When She Rose From the Ashes

Chapter 1 Leaving Jensen for Good

Chapter 1 Leaving Jensen for Good

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The dim yellow light mixed with the scent of burning incense, making the room feel thick with tension.

Wearing a sheer nightgown, Natalie Summers found herself pressed against the door. Jensen Luke’s hand gripping her neck.

“Natalie, you’re mine tonight.”

He leaned in. Jensen was 6’2“, towering over Natalie, making her seem even more petite.

Before she could say anything, Jensen’s lips pressed against hers, taking her breath away.

Natalie tilted her head up and met the lust–filled depths of his eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed just inches from her, and his scorching breath made her face flush and her body go weak.

It was the fifth anniversary of their relationship. Overflowing with love, she kissed him back.

The sound of tearing fabric and shallow breaths filled the room as the tension between them grew.

Just as they were about to become one, Jensen’s phone rang.

Interrupted at such a moment, his irritation was obvious, but he answered anyway.

Natalie, panting, caught a glimpse of the caller ID: it was Felix, Jensen’s closest friend.

“Jensen, are you out of your mind? You-”

“Switching to Fracian. Now’s not a good time.”

Jensen quickly changed languages.

There was a pause, then Felix spoke in fluent foreign speech: “You really went and got married to Sharon? What the hell are you thinking? Five years ago, you got into that street race to save her and nearly died in the crash. But Sharon? She ditched you and ran off overseas with another guy! She’s had boyfriend after boyfriend while she was gone–she never cared about you! And now you’ve actually married her?”

Felix’s words automatically translated in Natalie’s mind into her native tongue.

Her eyes flew open.

The heat in her body still lingered, but her heart had plunged into an icy abyss.

Jensen hadn’t noticed her reaction. His voice was cold and measured. “Sharon has cancer. She doesn’t have long. Her final wish is to marry me, to be my wife. She said the person she owes the most in this life is me, and she wants to end our first love story with a perfect ending. I can’t let her die with regrets.”

side, who cared for you day and night. She gave

anger didn’t shake

1/4

7:16 pm PD

Leaving

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said coldly. “As long as everyone keeps it quiet,

believe

Jensen over the

I know what

he

to pick up where they left off–only for her to push him

don’t feel so

her arms around herself, trembling slightly, her face pale

six months secretly mastering three foreign languages—one of which was Fracian. She’d never had the chance to use it–until tonight, when

that, Jensen looked genuinely concerned.

wrong? Do you want me to take you to

concern didn’t seem fake–but Natalie’s heart

so deeply

turn him down when his phone chimed

office. I need to take care of it right away. Try to rest. If you still feel sick, call me–I’ll have

had time to nod before he was grabbing his clothes

his retreating figure, and the tears finally

She had seen it.

was

read: “Jensen, I’m

as if a gaping hole

had tried so hard to

life of luxury until she turned eighteen–when the real Summers daughter, Sharon, was found and brought home. From then on, Natalie’s life descended into

eighteen years of her happiness and resented her to the core.

2/4

7:16 pm P

1 Leaving Jensen

locked away in a dark,

damp floor and moldy corner became Natalie’s

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would often come down with a twisted smile, whipping her with cruel delight. Each lash was a punishment for the “sin” of being

adoptive parents, who should have protected her, ignored her suffering to please their