When Love Turns to Ashes Chapter 12

Among them, a fan-edited video titled "Victoria & Ethan: Nine Years from High School to Marriage—The Love Story We All Believed In" had been pushed to the top.

She unconsciously clicked play.

The video showed their nine years together.

Victoria injured during high school sports while Ethan, eyes red, simultaneously scolded her for being "careless" and "clumsy" while incredibly gently cleaning and bandaging her wound.

Ethan at her college speech competition, watching from the audience with eyes full of pride and starlight, brighter than the stage lights.

Their secret dates where he'd make her laugh until she playfully punched his shoulder.

Their wedding, Ethan saying "I do" before the officiant, tears of joy sliding down his face.

Countless daily moments: his focused profile while playing piano, his quiet reading on the couch, his pretending to be angry about a forgotten anniversary but unable to keep from laughing...

The video's soundtrack was melancholy and tender. The comments below were heartbreaking:

"Nine years... how many nine-year periods do you get in life?"

"From high school to marriage—did reality really defeat them?"

"Who did Victoria fall for who could possibly be better than Ethan?"

"Turns out even the elite have love stories—they just disappear..."

"@VictoriaHayes, those who betray true hearts will swallow ten thousand needles!"

"SLAM!"

Victoria violently shut her laptop, her chest feeling blocked by something, making it nearly impossible to breathe!

A sharp, unexpected pain ambushed her. She anxiously ran her fingers through her hair, trying to expel those images and sounds from her mind.

To prove her choice was right and give Luke proper status, Victoria began bringing him to business galas.

However, their first public appearance was a disaster.

Luke had never experienced such high-society events. He was nervous and awkward. Facing an important overseas client, he accidentally spilled red wine all over the man's expensive suit.

He panicked, stammering graceless apologies with crude phrasing, drawing stares from everyone around. The client's face darkened considerably.

Victoria had to suppress her displeasure, repeatedly stepping in to smooth things over and apologize, exhausted throughout.

She could clearly feel the strange looks and whispered conversations around them.

"Ms. Hayes's new boyfriend... compared to Mr. Brooks, he's really..."

"Shh... keep it down. Night and day, honestly..."

"Mr. Brooks used to command every room—sophisticated, elegant, impeccable. This guy... totally out of his depth."

These comments were like tiny needles, piercing Victoria's ears and heart.

That evening, several childhood friends who couldn't stand watching anymore asked her out for drinks.

A few drinks in, one friend slammed the table, speaking bluntly: "Victoria! Did you lose your mind?! For that... man, you gave up Ethan Brooks?! Ethan is a god in our circle! Family, looks, talent—he had everything! And he treated you like gold! What is this new guy? He's not even fish eyes—he's garbage!"

Victoria slammed her glass down hard, alcohol splashing. Her face darkened terribly. "Shut up! Don't talk about Luke like that! He's kind and reliable, better than those privileged snobs by a mile! My business is none of yours! Say anything like that again and we're done as friends!"