Luna Roscente and her mother were finally captured.
The vast criminal network behind them had been completely dismantled.
Countless broken families could finally reunite.
But our household fell into silence.
Father's hair turned white overnight.
Mother collapsed with a high fever that wouldn't break.
Liam Anderson locked himself in his room.
For three full days, he refused all food and water.
His face became gaunt, his eyes sunken and hollow.
On the day I left for Switzerland, his door finally opened.
At the airport, he staggered toward me, blocking my path.
The once-proud posture was now hunched and broken.
Those always-smiling eyes were now bloodshot and raw.
"Stella..."
His voice scraped like sandpaper.
"I'm sorry..."
Before he could finish, tears flooded down his face.
This man, who had always carried himself with pride, now wept before me like a lost child.
I watched him silently.
No comfort. No forgiveness.
Just cold, simple truth.
"You chose her."
"The brother I knew died long ago."
"Now, you're just a stranger."
Each word struck like a poisoned blade.
He stumbled back, barely catching himself against the wall.
Just as the last light in his eyes was about to fade, I spoke softly.
"But..."
"Maybe someday, I'll be willing to know you again."
His head snapped up, pupils dilating in shock.
I turned away, facing our parents instead.
"Is the appointment with that Swiss doctor still available?"
Mother froze, then nodded vigorously.
Outside the window, a plane taxied toward the runway.
"I don't want to forget the past."
"But I refuse to stay trapped at the bottom of that well forever."
Our parents embraced, weeping.
This time, their tears were warm.
The plane pierced through the clouds.
I knew this wasn't the end.
This was the new life I chose for myself.
[The End]