Ashes to Phoenix: A Love Reborn

fire left my back covered in hideous scars, but I saved his life. For t

nce. He was supposed to thank me. Instead, he made a grand, romantic declara

t a gala, ripping my dress to expose my scars. When I was beaten in an alley

to Estelle's side because she was "scared." I overheard him

g love-it meant nothing. To him, I was

and left me on the side of the highway, still i

r disappear. The

" I said. "An

pte

arm, a small, steady pressure in

have to do th

steering wheel of his custom McLaren. The city lig

Em. Everyone'

e. It was about reclaiming his throne. Julian Copeland, the h

i, idled at the informal starting line. Estelle Murphy was behind the wheel. She revved her engin

k was al

ck into her leather seat. The world dissolved into a tunnel of s

ved, a sharp, deliberate move

t. Ember' s side of the car slammed into a co

e. Flames licked at the crumpled hood. Julian was unconscio

d in protest, but she ignored it. She unbuckled him, then herself. Th

ckage, the car exploded. The force threw them forward, and a wave of heat washed over h

before she blacke

li

beautiful, broken doll in a sterile white room. The Copeland family

s so despised. She learned to change his IV drips, to talk to him for hours about a world he couldn't see, to ignore the pit

e day, h

a tailored suit, the king returned to his kingdom. A live broad

dress to hide the worst of the scars. This was supposed to be her moment, too. The

his palm. "My return wouldn' t have been possible without the unwaver

cond, Ember thought he was looking for her. But his

in a dazzling red dress, a pict

nder a sky full of stars at the Hamptons. A p

w. That wasn't their memory. It was his and Estelle'

public declaration wasn't

s of devotion, of pain, of sacrifice...what was

tic tribute to his dedicated fiancée. They turned to smile at her,

luminating her scars, her foolishness. She could feel the rough texture o

. She' d sold her own company shares to pay for experimental treatments when the Copeland family' s doctors had giv

ords to her were, "I' ll marry

He never said

ough the fog of her devotion. He had never loved her.

o get out. She turned and stumbled

his brow furrowed in confusion. He found her in

kay? I was just co

d saw not the man she loved, but a stranger

t the Hamptons?" she asked,

ortable. "I... it just came ou

inish. He di

ocent concern. "Julian, darling. That was a beautiful speech. And E

to Estelle, his body physica

ou okay

ears. "My driver... he just left me. I don' t know how I' m going to

transparently manipulative. B

t The Plaza." He turned to Ember, his tone dismissive.

rm around Estelle' s shoulders and guided her do

me. In its place was a strange,

d clung to for four years ha

her hot cheeks. In her apartment, she opened her laptop. Her fingers

ut Borders, listing her old pre-med qualificati

l landed in her inbox.

weeks from now. The same day she wa