When She Rose From the Ashes

Chapter 36 The Cruel Truth

Jensen’s chest ached with every word Sharon spat at him.

Looking at her frenzied state, he suddenly realized just how blind he had been all these years.

In beauty, in grace-how could Sharon ever compare to Natalie?

Even though the Summers family had raised the wrong child, those eighteen years of careful upbringing had left Natalie with a natural elegance, a deep-rooted refinement Sharon, who grew up wild, could never possess.

So why had he been drawn to Sharon’s fiery nature?

It was because he himself had been born into wealth, surrounded by polished heiresses his whole life. He had wanted to know what it felt like to taste the recklessness of a “wild girl.”

And for that youthful thrill, he had nearly lost his life.

He should have hated Sharon, but because one of her ribs had saved him, he found himself bound by guilt-caught between love and hate. Over time, it was Natalie’s companionship that anchored him, and his feelings shifted to her.

He kept telling himself he married Sharon only to fulfill her dying wish.

But only now did he dare face the truth.

Those were excuses.

He had simply wanted excitement.

He had believed too firmly that Natalie loved him too deeply to ever leave-that she had no family, no friends, no one but him. He was certain she would never walk away.

And yet… she had.

Natalie’s actions had screamed of her resolve, but he hadn’t listened. He had even blamed her for being

her career as a designer was destroyed, he had known

repay Sharon’s so-called lifesaving

he still

that same debt again, Jensen suddenly

And from now on, you are forbidden to set foot in the Grand Pavilion again. You will never touch anything

the phone from Hansel, Jensen turned and

Sharon froze.

1/3

you mean

his path, but Hansel

Summers, please show some

Didn’t you hear him say it? I’m Jensen’s

her like

wife in name,

You’re just a secretary-how

but Hansel merely pulled his hand back, unmoved by her

the car, Jensen

at the very

that for the past ten days, his replies to her had been nothing

he

nights

name among Natalie’s recent