed him further.

So, what was your real agenda? Was I always a target for Declan? Sanfords response was resigned.

The Lowell family is rumored to have a treasure map, which was supposedly in Koris possession.

Thats what Declan was after all along.

Stellas brow furrowed in confusion.

Ive never heard of any treasure map.

It doesnt matter now.

I owe you more than I can ever repay.

From here on out, Im at your service, no strings attached.

But after this conversation, I plan to step back and not interfere in your life again.

Listening to him, Stellas emotions swirleda blend of relief and unresolved tension.

Since our paths diverged at the castle, theres no debt between us.

Its best we lead our separate lives.

There was a prolonged silence before Sanford finally spoke, his voice heavy.

Declan is dead.

He continued solemnly, In the chaos at the castle, Declan was hurt. Later I found out he was battling advanced liver cancer.

His desperation grew, pushing me to hasten our plans.

In a final, reckless attempt, he altered everything.

Ultimately, it was futile.

Stella absorbed his words, her heart heavy with a complex tapestry of feelings.

Ending the call, she inhaled deeply, feeling a tightness in her throat.

Her mind drifted to her first encounter with Declan-seemingly kind-hearted.

How starkly different that image was from their Last, violent meeting.

With a soft sigh, Stella acknowledged the cruel unpredictability of life.

The next day, a plane soared into the sky from Dorburn Airport, heading toward Seamarsh.

In a quiet, secluded corner of the airport, Sanford stood in silence, watching the plane climb higher and higher until it disappeared completely from view.