Can't Bear to Leave

Estelle dragged her suitcase to her best friend Natalie McKay's place.

She knocked lightly on the door, then stood to the side and waited.

Natalie was an orphan, just like her. The two of them had grown up together in the same children's home. They were as close as sisters.

She still remembered what Natalie told her the day Edward took her away.

"Stella, if he ever stops wanting you, remember to come home."

Those words were the only reason Estelle had found the courage to walk away from Edward's apartment.

Natalie opened the door quickly. The moment she saw who it was, her face lit up with a bright smile.

"Stella! What are you doing here?"

Estelle tightened her grip on the suitcase handle and said a little sheepishly, "Nat, I've come to throw myself at your mercy."

Only then did Natalie notice the suitcase. Her smile froze. "What happened?"

Estelle smiled as if it were nothing. "We broke up."

Natalie stared at her, at the smile she was forcing so hard to hold.

Her small face was so thin that her eyes looked sunken. Her skin was pale.

Standing there in the freezing wind, her body looked as fragile as a sheet of paper.

Seeing her like this, Natalie's heart ached.

She stepped forward and hugged her tightly. "Don't be sad. You've still got your big sis."

Estelle's eyes turned red.

She hugged Natalie back and gently patted her shoulder. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

Natalie knew she was only saying that to comfort her.

She had seen with her own eyes how much Estelle loved Edward.

For five years, Estelle had worked herself to the bone to save up one million dollars to pay him back.

She had foolishly believed it would change how he saw her.

And in the end, he had still thrown her away without a second thought.

Natalie suddenly remembered that rainy night five years ago...

If Stella hadn't sold herself for Derrick Kent, she never would have met Edward Strickland.

Her Stella would have been happy.

But nothing could be undone...

Estelle didn't want Natalie to be sad with her. She gently pulled away and gave her a soft smile.

"Are you trying to get rid of me? You've kept me standing out here in the cold this whole time. I'm freezing to death!"

Seeing that Estelle was as strong as ever, Natalie slowly relaxed.

She believed Stella would get through this. Kids like them, the ones nobody wanted, were used to being abandoned.

As long as you kept living, there was nothing you couldn't get past.

That thought made her feel a little better. She took the suitcase and pulled Estelle inside.

"Don't ever talk about me 'taking you in' again. This is your home. Stay as long as you want!"

Then she grabbed a set of clean pajamas and handed them over.

"Go take a shower first. I'll make you something good to eat. Then you're getting a proper night's sleep. Don't think about anything else, okay?"

Estelle took the pajamas and nodded obediently. "Okay."

Natalie was always like this. She loved her without conditions. Like a ray of light warming her whole life.

But end-stage heart failure would soon take Estelle's life away.

If Natalie found out she was about to leave this world, she would cry.

Someone so kind and gentle... Estelle didn't want to make her cry.

She looked at Natalie bustling around the kitchen and slowly walked over.

"Nat, I'm thinking of quitting my job."

Natalie nodded firmly. "You should rest. You've worn yourself out these past few years chasing a little overtime pay. Quit, stay home, and rest. From now on, leave the money to me!"

Warmth filled Estelle's chest. She whispered "okay," then turned toward the bathroom with tears in her eyes.

Fate had never once been kind to her.

If parting was inevitable, then she would spend her last three months by Natalie's side.

The next morning, she put on makeup, using heavy foundation to hide how pale she was, and headed to the office to resign.

The moment she sat down at her desk and turned on her computer to write her resignation letter, her coworker Penny rolled her chair over.

"Stella, did you check your email?"

Estelle shook her head. Edward had taken her away for the weekend. When would she have had time to check her email?

Penny lowered her voice. "Janice from HR sent out an announcement. The chairman's daughter is starting as CEO today."

Estelle had no idea who the chairman's daughter was, and she didn't care. She was quitting anyway. It didn't matter who took over.

But Penny was dying to gossip.

"I heard she just got back from her doctorate in Europe. Sure, she has a DBA, but zero real experience. Walking straight into the CEO's chair? She's not worried about people talking?"

Lauren, sitting next to Penny, scoffed.

"Who would dare talk about her? She's the Strickland Group heir's first love, after all. The one he never got over."

At the word "Strickland," Estelle's fingers froze on the mouse.