Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 470: I Have Nobody

The rehabilitation center sat on the outskirts of the city.

It wasn’t large, but it looked clean, peaceful, and quiet.

Tall trees surrounded the property, shielding it from the road outside.

Stefan parked his car beneath one of the trees and switched off the engine.

For a moment, he didn’t move. His hands rested on the steering wheel as he stared through the windshield at the entrance.

He wasn’t looking forward to this visit.

Not because he hated Karen.

But because he didn’t know what to say to a woman who had destroyed her own life… and nearly destroyed her daughter’s too.

The last time he had visited her, she had been unconscious so he had not said anything to her then.

After a long breath, he stepped out of the car, and immediately, the cool afternoon breeze brushed against his face.

The moment he walked inside, one of the nurses recognized him immediately.

“Good day, Mr. Kirk,” she greeted with a polite smile.

Stefan nodded politely. “Hello.”

She smiled gently. “Thank you for coming.”

“How is she today?”

The smile faded slightly. “She has been keeping to herself and just moping about the place when she’s not crying.”

Stefan nodded. “But she’s calmer now?”

“A little.”

The nurse led him down a quiet hallway. “We have been keeping her away from the television since then.”

They stopped outside a small room and the nurse lowered her voice.

“She’s been expecting you.”

Stefan looked at the closed door for a second before knocking once. “I’ll go in.”

Stefan opened the door as the nurse quietly stepped away.

Karen was sitting beside the window. She looked thinner than the last time he had seen her.

Her blonde hair had been brushed neatly. And she wore simple grey clothes provided by the center.

She slowly turned when she heard the door.

The moment she saw Stefan, her eyes widened. “Who are you?”

Karen looked like a very ordinary but broken woman. But more than that, she looked like an older version of Genevieve.

Stefan didn’t approach. “I’m Stefan Kirk.”

She stared at him for several seconds. Then tears filled her eyes. “You brought me here.”

He walked farther into the room. “Yeah.”

Karen looked down at her hands. “You were close to her, weren’t you? They said…” Her voice trembled. “They said she is dead. My Genevieve.”

Stefan remained quiet.

Karen’s shoulders began shaking. “I was very bad to her.” She wiped her tears quickly. “She must have told you all I did…”

Stefan swallowed when he saw how devastated she looked.

Seeing the weight of her guilt, he wished he could tell her the truth that Genevieve was alive and not only was she safe and happy, but was about to get married.

But he couldn’t.

Not until Genevieve was ready if ever she would be.

So he simply pulled a chair closer and sat opposite her.

Karen looked at him desperately. “Were you her boyfriend?”

It wasn’t a question.

Stefan kept his expression calm. “Yes.”

She searched his face like she was hoping ng to find something. “Was she happy?”

Stefan nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

Karen slowly looked away again as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

“She would be alive if I were a good mother.”

The words came so quietly that Stefan almost missed them.

She laughed bitterly. “I kept using her.” Another tear slipped down. “I thought sending her to Ryan was the best thing I could do for her.”

She covered her face with both hands. “I didn’t want her to end up like me.”

Silence filled the room.

Stefan watched her quietly.

For years, this woman had chosen drugs and alcohol over her responsibility to her daughter.

Yet watching her cry now… He couldn’t help feeling sorry for her.

Not because she deserved pity. But because regret was a cruel thing.

Karen lowered her hands again. “I don’t deserve forgiveness.”

Stefan said nothing.

“I know I don’t.” She looked out the window. “I failed her.”

Her voice cracked. “I failed the only person who ever loved me.”

Stefan leaned back quietly. Then he spoke. “You’ve failed yourself too.”

Karen blinked.

He continued calmly. “You’re still alive. You can’t change the past. But you can decide what happens next.”

Karen stared at him. “I don’t deserve to be alive while she is dead.”

Stefan looked around the small room. “I think you’re just trying to escape from guilt and taking responsibility for your actions.”

She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“What I’m saying is that if you are really sorry, you should live differently now,” Stefan said, hoping that if she did that, then some day Genevieve might be willing to forgive her and meet with her.

She shook her head. “I don’t know how to live anymore.”

“One day at a time,” Stefan said.

She laughed weakly but there was no humor in it. “You make it sound easy.”

“It isn’t supposed to be. Especially not after how hard you made her life. That should be your way of repentance.”

Silence returned.

Karen rubbed her eyes. “What happens now?”

Stefan folded his hands together. “You continue your treatment.”

She nodded slowly. “And after that?”

“You keep going.”

She looked at him again. “Going where?”

Stefan answered without hesitation. “Forward.”

Karen’s eyes filled again. “I have nobody.”

Stefan was quiet for a moment. Then he finally said, “You won’t be alone. I’ll make sure you’re alright as long as you’re willing to live a different life now.”

Karen stared at him. “You will?”

“Yes.”

She looked genuinely confused. “Why?”

Stefan was silent for a while then he finally answered simply, “Because I love Genevieve and because I believe that everyone deserves the chance to rebuild. Even you.”

Karen lowered her eyes as fresh tears fell onto her clasped hands. “I don’t deserve kindness.”

Stefan looked at her steadily. “Maybe not.”

She flinched.

“But you’re receiving it anyway.”

She slowly looked up again.

“I’ll make sure you have somewhere safe and decent to stay after you leave here.”

Karen stared at him. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know. But that’s the only way I can be sure that you won’t go back to your former way of life.”

“I can’t pay you back,” Karen cried.

“I’m not asking you to. But if it makes you feel better, you can pay me back by completing your rehabilitation program and living the kind of life Genevieve would be proud of.”

She looked completely overwhelmed.

Stefan continued.

“I’ll help you get settled. And if you’re willing, I’ll also help you find a decent job when you’re ready.”

Karen covered her mouth as she broke down crying again. Nobody had ever offered her hope this way. Not her parents. Not anyone ever.

“You should focus on getting better first.”

She nodded repeatedly through her tears. “I’ll try.”

“No.”

She looked up.

Stefan’s voice remained calm. “You won’t try. You will.”

Karen stared at him. Then, very slowly she nodded. “I will.”

Stefan stood and extended a hand to her. “So we have a deal.”

Karen wiped her face as she rose, then she shook his hand. “Yea.”

He gave her a small nod. “I’ll visit again. Until then, stop crying and take your treatments seriously.”

As he turned to leave, Karen’s quiet voice stopped him. “Mr. Kirk?”

He turned.

She smiled through tears. “Thank you… for giving someone like me a chance.”

Stefan looked at her for a long moment and once again he was reminded of Genevieve as he looked into her face.

Then he answered honestly. “I’m not doing this because of who you were. I’m doing it because of who you can still become.”

With that, he quietly walked out and the door closed gently behind him.

Karen stood there for a long time after he left, and for the first time in her life she believed that maybe something good could come from her.