When She Rose From the Ashes

Chapter 19 The Real Reason

Chapter 19 The Real Reason

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She had been so full of ambition, so full of promise. That cufflink design held meaning and power. But now, if she could never pick up a pen again… then what?

Jensen instinctively reached for the sketch in his pocket, only to realize it was missing.

His chest tightened. A sharp pang ran through him.

A terrible thought came to him. He turned on his heel and rushed straight toward Sharon’s hospital room.

Inside, Sharon was tearing up the cufflink design with an expression twisted by rage. It was as if the paper in her hands wasn’t a drawing, but Natalie herself.

Jensen froze. His heart clenched tight.

“What are you doing?”

His voice was cold, cutting through the room like a blade.

Sharon jolted. She hadn’t expected him to come back so suddenly. Startled, she dropped the torn pieces immediately.

Even though the sketch had been ripped into several pieces, Jensen still recognized what it was. The lines. The details. The shape. It was Natalie’s design.

She had taken it. She had destroyed it.

And maybe that design–this very drawing–had been the reason Natalie’s hand was broken in the first place.

a jolt of electricity. His vision reddened

you have Clark destroy her hand?! Do you even understand what a hand means to a

flailed, her hands slapping against his arms in

that you won’t let her go, isn’t it? Jensen, you promised me. You said you’d stay with me. You said you’d be a good husband until I died. And now you’re strangling me over her? Don’t forget–you have my rib in your body! I’m dying anyway. Go ahead, choke me to death! Kill me if it’ll make your

hard. He pulled

breath, pale and trembling, but the look

my parents, now you! And I’ve got cancer. I’m running out of time. I only asked for three months. Couldn’t you give me that? If I hadn’t given you that rib, my immune system wouldn’t have collapsed. I wouldn’t have gotten sick. Jensen, you

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19 The

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a step back and dropped into a chair. His chest heaved

my word. I married you. I stayed. Why did you have to

One hand in exchange for your loyalty for the rest of your life? Shouldn’t that be enough? I just wanted her hand. That’s all. Now that it’s done, we’re

cruel and absurd, but Jensen couldn’t find a way to

Sharon softened

time. I won’t do anything else to her, I promise. Don’t be mad at me. Don’t abandon me. I’m really going to die soon. Can’t you just… love me

Jensen closed his eyes.

me–this is the last time. You’re

I won’t go near

going to check

the room without

door closed behind him,

sharp, cruel, and filled with venom. There wasn’t a trace of weakness

Jensen returned to the emergency

on a gurney.