Blood Rose Redemption

Vincent finally found Luna in a deserted church on the outskirts of town.

The young girl was kneeling before the cross, weeping her heart out.

“Oh God, what do I do? I have sinned. I never wanted to fight Stella for a man, but I still had Vincent's child.”

“God, do You think I'm ungrateful, too? Stella sponsored me for so many years, yet I betrayed her. She must hate my guts. I would be better off dead…”

When she ran out, she had stolen one of Vincent's guns.

She was trying to point the muzzle at herself, but she had no idea how to fire it, fumbling with the weapon endlessly.

Suddenly, Vincent rushed over and snatched it away.

The next second, he pulled her tightly into his embrace.

Bound, I was dragged to the entrance of the church. Even from a distance, I could hear his panicked, ragged breaths.

“It's okay, everything's okay…”

His face was pale with anguish, and he clutched her as if trying to fuse her into his own body.

“Luna, you foolish girl.”

Weeping, Luna tried to struggle free, but only collapsed more weakly into his arms, a pitifully beautiful sight.

I had already replayed this scene in my mind a million times. But witnessing it firsthand still sent a suffocating pain through my chest.

Luna was an art student I sponsored.

I first noticed her at a gala for art patrons.

The other young artists were all eagerly pitching themselves to potential patrons, each one desperate for sponsorship.

But Luna stood apart, dressed in a white maxi dress, her canvas shoes washed to a faded white. She was like a pure white dove, standing at a distance, not competing or vying for attention, just quietly observing.

She instantly reminded me of my younger self.

And so, I arranged for my foundation to sponsor her tuition and living expenses.

When she couldn't find a job after graduation, I kindly recommended her for a position at my family's company.

If it hadn't been for that initial sponsorship...

Perhaps that night never would have happened—the night Vincent was drugged and stumbled into her bed.

Now that I think about it, perhaps this was all a bitter harvest of my own sowing.

Vincent was coaxing her with a patience I had never seen before, and after a long while, Luna finally calmed down.

She turned her head and saw me, and tears began to stream down her face again.

“I'm sorry, Stella…”

“You don't have to apologize to her.”

Vincent cut her off, staring at me coldly.

“That night wasn't your fault. The fact that you’re carrying my child is a sign from fate.”

“Luna, in my heart, you have long been family. No one can replace you.”

Vincent pulled her into his arms again and kissed her gently.

“Don't ever run off again, or I'll truly go insane.”

In the end, Luna was brought back to the manor by Vincent.

His heart ached for her; with trembling hands, he drew her slender shoulders close, kissing her forehead five or six times on the way back.

Luna, too, was moved by his overwhelming love. Upon returning to the manor, she dropped to her knees before me.

“Stella, I know I've been ungrateful. I know I can never repay what I owe you.”

“But I've truly fallen in love with Vincent. Could you… could you possibly…”

As she spoke, tears began to well in her eyes again.

A bitter smile touched my lips. “Give up the title of Mrs. Romano? Is that it?”

A year had passed since I had last seen her.

She had become fuller than before, with the soft aura of a new mother about her.

But there was also a new hint of melancholy in her eyes.

During the year of her pregnancy and childbirth, Vincent had publicly claimed that he had sent her to Europe for advanced studies. But only I knew that he had hidden her away in his private villa in Italy.

Every late night he spent away from home, he was with her.

I understood that, in the beginning, Vincent was only after the child she was carrying, planning to bring the baby to me to raise as my own.

But people aren't made of stone. Day after day, he found himself moved by this simple, kind-hearted girl, and he truly gave her his heart.

Luna instantly panicked, waving her hands frantically. “That's not what I meant! I know I was being delusional, but Stella, we've already had the baby…”

I looked down with a bitter smile, pulling up the application for my new identity on my phone to show her.

“Rest assured. In seven more days, I will be leaving this country.”

Every word I spoke was deliberate and firm.

“And then, you will be the one and only Mrs. Romano.”

Back in my room, my sister was still waiting anxiously. The moment she saw me, she rushed forward, her eyes filled with worry.

“What on earth happened? I thought you and Vincent were happy together. Who is that woman?”

I shook my head, exhausted. “Come away with me, Diana. Let's leave this place.”

My sister has always understood me.

I explained the whole story to her, from beginning to end, including the part about my rebirth.

Sympathy filled Diana’s eyes. She squeezed my hand tightly. “Alright, we’ll leave together. We’ll make sure that bastard Vincent can never find you again.”

In the days that followed, Luna’s existence was no longer a secret.

She had given birth to the Romano family’s young master, making her the family’s savior..

The family elders, who had once favored me, now sneered:

“They claimed our heir couldn't have children, so how do you explain Luna? It seems to me someone is just a barren placeholder.”

I just pretended not to hear them and walked past in silence.

After all, in just a few more days, I would be leaving this place for good.

“Sign this.”

Vincent handed me a document. In bold letters across the top were the words “Family Trust Fund Share Transfer Agreement.”

I understood. He wanted me to transfer a portion of my shares to Luna.

Seeing my silence, Vincent spoke coldly:

“You occupy the position of Mrs. Romano, and Luna won't fight you for it, but these shares are what she deserves. She secured the family line for the Romanos; she's our heroine. The elders agree.”

I nodded. “Alright.”

When I took the signed documents to Vincent, I placed the divorce papers at the very bottom of the pile.

Just as I'd expected, he signed them without a second glance. I let out a long sigh of relief as he pushed the door open and left.

Vincent's “work” was demanding, yet he was always willing to make plenty of time to spend with Luna and their son.

He would watch sunrises and sunsets with Luna. He would even handcraft a sturdy cradle and sing lullabies to their child.

And yet...

If it weren't for that accident, that happiness should have been mine.

The sight stung my eyes, and I couldn't bear to watch any longer. I turned and walked away.

That day, I had just finalized things with an art team overseas and bought my plane ticket. All that was left was to wait for the final confirmation of my new identity.

But just then, something happened to the child.

I was packing my suitcase when Vincent suddenly burst in, his eyes bloodshot, and kicked it to pieces.

“Finished with your wicked deed, and now you think you can just walk away?”