When She Rose From the Ashes

Chapter 398 A Heart Laid Bare

Beth fell silent, suddenly unsure what more to say.

+10 Free Coins

There were so many women who lost themselves to love. Natalie had once been the same- blinded by her devotion to Jensen, wasting five years of her life on foolish choices.

Beth had expected Natalie to mock her. Instead, she simply took the cigarette, tapped out the ash, and pressed it gently onto Beth’s bleeding arm.

That calm steadiness made Beth’s throat tighten.

“You don’t think I’m stupid?” she asked softly.

“Everyone’s stupid for love once,” Natalie replied. “I was. I paid a heavy price–nearly died in a fire because of it.”

Beth’s eyes

widened. She understood the weight behind those words.

“You’re… trying to comfort me?”

“No,” Natalie said evenly. “I’m just stating the truth.”

It surprised her, the steadiness in her own heart. She should have been terrified, waiting to be sold like an object. But the thought of Baron gave her an unexpected sense of warmth, of safety.

Beth studied her for a moment, then asked, “You sound like you’ve moved past foolish love. Have you found the real thing?”

out of the fire. He spent everything he had to save me. He gave me a second life. To me, he’s more than love–he’s

softened with a tenderness she

That look in Natalie’s eyes—it was painful to

again. Women brought onto this ship… if they don’t leave as corpses, they’re sold overseas. Once you

until the end, until the auction stripped her of everything. But Natalie’s composure, her clarity, her quiet trust–it made Beth’s heart ache.

1/3

13:02 Thu, Oct 9

A Heart Laid

+10 Free Coins

for sale, your life as you

gripped Natalie’s shoulders, forcing her to meet her eyes. “Do you understand? This is the

Natalie didn’t flinch.

never truly fooled her. But

Natalie said

still sit

out the last ashes, sprinkled them over Beth’s wound, then tore a strip from her

back and met Beth’s gaze with quiet

know what awaits me. But I

“Who? Jensen?”

him. After all, the desperate text had been sent to

Natalie shook her head.

he’ll come, maybe he won’t. But the man I’m waiting for has

glanced toward the sealed walls of the cabin, as though she could see