Beyond the Divorce

As I reached the doorway, someone opened the door for me, and I stepped inside.

The house was grand. It gleamed white like something out of a fairy tale palace. The landscaping in the courtyard was beautifully manicured, with a veranda at one end and a white swing gently swaying in the breeze. I could almost see a girl in a red dress sitting on it, her laughter echoing in the courtyard, while a handsome boy pushed her higher on the swing. She soared like a bird, high into the air.

The boy was handsome, exuding an aura of elegance.

The girl excitedly shouted, "Higher. Can you make me go higher?"

As I turned around, I saw a gentle woman sitting on the veranda, watching us from afar.

I heard the girl's voice ring out, "Mommy, am I high enough?"

She just smiled, not saying a word.

The woman got up to leave, and I quickly looked away from the swing, hurrying to catch up. I felt a genuine fondness for her.

She was just ahead of me, heading toward the villa's greenhouse. It was a large glass structure bathed in sunlight, looking absolutely radiant inside.

It was filled with exotic flowers and plants, and I gazed around curiously.

the lotus blooming there. They were pale yellow

"Stella."

I heard her call out, and I couldn't

me, "Do you like

bright smile. "It's beautiful.

are the embodiment of all things beautiful." She opened her hand, revealing

this?" I stared at the lotus

inset rubies carved into the shape of petals that were intricately mounted on a base. The entire flower was exquisitely crafted and lifelike, sparkling in her palm, its priceless value evident. "It's a brooch. Do you

gaze made me feel particularly warm, and I wanted to move closer to

pulled me over and pinned the lotus brooch to my dress. It shimmered brilliantly

exceptionally beautiful, I ran out of the garden while calling for my

a car drove in. Several people got out. Their faces were a bit blurry to me, but

man leaned against a couple, and I saw my father when he was young. He picked me up,

back into the house, still

walked into the hall, and I kept calling out to them, rushing

a white piano that