When Love Comes Late
Chapter 1906

Struck by the news as if by lightning, Stella felt her knees buckle.

Matthew caught her, steadying her with reassuring words.

“Don’t be afraid.

We don’t know all the details yet.

Try not to imagine the worst.

”

He then instructed the driver, “Please take Clint to my grandparents’ home first.

”

Once Clint was safely dropped off, Fernando sped toward the hospital with Stella and Matthew.

On the way, Stella’s mind was a turbulent whirl.

Upon arriving, she dashed through the hospital corridors to the operating room where only Cordell and Kristian were waiting.

Kristian sat in despair, his head buried in his arms next to a bag of chocolate bars he had bought for Bella.

Overcome with guilt, he muttered, “It’s all my fault.

If I hadn’t gone shopping for her, this would never have happened.

”

He looked so tormented that he slapped himself.

Although Stella had never been particularly fond of Kristian, seeing him in such pain moved her.

She approached and consoled him, “Don’t blame yourself.

Bella is still fighting.

Let’s pray she makes it through.

”

Kristian looked up at her, his eyes red with grief, and whispered, “If anything happens to Bella, life will lose all meaning for me.

”

He covered his face and cried openly, the sound of his sorrow echoing through the corridor.

Stella’s own eyes reddened as she fixed her gaze on the operating room door, her mind racing with regrets.

She wished she had told Bella about their relationship the moment she received the test results.

Why did she always worry so much?

The thought that she might never get to call Bella “Mom” tormented her.

Her heart skipped a beat at the possibility.

Stella pondered deeply, the haunting memory of the traffic accident replaying in her mind.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that such a catastrophic coincidence was anything but random.

How could this have happened?

The first person who came to mind was Elizabeth.

The image of Elizabeth’s deranged expression the day Bella argued with her remained vividly etched in Stella’s memory.

Quietly, Stella whispered her suspicions to Matthew.

Her eyes, red from crying, hardened as she clenched her fists.

“If it really was Elizabeth who orchestrated this, I won’t let her get away with it.

If anything happens to Bella, I will make sure Elizabeth pays for her deeds for the rest of her life.

”

Feeling Stella tremble, Matthew wrapped his arms around her, his voice steady and reassuring.

“I’ll look into it.

If it was her, she’ll face the consequences.

”

Stella pressed her lips together, holding back tears, and buried her head against Matthew’s shoulder.

Matthew gently stroked her back, murmuring, “It’ll be okay.

Everything will be okay.

”

Stella remained silent, her tears falling quietly.