When Love Turns to Ashes Chapter 4

Ethan's head snapped up, dread flooding through him. "That wasn't health soup... What the hell was that?!"

Luke's eyes were red-rimmed, but his gaze was venomous. Word by word, he said clearly: "Can't you tell? It contained... parts of your unborn child... the one that never had a chance to form..."

BOOM—!

Ethan's mind exploded as if struck by lightning, plunging into absolute white noise!

Horror and nausea crashed over him like a tsunami!

He bent over the bed, desperately clawing at his throat, retching violently, wanting to vomit out his very organs!

"Ugh... gah..."

Luke stood there, savoring his agony. "Does it hurt? When Victoria miscarried, I felt exactly this pain... maybe worse! If you hadn't forced me away, we wouldn't have crashed! Our baby wouldn't have died! Victoria doesn't love you anymore—what right do you have to act like her husband and drive me away?"

He stepped closer, his eyes filled with malice. "So you see, everyone gets what they deserve! This baby is your punishment! For killing ours!"

"AHHHHH!"

Ethan couldn't take it anymore. All the rage, humiliation, and grief he'd suppressed exploded in that moment!

He summoned every ounce of strength and punched Luke square in the face!

Just then, the door burst open!

Victoria stood in the doorway, witnessing Ethan striking Luke.

Her face instantly darkened. She rushed in and violently shoved Ethan aside!

Already weak, Ethan staggered backward, his back slamming hard against the cold wall. He groaned in pain.

"Ethan! What the hell are you doing?!" Victoria pulled Luke protectively behind her, her voice sharp with fury.

Luke immediately changed his expression, spinning lies: "Victoria... don't blame Ethan... this is my fault... I shouldn't have come..."

Victoria looked at the clear red mark on his face, her heart breaking. When she turned to Ethan, her eyes blazed with even greater fury. "Ethan! I never imagined you could be this vicious! Luke came here out of kindness to check on you, and you hit him?!"

Completely enraged, she barked orders to the guards at the door: "Get in here! Beat him! A hundred punches! Make him pay back tenfold for what he did to Luke!"

Luke made a show of protesting: "No, Victoria! Ethan just fell from a building—his body can't take it..."

But Victoria grabbed his hand, her voice filled with pain and rage. "You're too kind! That's why he keeps hurting you! Today he needs to learn his lesson! Do it!"

The guards moved forward, their massive shadows engulfing Ethan.

Ethan stared in shock at this woman he'd loved for nine years, watching her protect another man, watching her treat him with such cruel indifference...

Once upon a time, she'd protected him the same way.

As the first punch was about to land, he used his last bit of strength to cry out hoarsely, pouring out all his pain and grievance: "Victoria! Do you remember what you said at my parents' graves?! You promised you'd always be with me, that you'd never let me get hurt! You said I was your everything! Have you forgotten all of it?!"

Victoria's body went rigid. Her grip on Luke's arm tightened.

Something flickered violently in the depths of her eyes, but ultimately, it was all overwhelmed by her concern for Luke.

She turned to look at him, her eyes cold, exhausted, and absolutely final.

"I remember." She paused, each word like a hammer blow to Ethan's heart. "Ethan, it's true that I loved you once."

"But it's also true that I don't love you anymore."

"Now, Luke is the person I love most. You hurt him, and you have to pay the price!"

She pulled Luke toward the exit without another glance at Ethan's desperate, hollow eyes.

The heavy hospital door sealed off her departing figure, severing the last light in Ethan's life.

"THUD!"

The first heavy blow landed on his face, searing with pain.

Then came the second, the third...

He stopped struggling, stopped questioning. Like a broken doll, he endured the humiliating punishment.

One hundred punches.

They shattered his nine years of devotion, his every illusion, and his last shred of faith in love.

When it was over, he collapsed to the floor and coughed up a mouthful of crimson blood.

Staring at that vivid red, he suddenly laughed—a laugh both tragic and desolate.

Victoria, oh Victoria.

Those who betray true love will swallow ten thousand needles.