My Rescue Was Their Reunion, My Hell Was Their Project Chapter 11

My Rescue Was Their Reunion, My Hell Was Their Project Chapter 11

My funeral was held three days later. Julian called off the wedding. He filled the memorial hall with every white rose ordered for the ceremony. 

He knelt in front of my portrait in a black suit, a single white rose pinned to his lapel – taken from the bridal bouquet that should’ve been mine. 

“Elena… we were supposed to get married this year.” 

“I bought the ring months ago. Kept it in the third drawer of my desk.” 

“I was going to put it on you the second the ceremony was over.” 

He took out a dark blue velvet box. The diamond caught the light. He leaned over the casket and lifted my hand–stiff now, refusing him – and eased the ring onto my finger, slowly, gently, as if I could still feel it. 

“See? Perfect fit.” 

A tear landed on the back of my hand. Then another. Julian pressed his forehead against my knuckles, his shoulders shaking, his jaw clenched hard enough to trap the sound inside. 

Arthur stood to the side, holding the legal documents severing me from the family. The day I’d told him we were done, he’d signed it without blinking and tossed it at me like it meant nothing. 

Now he held it in both hands and tore it apart, piece by piece, letting the pieces fall over me like snow. 

“Elena… I’m not cutting you off.” 

“You’re the eldest Sterling daughter. You’re my only sister. That hasn’t changed.” 

“I threw Chloe out. Her name’s been struck from the family trust. The Sterlings only ever had one daughter.” 

“Please come back… I’m begging you…” 

His voice climbed – choking first, then shouting, then breaking into something raw and formless. 

Nolan stood at the back of the crowd. He hadn’t stepped forward. In his hands was an old newspaper, worn thin by three years. 

A missing person notice. 

[Elena Sterling, female, 23. Last seen in the vicinity of Ravens 

Hollow during spring break. Anyone with information, please 

contact the family. Substantial reward offered. – Paid for by 

Nolan Vance] 

He’d published that notice every single day for three years. 

Never missed one. 

He’d spent three years searching for the girl he’d helped 

destroy. 

“Elena…” 

Nolan dropped to his knees. Slowly. Like he’d forgotten how to 

stand. 

“I grew up thinking I was invisible.” 

“But you brought me food. Saved your allowance to keep me in school. Ran three blocks in the rain to bring me an umbrella.” 

“You told me I was the bravest person you’d ever met.” 

He stared at my portrait. 

“I wasn’t. I’m a coward. I didn’t have the guts to admit I was wrong. Didn’t have the guts to stand up to Julian and Arthur. Didn’t have the guts to stand with you.” 

“I saw the injuries on your body. I told myself you’d faked them. I heard you try to explain. I told myself you were lying.” 

He raised his hands and slammed his fists into the marble floor, putting his full weight behind every strike. The sickening crack of bone echoed through the hall. Then again. Then again. 

“This is what I owe you.” 

“I owed you a hand to walk you home. Shoulders to put between you and the world. Three words – I believe you.” 

“So I’m giving them back.” 

He kept going until his knuckles splintered and broke, his face white with sweat. 

When his hands were completely ruined, he collapsed in front of my portrait, resting his forehead against the cold stone. 

floor, his body shaking with dry sobs. 

“Next time. Let me find you first.” 

“Let me be the one who gets it right.”