Chapter 292: Chapter 292: Unreconciled
What she hadn’t expected was that after more than three years, Yara Sterling had actually managed to survive those circumstances.
She had truly underestimated her.
Stephen Lawrence, at her side, said nothing, carefully watching Stella’s expression.
He had no idea what his master was thinking.
After a moment’s hesitation, he ventured, "Could she be an imposter? Maybe she was just scared of dying and made up this story about her identity to convince us to spare her."
I mean, if she were really her sister, how could she curse her like that? And shouldn’t she be thrilled to learn her sister is the leader of a major base?
Instead, she just started spewing curses. If our men hadn’t lost their patience, she never would have claimed to be the master’s sister.
He suspected she was probably just someone who knew the master from before and held a grudge, lashing out because she couldn’t control herself.
Then, when she saw our men make a move, she got scared. Fearing for her life, she concocted the story about being the master’s sister.
"Then we just need to confirm it."
Stella Sterling said, "Take me to see her."
Hearing her words, Stephen Lawrence, though still uncertain if the woman was telling the truth, could tell from Stella’s demeanor that his master truly did have a sister.
’But if that’s the case, why has the master never tried to find her family?’
’With Caeluna Base’s current power, if her family members were still alive, they should have been found long ago.’
A flicker crossed Stephen Lawrence’s eyes, but in the end, he said nothing. He just nodded and led the way.
In a small, stuffy, cluttered room, a filthy, disheveled woman sat on a stool.
Her hair was a messy tangle, caked with mud and dust.
Her face was so caked in filth and blood, her features were unrecognizable. Her clothes were in tatters, and the skin visible beneath was covered in scars.
She was emaciated.
She sat on the stool with a dark expression, lost in thought. Her mood swung from excited to resentful, and she seemed mentally unstable.
This was the sight that greeted Stella Sterling when she entered the room.
She hadn’t seen Yara Sterling in years, and this person’s appearance didn’t quite match her memory. Besides, the woman’s face was impossible to see clearly.
And yet, she knew instantly. The person before her was indeed her so-called sister, Yara Sterling, the adopted daughter of the Sterling family.
The woman’s aura was just too familiar. That, combined with the hateful glare she shot at Stella, couldn’t be faked.
Stella Sterling laughed, her voice full of delight as she offered a greeting. "Long time no see, Yara Sterling."
Following behind her, Stephen Lawrence’s pupils constricted.
’So she really is the master’s sister. But judging by the master’s attitude, their relationship must be terrible.’
The moment the door opened, Yara Sterling looked up and saw a familiar figure.
Compared to three years ago, Stella Sterling hadn’t changed a bit. She looked exactly the same.
In fact, Stella looked even better now than she had three years ago, her complexion healthier, her bearing suffused with an air of nobility.
Compared to her own current state, the two of them were worlds apart.
The stark contrast made Yara Sterling’s eyes burn red. She lunged. "Die, Stella Sterling—"
She never even got close. Before Stella even had to move, Stephen Lawrence, who was right behind her, stepped forward and sent Yara flying with a kick.
Her body slammed against the back wall, and she dropped heavily to the floor with a groan of pain.
She struggled back up, glaring fiercely at Stella Sterling.
’It was all Stella Sterling’s fault she was in this state. If not for her, I would still be in the Sterling Family, continuing to live the life of a pampered lady, even in the apocalypse.’
’It was Stella Sterling! She’s the one who got me thrown out of the Sterling Family! I finally managed to go back, only for Stella to have me sent off to who-knows-where.’
For more than three years, her life had been a living hell. She had to grovel and flatter others just for a bite to eat. To survive, she had even sold her body.
Over the past few years, she had exchanged her body for simple living supplies.
The very people she once looked down on became the ones she had to please.
But even so, her life these past years had been miserable; she often went hungry and had to endure beatings.
She frequently had to fight people over resources, getting herself covered in injuries in the process.
On many occasions, she had nearly lost her life.
’I’ve had to struggle so much to survive, so what right does Stella Sterling have to live so blissfully?’
’Why hasn’t she suffered one bit? She’s no different than she was before the apocalypse!’
’I can’t accept it. I really can’t!’
’Even the thought that Stella Sterling was the leader of this base made her tremble with fury. What right did she have? How could she possibly deserve this?’
Before seeing Stella Sterling, she had been conflicted, both hoping and dreading that it was her.
If it wasn’t Stella, it might have meant Stella was already dead, or perhaps living a life even more wretched than her own.
That would have made her truly happy.
But it also meant that the curses she had just spewed would likely get her inhumanly tortured.
So, another part of her hoped it *was* Stella Sterling.
But now that she had truly seen her, now that she knew this person was indeed Stella Sterling, her heart was filled with nothing but rage.
’Why? Why her? Why wasn’t she dead? Wasn’t she supposed to be suffering more than me?’
The more she thought about it, the more furious Yara became, and the more violently she struggled. But no matter how she thrashed, she couldn’t get near Stella Sterling.
Stella watched her for a moment, then crouched down. "I’m quite happy today."
Yara Sterling suddenly fell silent.
Stella continued, "Just look at this pathetic mess."
"But I have to say, the fact you’re still alive is quite a surprise to me."
"If you were going to live, you could have just lived. Wouldn’t it have been better to cherish that life of yours? Why did you have to appear before me?"
Stella was smiling, but her smile was filled with an endless chill. Yara Sterling shivered.
Though anger still burned in her heart, she was beginning to feel a pang of regret. She was afraid.
After a long moment, she managed to compose herself to look less pathetic. "Stella Sterling, you’re so vicious for what you’ve done to me. You’ll get what’s coming to you! Aren’t you afraid that when your subordinates find out what you’ve done, they’ll betray you, one by one?"
Stella Sterling smiled. "Do you think you’ll get that chance?"
Yara Sterling’s heart trembled. She didn’t dare to think too deeply about the meaning behind those words.
Stella Sterling stepped forward, hooked a finger under Yara’s chin, and studied her closely. "So ugly!"
