When Love Comes Late

“Really? Will Matthew really be okay?” Stella’s voice broke through her tears, hoarse and tinged with a fragile thread of hope.

Miley’s heart ached at the sound; she too was frightened, too choked up to offer any assurance.

Just then, Stella’s phone erupted into a shrill ring.

With trembling hands, she retrieved it from her bag.

Her face briefly lit up with hope, but upon seeing Bennett’s name, her expression fell once again.

She answered the call, her face a mask of strained neutrality.

Bennett’s voice, tinged with uncertainty, came through.

“Have you heard from Matthew? Is he safe?”

“I don’t know,” Stella sobbed, the weight of her uncertainty crushing.

Bennett’s tone shifted to urgency.

“Sanford knows someone in Sothrea.

I’ve asked him to help us find out more.

Don’t lose hope yet.

”

Stella, barely processing his words, wasn’t in the mood to engage further.

As she prepared to end the call, another call came in.

Seeing Fernando’s name flash on the screen, she swiftly ended the call with Bennett and switched Lines.

Holding her breath, she whispered, “Fernando?”

“It’s me.

” Fernando’s voice was heavy with guilt.

A chill ran down Stella’s spine.

Clutching her phone tightly, she asked with a lump in her throat, “Where is Matthew?”

A brief, agonizing silence followed.

Finally, Fernando spoke, his voice laden with regret.

“I’m sorry… I wasn’t with Mr.

Clark when the accident happened.

”

Hearing this, Stella was shocked.

She couldn’t believe it and questioned, “What do you mean? You weren’t with him? Where is he, then? How is he doing?”

Faced with Stella’s barrage of questions, Fernando could only repeatedly apologize.

He explained, “I had left earlier to get the car.

When I heard the gunshot and hurried back, everything was chaotic.

Mr.

Clark and Lindsay were both gone.

I searched for a long time but couldn’t find them.

Mrs.

Clark, I’m truly sorry.

I failed to protect Mr.

Clark.

”

Stella felt as if she had been plunged into freezing water.

She was at a loss about what to do or who to blame.

She recognized it was her own fault.

She should have traveled to Sothrea with Matthew.

Then, even if Matthew faced danger, she would be by his side.

Now, they were miles apart, and she had no idea whether he was alive or dead.

Fernando continued, “Mrs.

Clark, please don’t worry.

I’ve contacted Neville’s team.

We will find Mr.

Clark.

”

Stella could hardly process anything anymore.

Her mind was spinning, and she felt utterly drained.