Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Chapter 2047

Estelle shook her head decisively. "I can't."

Lambert was urgent, his voice edged with desperation. "I blurted out my feelings that day; it was hasty and insincere. Please, let me say it again properly. I care about you, Estelle, from Stella to Estelle, it's always been you. I'll talk to my father and call off the arranged marriage. I only want you as my wife!"

He pledged fervently, "I've lived recklessly in the past, and unfortunately, you've seen that side of me. I'm sorry and filled with regret, but I promise, it won't happen again. I'll be loyal to you, and I'll give you everything I have. I hope you'll stay and spend your life with me."

Estelle frowned. "I'm in love with someone else, Lambert. I thought I made that clear!"

"Is it Alvis?"

"Yes, it is!"

If it had been anyone else, Lambert might have tried to win her over, but with Alvis, he felt a sense of defeat. "Have you known him for a long time?"

Estelle smiled. "For quite a while, yes. And later, I married him!"

Lambert stared at her in shock. "You're already married?"

"Yes," Estelle confirmed. "So, you can let go of your obsession now."

Lambert frowned deeply, his gaze clinging to Estelle, eyes filled with sorrow. "Life's so unfair to me!"

Since that peacekeeping mission, he'd put her on a pedestal, always following her shadow.

When he thought she'd "died," his grief and despair sank him into a deep depression.

It wasn't until he'd built a memorial chapel and enshrined her name there, visiting daily to talk to her, that he began to recover from his pain. Now, learning she was alive and thinking there was hope again, he found out she had someone else, and they were already married.

And that man, so strong, so in love with her, didn't even leave Lambert with a chance to compete.

It felt like he was a joke!

"Born into the Brennan family, an heir and the future head of the family, and you're still complaining about life being unfair? Ridiculous" Estelle joked lightly. "Your knowledge of me is limited to our time in that peacekeeping effort. It was your first time in such a conflict, and your feelings towards me were more like a rookie's admiration, not necessarily romantic."

Lambert gave a self-deprecating smile. "So what about now? Why do I find myself drawn to you again?"

Estelle teased, "Clearly, your affections aren't very singular!"

Lambert couldn't help but laugh. "Not at all, I've fallen twice, both times for you."

Estelle was at a loss for words.

His eyes filled with earnest affection, Lambert continued, "I know I have no advantage in your eyes anymore, but I still want you to know, for you, I'd give up everything."

"Thank you," Estelle said, her gaze clear and sincere. "But beyond thanks, I'm afraid I have nothing else to offer you."

Lambert shrugged, about to say something more when his phone rang.

He picked it up. "What's up?"

The voice of his old butler came through, laced with urgency, "Mr. Lambert, Miss Linda has arrived!"

Lambert frowned impatiently. "What does she want?"

"She arrived looking like a plucked turkey!" the butler reported with grave seriousness. "Seems she heard about the girl you brought back to the castle and is storming up to your room as we speak!"