Said No to the Prince and Yes to the King novel Chapter 110

Chapter 110 It Is in the Past

Stella shook her head repeatedly, unwilling to accept the bitter truth.

Jasper held her gaze steadily and said slowly and firmly, “Stella, we have all wronged Margaret.”

His eyes were full of sincere regret, and a heavy silence fell over the room after his words.

Darren knew nothing of their family conflict. He finished the acupuncture, then left with his young assistant to prepare healing medicine for Christopher’s injuries.

Quiet settled thick in the chamber.

Christopher lay on the bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling, lost in quiet thought.

The heavy regret weighing on both men was plain for anyone to see.

Finished

Stella had planned to argue, even to spread lies that Darren was secretly in league with Margaret to ruin her name.

Yet every scheme fell apart before she could speak a word.

The truth was fully exposed, and both Jasper and Christopher were already drowning in guilt and self- blame.

No! I will never let this happen.

Rage burned hotter inside Stella with every passing second. She would have smashed every object in the room if she had been alone.

Still, she forced every trace of anger from her expression. She blinked with tears and said in a soft, wounded tone, “Your reasoning makes perfect sense, Jasper. What Mr. Kingston said must be true after all. If Margaret truly saved Crown Prince Christopher’s life, we have all treated her so unfairly.”

She watched their faces closely as she spoke. “I took credit for her deeds this whole time. Crown Prince Christopher, I truly believed my elixir cured your poison, and my wrong choice delayed your real treatment. I nearly cost you your arm today. I have made a terrible, unforgivable mistake.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks at will. In the past, Jasper and Christopher would have rushed to comfort her the moment she cried. Now, they stayed frozen and silent.

Stella’s sobs grew louder, and Jasper finally broke the quiet. “We did misunderstand her. Crown Prince Christopher ordered her flogged only a short while ago. How deeply hurt and wronged she must feel.”

He dropped his gaze in shame. “She tried to warn us again and again, yet we refused to listen. I claim to care for her as her brother, but I only pressured her to confess to false crimes. She is right–I have never been a good elder brother. I never gave her the basic trust she deserved.”

Stella’s jaw tightened in hidden frustration. She did not want Jasper wallowing in guilt over Margaret.

Why is he only focused on regret now that I’ve cried and apologized?

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Chapter 110 It Is in the Past

Finished

Christopher finally spoke, breaking the heavy mood. “Margaret is innocent in this, but you are not to blame, Stella.”

The numbness from the acupuncture had eased his pain, and his color returned to normal. He pushed himself up to sit on the bed.

Then he continued, “You never meant to steal credit for her work. This all stems from her own reckless, unruly behavior that ruined our trust. If she had been kinder and more reasonable from the start, none of this misunderstanding would have happened.”

Relief flooded Stella’s heart. She rushed forward and threw herself into his arms at once.

She wept against his chest. “My heart is torn with guilt. We wronged Margaret and punished her unjustly. She must be heartbroken and alone right now.”

Christopher stroked her hair gently. “This is not your fault. You have no reason to blame yourself.”

“I harmed

worse.”

you with my poor healing skills,” Stella whimpered. “My careless choice made your injury far

She clung to him, desperate for their sympathy, determined to act even more remorseful than they were.

But the mention of his wounded arm wiped the soft look from Christopher’s face in an instant.

The memory of having raw flesh cut from his arm flashed through his mind, and a cold shiver ran down his spine. He pulled Stella away gently.

Christopher said flatly, “It is in the past. Let us not speak of it again.”

Stella kept her tearful, fragile expression, her beauty soft and striking in her sorrow.

The sight of her lovely face quieted most of Christopher’s lingering anger.

Yet when he touched the top of her head, a strange, unnatural texture left him confused.

Stella realized in a panic that she wore a wig. She stepped back quickly and insisted, “I cannot let this rest so easily. I caused such great harm to you. Punish me as you punished Margaret. I deserve the same lashes -her pain should have been mine to bear.”

Her sad, pleading expression stirred pity in Jasper’s heart.

He sighed, “Do not speak like this, Stella. I know how heavy your heart feels. You have always cared for Margaret and wished no harm upon her. You are the last person who would want to do her wrong. I am the one at fault. I was the first to misunderstand her, and I led everyone else to judge her unfairly. You and Crown Prince Christopher carry no blame, and you need not drown in guilt.”

He breathed out a weary breath. “Either way, if it hadn’t been for Mr. Kingston’s heads–up, we never would’ve found out the truth. Once we return to the estate, we will go to Margaret and apologize in person. With Mr. Kingston’s skill, your arm will heal in time, Crown Prince Christopher. You will make a full recovery.”

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