When Love Turns to Ashes Chapter 9

Victoria's steps faltered. After a moment's hesitation, she actually came back!

As Ethan felt a ridiculous spark of hope, she didn't even glance at him. She just quickly searched where Luke had fallen and picked up a scorched good-luck charm—

The one Luke always wore.

So that was why.

"Ha... haha... hahaha..."

Ethan laughed in the smoke and flames, laughed until tears streamed down his face.

Once, if he so much as cut his finger, she'd be beside herself with worry, rushing him to the hospital.

Now, trapped in an inferno and barely breathing, she'd only returned—for another man and his charm.

Victoria found the charm and once more carried Luke toward safety, never looking back.

Just as they disappeared, a burning beam crashed down with a thunderous roar, heading straight for Ethan.

He closed his eyes and lost all consciousness.

When he woke again, he was back at the mansion.

Victoria stood by the bed, seemingly wanting to explain something, her tone carrying programmed distance: "Last night during the fire, the situation was chaotic. I didn't realize you were trapped too. If I'd known earlier, I would have..."

What would you have done?

Ethan silently completed her sentence, his lips twisting in an imperceptible, mocking curve.

Would you have abandoned Luke to save me first?

No.

When your heart and eyes were full of me, naturally you'd appear whenever I needed you.

Now your heart and eyes are full of Luke. How could you possibly see me?

He felt infinitely exhausted, not wanting to waste another word on her.

He silently turned away, his back to her, closing his eyes.

Seeing his lifeless withdrawal and refusal to communicate, Victoria frowned, seeming to want to say something. Finally, she just pressed her temples and placed water and pills on the nightstand. "Take your medicine."

Over the next few days, Victoria surprisingly didn't leave, spending most of her time at the mansion, handling business from the study.

But Ethan steadfastly refused to acknowledge her.

This complete, cold indifference was like a tiny thorn lodged in Victoria's chest—not fatal, but increasingly irritating.

Finally, on the fifth evening of his sustained silence, Victoria set down her tablet and walked to the bed.

"Ethan," her voice carried suppressed impatience, "what exactly are you upset about?"

Ethan continued staring out the window, completely unresponsive.

Victoria's patience seemed to snap. She reached out, forcefully turning his shoulder to make him face her: "Look at me! I told you—I love Luke now. In that dangerous situation, putting his safety first was natural! What tantrum are you throwing?"

Ethan finally slowly raised his eyes, looking at her calmly.

That very calm made Victoria's heart skip with inexplicable unease, her nameless anger growing yet feeling like punching cotton—useless.

She stared at him for a long moment before releasing her grip, as if tired of this one-sided performance. Wearily pressing her temples: "Since you're fine, I don't need to waste more time here. The company has important matters."

She turned and left the bedroom without lingering.

Not until the door closed completely did Ethan whisper, almost inaudibly: "Victoria, I'm not angry."

"I've given up."

"So for you, I have no more expectations, and no more resentment."

In the days that followed, Victoria indeed stopped appearing.

Ethan's world fell quiet.

He silently recovered, silently ate, silently watched clouds drift past his window.

Occasionally, he'd pick up his phone and inevitably see Luke's social media posts.

All photos of him and Victoria on sweet dates.

And every location was somewhere Victoria had once taken Ethan.

That mountaintop restaurant where Victoria had promised him forever; the beach where they'd left footprints together; even that wishing tree, where Victoria had cut down the love lock she'd hung with Ethan, replacing it with one featuring Luke's name.

Just like that, she brought her new "love" and methodically, calmly, thoroughly erased every trace of nine years with Ethan.

Like erasing chalk from a blackboard—easy, without a moment's hesitation.