Beyond Boundaries

CHAPTER 5:

Nolan entered his rented apartment with mixed feelings. He brought his punching bag with him and started hitting it without stopping, feeling a mix of anger, doubt, and guilt. Everything was getting to his mind, so he continued punching until he became tired and cleared his mind. Finally, he fell onto a nearby sofa.

The sunrise is reflected directly to Nolan's eyes

A knock on the door and the sound of the doorbell woke Nolan from his awful state. He opened the door and was astounded by Stella's presence.

Nolan: Stella, how did you know the address, and how did you come? Aren't you busy?

Stella, with a positive vibe: You sent it to me last week when you were planning to be on your own, and luckily, I found you here.

Stella: Also, we stopped acting this morning because of weather conditions, and we are just performing night scenes, so I came as early as I could, bringing you breakfast before you leave for work.

Nolan: You didn't have to bother yourself like that.

Stella, closing his mouth: You should go take a shower and prepare yourself. I will set up the breakfast table for you!

Stella: I knew you would leave without breakfast, so I came to share it with you.

Nolan prepared himself and then headed to the table.

Nolan, coldly: So, what's the reason for your presence?

Stella, showing an upsetting face: It's not like you to treat me like that. I know we fought yesterday, but I was under work pressure, so I came to cool you off.

Nolan sighed: I just wanted you to be honest with me.

Stella, troubled: That's why I came to you. I didn't lie; she did bother me in the past and treated me like no one, but even after that, I didn't wish for her to be miserable.

Nolan, doubtful: What about your trauma?

Stella: I still have it, but I take anxiolytic pills before I start acting in such situations. It would be a scandal if someone heard about that.

Stella showed the pills to Nolan.

Nolan, curious: But you didn't even feel sorry for her, and you didn't hear what I have done. You just showed happiness. I thought you were a compassionate person!

Stella, after a deep breath: That's because I was jealous of her being near you. Also, when I heard about you getting along to break your parents' engagement, I thought you would decide to date her for this sake.

Nolan shrugged: Why would I do such a thing?

Stella crossed her arms tensely: Because it's the suitable way to break them apart.

Nolan: I won't do this, especially after those news reports. It won't even be believable.

Stella, nervous: Yes, I got relieved after hearing that news. However, if it weren't for it, you would date her. What do you mean by "especially"?

Nolan: I never said such a thing. Don't jump to conclusions.

Stella, upset: Just don't bother. I am leaving. You can date her as much as you want.

Stella headed to the door, and Nolan grabbed her and hugged her from behind.

Nolan, in a comforting, calm tone: Take a breath and calm yourself. It is not like you to act like that. Can you explain what you are afraid of?

Stella, with tears: Losing you, of course.

Nolan wiped her tears: Why would you lose me?

Stella, upset: Promise me you won't wipe other women's tears than your girlfriend's.

Nolan: I promise.

Stella, confidently sarcastic: If you promise me like that, you can date her to avoid your mother's wedding. I heard the Jefferson family has many dark secrets.

Nolan: Are you diagnosed with bipolar syndrome?

Stella: How rude of you. I am hysterical, that's all, and also I don't want to look like an obsessive girlfriend.

Nolan: You didn't hear me , do you know why i was kicked out of the house because of my actions, she despiseme right and i don't mind that!

Nolan with a smile realizing time: I have to go to work, let me take you home first

At the Jefferson Home Estate,

Estelle was oversleeping when the door opened. It was Michael.

Michael, opening the curtains in a serious tone: You won't even change to a morning person, no matter what happens to you.

Estelle hid her face with the blanket.

Estelle: I have no reason to wake up; I am locked in the house!

Michael: Wake up. We need to discuss something important.

Estelle, sitting up in bed: Well, that's new coming from you.

Michael, in a serious voice: Who do you suspect shared the picture?

Estelle laughed without stopping, then showed a sarcastic smile: I truly didn't expect that from you, seriously. Since when do you consult me for my opinion? I'm sure it's your fiancée's idea.

Michael, annoyed: Will you answer me? Or should I leave?

Estelle stopped him with her hand while drinking water: Would you truly believe me?

Michael coldly: Based on your answer.

Estelle, with a brief smile: I guess since they have a grudge against me, wouldn't it be logical if there are people I refused to invest in? I heard they hide their dirty secrets behind their best funds.

Michael, annoyed: You're stuck on them again. I won't listen to you anymore. I already gave you a chance. I don't even know how you found that boyfriend of yours.

Estelle annoyed: Stop speaking about him. He was there for me when I needed him most.

Estelle, serious: I am serious about this. Don't fully trust them. At least you should investigate more about them. You'll regret it later.

Michael left after listening to Estelle's full answer.

Estelle took a deep breath and thought: I couldn't tell him about the messages. I want to be the one to destroy them, but the only person who can help me right now with their programming genius skills is my enemy. I can't lose my pride for this.

On the other side, Nolan at work kept thinking about his mother's words and his girlfriend when suddenly the superior called for him in the meeting.

Superior: Hey, Nolan! Aren't you our project leader? Shouldn't you present it?

Nolan came back to his senses: Yes, I am sorry, sir.

Nolan's thoughts weren't clear; he always felt something was wrong.

At home, Estelle smelled a delicious scent and went downstairs, following it.

Estelle entered the kitchen where Layla was preparing a cake.

Layla smiled: Estelle, you came! I thought you wouldn't come out of your room. I'm happy you did.

Layla was wearing a specific apron without realizing Estelle got furious.

Estelle: Remove that apron! It's not yours. Remove it, and don't ever wear it again!

Layla, in shock, removed it. Estelle hugged it with all her strength.

Layla, feeling guilty: I am sorry. I didn't mean to wear anything that isn't mine.

Estelle's eyes were filled with tears: Just don't try anything to be accepted. It's enough for me.

The phone rang.

Estelle picked up the phone. In shock, she ran outside, leaving the apron on the floor.

The guards tried to stop her, but she took her car and crashed through the door.

Layla called out after her, but Estelle didn't hear! So she tried to reach Michael on the phone.

It was the center who called Estelle, telling her that Madam Celine went missing.

Estelle, in a disastrous state, drove at high speed, her car already half broken.

When she arrived, every nurse was searching for Celine. Estelle started panicking and trembling.

Estelle shouted: "Find her, that's your job!"

A nurse answered: "Miss, just after Mister Michael visited her, she disappeared."

Estelle, in panic: "You said Michael? Find her, please!"

Estelle ran through the forest, calling out with tears: "Mom, please appear!"

Estelle found her hairpin, all matted with soil. She followed some steps and then saw a figure looking just like her mother.

She got closer and then faced her, smiling.

Estelle felt relieved but then saw blood draining from her mother's hand.

Celine, smiling: "My baby is calling me."

Estelle, trembling, called for help and headed to her.

Estelle, with eyes full of tears: "Mom, answer me. Don't close your eyes. You forgot about me. I am here near you."

Estelle, trembling: "Don't leave me on my own. I only have you."

Estelle, crying and raising her voice: "Mom!!!"

The nurses arrived and found Estelle hugging her mother, who was draining blood. They tried to separate her, but she was holding tightly onto Celine, with no reaction. She was like a cold statue, frozen in place.

Michael called Nolan for a favor. Nolan, sensing the urgency in Michael's voice, rushed out from work.

When he arrived, he found Estelle in the same state, clutching onto her mother's lifeless body. Holding back her tears, he called her name softly.

Nolan: "Estelle..."

She turned her tear-streaked face towards him, her voice breaking: "You were right. She didn’t want to remember me."

Nolan's heart sank as he approached her, his own emotions threatening to overwhelm him. He knelt beside her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

Estelle, sobbing in an unstable voice: "Leave me alone, stay away from me, don't touch me."

Estelle ran toward her car without stopping, and Nolan ran after her.

She entered her broken car, driving crazily. Nolan followed her, full of worry.

She arrived at a tall building, then headed upstairs to the roof. Nolan arrived and followed her.

He found her looking at the stars from the roof.

Estelle took a deep breath, then she realized Nolan was there, out of breath.

Nolan: "What the hell are you doing here?"

Estelle, smiling with tears falling from her eyes: "You don't know, nobody will know. I was going to name this building after my mother. It's a center where people like her can learn everything, since I failed in learning anything. I tried cooking, piano, painting, but she couldn't like me."

Estelle sobbed without stopping.

Nolan, with a soothing tone: "Estelle, it's not your fault. She was unwell."

Estelle, sobbing: "I just wanted her to remember me, to know I was here for her. She’s the only thing I had. Now I am all on my own. Even my boyfriend is far away. I have no one, no reason to be alive."

Nolan, concerned: "What about your father? You still have him."

Estelle, sobbing: "He is nothing to me. I can't find a beautiful moment I spent with him. I won't be able to survive with this pain anymore."

Nolan, fighting back his tears: "I know. And your mother did, in her own way. You gave her so much love."

Estelle, in pain: "But now there is no use for this building or for me. At least I had some happy memories with a woman who called me Marie."

Estelle, her voice trembling: "Nolan, how did you feel when you heard about your father's suicide, even if he was in jail?"

Nolan paused, the question hitting him deeply. He took a moment before answering, his voice heavy with emotion.

Nolan: "It was... devastating. Even though he was in jail, he was still my father. The loss, the guilt, the unanswered questions—they all haunted me. I felt like I had failed him, like there was something I could have done."

Estelle looked at him, her eyes filled with empathy and shared pain.

Estelle: "I feel that way now. Like there was something more I could have done for her, something that would have made her remember me, stay with me."

Nolan gently squeezed her hand: "You did everything you could, Estelle. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we can't change the outcome. But it doesn't mean we didn't love them enough or try hard enough."

Estelle nodded, tears streaming down her face: "It's just so hard to accept."

Estelle, in an awful state: "If I fell from here, nothing is going to change, am I right?"

Nolan, in fear, getting close to her: "Don't ever try it. I would be here for you. You are not alone anymore!"

Estelle closed her eyes and threw herself, but Nolan pushed her back, hugging her tightly, out of breath.

Estelle, crying and hitting him in his chest: "Why? Why did you save me? Leave me be, I want to die."

Nolan, holding her tightly: "Never."

Nolan, his voice soft and reassuring: "I know it is hard to accept the truth. But we'll get through this together. You're not alone. I will always be by your side."

Estelle crashed down into tears, hugging him

Estelle's body went limp as she lost consciousness, collapsing into Nolan's arms.

Nolan, panicked, carefully cradled her and gently shook her: "Estelle! Estelle, stay with me!