Chapter 300 Funeral
As Amelia rushed into Stella's hospital room, she found Stella surrounded by a team of doctors, while Yosef stood nearby expressing his gratitude.
She also noted that despite Stella’s pale complexion, her eyes remained bright and alert.
Amelia’s racing heart finally found its steady rhythm once more.
Soon, both of them realized she was there.
Stella's smile was thin and weary as she looked at Amelia. "What are you doing here?" Having just come so close to death, she couldn't summon the energy for a real smile.
Amelia moved toward her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, indicating she didn't need to force a smile.
Tears immediately filled Stella's eyes.
As the doctor asked for a private word with the family, Amelia stepped forward and said, "I'll go. I'll chat with the doctor for a bit and be right back."
"Okay," they both said at once, their eyes filled with gratitude.
Then Amelia followed the doctor to his office.
Having previously spoken with Amelia over the phone, the doctor was well aware that she was the renowned Miracle Physician, so he didn't waste any time with pleasantries. It’s a toxic mushroom from the Amanita genus, and the symptoms usually begin to manifest within just a few hours of ingestion. We're fortunate she was brought in quickly enough to save her life, though her liver has sustained significant damage that will require a gradual course of treatment. Our medical facilities here are quite limited, so I suggest transferring her to Thornfield once her condition has stabilized a bit more."
Amelia nodded as she flipped through Stella's test results. "I understand. Thank you."
She then asked the doctor, "Are these poisonous mushrooms common in the local area, and have there been other similar cases before?"
"No," the doctor replied. "I've been practicing here for nearly ten years now and I haven't encountered this specific type of mushroom poisoning before. This variety is actually a specialty from Mistveil City, and even in that region, these mushrooms aren't in season right now. It's highly unlikely unless someone happened to consume dried mushrooms."
At this point, Amelia had developed a distinct and haunting suspicion in the back of her mind.
She expressed her gratitude to the doctor one final time before making her way back to the ward.
Before she had a chance to speak, Yosef cut in first, "It was Eugene Hughes. He unexpectedly came to visit Stella today and brought a significant amount of food with him. I have already confirmed the details—Eugene has returned to Thornfield, seemingly safe and sound."
Stella spoke up immediately, "Eugene was the one who brought the food, but there is absolutely no way he could have intentionally meant to cause me any harm."
Amelia replied, "He may not have intended for this to happen, but that doesn't mean other people didn't use him as a means to reach you."
Stella’s eyes seemed to dim as the weight of Amelia’s words settled in, and she realized the gravity of what was being suggested. It was highly probable that her own parents had tricked Eugene into bringing those poisonous mushrooms specifically for her to eat.
She also recalled a specific detail. "Eugene has never had any taste for mushrooms since he was a small child, and my parents must have been counting on that fact."
"Did he happen to drink any of the soup?" Amelia asked. "If he had consumed any of it, he would likely be experiencing similar symptoms, though perhaps they would be milder and not quite as obvious."
Stella shook her head. "He had already eaten before arriving. He said he ran into a friend on his way here who insisted they have a meal together in town. By the time he actually reached my place, he had no appetite left and didn't eat a single thing. I was the only one who ate it."
By this point, the entire situation had become crystal clear. That so-called "friend" was undoubtedly another piece moved by Stella's parents, an arrangement specifically designed to keep Eugene out of harm's way while they carried out their plot against Stella.
Stella bit her lip as she struggled to maintain her composure, yet the tears began to escape, rolling down from her eyes one by one.
Yosef clenched his fists tightly. "Even wild animals don't hurt their own children. They're worse than animals!"
Eyes burning with rage, he turned to Stella. "Don't be soft-hearted this time. I'm sending them all to prison. Since you can't bear to see them die, let them rot there forever!"
"Don't." Stella grabbed Yosef’s sleeve. "Don't be impulsive. What if it wasn't them? What if this is all a misunderstanding?"
Yosef cut her off. "How many 'what ifs' can there be? All I know is you almost died!"
The two were at a clear impasse over whether to go after the Hughes family.
Amelia, recognizing her position as an outsider, refrained from interrupting and left the decision to them. When Samuel called, she took the opportunity to quietly step out and answer.
"We caught someone lurking nearby. York just finished questioning him—Harry Hughes sent him."
Amelia wasn't surprised. "From what I've learned here, the Hughes family was responsible. They used Stella's brother, Eugene, to poison her. He was completely unaware."
"So what do we do next?"
"I have an idea—we can use the Hughes family's plot to our advantage."
Amelia detailed her plan. Samuel, holding her judgment in high regard, gave his immediate agreement.
After hanging up, Amelia returned to the ward. The two were still locked in their argument over whether to retaliate against the Hughes family.
Stella was soft-hearted. Despite her parents' attempt on her life, she lacked the capacity for ruthlessness; any coldness she possessed had already been exhausted on Philip.
Yosef, however, was untroubled by such considerations. His only concern was the stark reality that Stella, the woman he loved, had been nearly poisoned to death.
Amelia appeared at just the right moment. "I have an idea. Do you want to hear it?"
Both of them shifted their attention to her.
Amelia said, "My previous plan is still valid, and it might be even easier to pull off now."
The three talked for a long time, until Samuel returned to the hospital.
"How did it go?" Samuel asked her.
Amelia said, "We've discussed it and agreed to do as I suggested."
Stella would fake her death and then take on a completely new identity.
From then on, Stella would be free.
"Alright, I'll arrange it right away."
Samuel turned and left.
Amelia held Stella's hand and said, "Just hang in there one more day. Tomorrow, you'll be a brand new you."
Stella nodded firmly.
......
Soon, news of Stella's death spread.
Stella's father Harry received word from the person he'd sent to check on the ski resort—Stella was dead.
Harry let out a long sigh of relief. "The Hughes family's reputation is saved."
Beside him, Stella's mother Martha Hughes had tears glistening in her eyes. "After all, I gave birth to her. My heart aches terribly."
But the next second, Martha said, "The dead can't come back to life. Since she's already dead and won't see her own funeral anyway, we don't need to make it elaborate. Just give her a simple funeral."
"I'll leave it to you! But remember to keep it from Eugene. That fool occasionally does stupid things. Keep a close eye on him for a while. After some time, he'll gradually accept it."
"Alright."
Harry and Martha settled on a minimal funeral for Stella, keeping Eugene in the dark.
They skipped the service entirely, hiring a funeral company to manage the proceedings in their absence.
Unbeknownst to them, the person answering the phone at the "funeral home" was one of Amelia's own.
And the person who had reported Stella's death to them had already been coerced and bribed by Samuel into betraying them.
The following day, Stella's funeral commenced. The scene turned surreal as Stella attended her own service. Staring at her own portrait, she broke into an inexplicable smile before beginning to weep.