Chapter 25
The voices, breathless and urgent, grew louder as they drew closer. Daphne wasn’t surprised when she turned to see the Sterlings–her parents–hurrying after her.
“Before they could say anything, she spoke first, her tone cold and steady. “I’m not going to forgive you. I won’t drop the charges.”%
The Sterlings looked embarrassed, offering uneasy, nervous smiles as they tried to explain themselves. “Daphne, that’s not why we’re here,” Geoffrey said, waving his hand as if to brush away the tension. “When your father and I said we were cutting ties, we were both just angry. We didn’t mean it. Josephine… well, we spoiled her, and we never imagined our sweet, obedient girl could do something like this. We’re sorry. Truly, we are…”%
For a moment, Daphne was stunned. It was the first time the Sterlings had ever apologized to her.%
She stood with her head bowed, silent. She didn’t say she forgave them, nor did she say she didn’t. Her wordless response only left the Sterlings more anxious, hearts pounding with fear of losing their last daughter for good.
But then her phone buzzed–her taxi had arrived. Without hesitation, she turned and walked away.%
A gust of wind swept past, carrying her parting words back to them: “There’s no need to apologize. After all, we stopped being family a long time ago.“%
She left with her head held high. By the time the Sterlings gathered themselves enough to try to call after her, the taxi was already merging into traffic, taking her away. They had no idea how to make her stay. All they could do was watch her disappear.”
For a long moment, the two stood in silence. Geoffrey finally looked away, his voice broken. “She really doesn’t want anything to do with us anymore.”
Queenie said nothing, tears brimming in ber eyes, her shoulders shaking with quiet sobs./
Their daughter had truly left them behind.”
And deep down, they both knew–they only had themselves to blame.”
“Daphne, I’m sorry,” Queenie whispered. “I was never the mother you deserved.“%
The last thing Daphne did before leaving Emberfall was attend the trial–watching as Josephine accused Nestor of unlawful imprisonment.
She sat quietly in the gallery, her gaze steady. Nestor’s eyes found hers for a brief, searching moment. Then, as if something inside him settled, he ignored his lawyer’s desperate arguments and pleaded guilty.
Both Josephine and Nestor were sentenced to seven years in prison.
On the day Daphne left Emberfall, Nestor came to see her one last time.
He looked devastated, eyes hollow and haunted as he intercepted her on the way to her gate officers hovering not far away, pretending not to watch.2
at
the airport. Daphne paused, glancing around to spot two plainclothes
She turned back, her voice flat and distant. “Did you need something?”
“Does it really have to end like this?” Nestor’s voice was raw, his eyes rimmed red. He caught the hint of confusion in her expression and managed a bitter, self–rnocking laugh.
Of course. He had always assumed too much.%
He’d seen Daphne at the trial and convinced himself she was behind Josephine’s accusation, that she wanted revenge. But in the end, it was all in his head. Daphne had told him before–he was always the one making up stories, always moved by his own illusions./
Daphne either didn’t notice or simply didn’t care to understand. Her patience was wearing thin. “If you have nothing else to say, I need to catch my flight.”
She waited a beat, but when he didn’t move, she stepped around him and strode toward the gate.
As she passed, he suddenly reached out and caught her wrist.2
She glanced down, her irritation showing as she looked up into his face.
His throat was tight. Holding her wrist, he asked his final question. “Daphne, do you remember that night under the fireworks, when we wished for forever? If Josephine had never come between us, do you think things could have been different?”
Daphne shook her head, meeting his gaze. “Nestor, promises only mean something when there’s love behind them. And we… we never really loved each other. If not for Josephine, there never would have been an ‘us‘ at all.”
That was the only ending they could ever have.
One by one, she pried his fingers from her wrist, then pulled away without looking back.#
Nestor stood frozen in place, watching her leave.
After a long while, a hollow, sorrowful smile twisted his lips.
Their story had been doomed from the very beginning. Without the lies and the schemes, they never would have started at all.
Their ending was written from the start.%
The end 8
