When the Ashes Loved Me Back

Three days before we were supposed to get our marriage license, a massive fire broke out in the building where Ethan Gray's startup was located.

Ethan and I were trapped in the office on the sixty-eighth floor.

While escaping, a load-bearing steel beam overhead came crashing down. I pushed him out of the way and got pinned beneath the debris.

A piece of broken rebar pierced straight through my right shoulder blade, less than an inch from my heart.

Blood gushed out instantly, staining my white shirt crimson.

The thick smoke choked me until I coughed up blood. I looked desperately at the man before me---usually so calm and composed.

"Ethan, call 911... or call the rescue team..."

My voice was barely a whisper. Every breath sent searing pain through the puncture wound, and blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.

Just one phone call to give our location, and we could survive.

He was about to make the call when his expression changed after seeing a message on his phone.

"Sorry, something happened to Vanessa..."

Ethan knelt before me, his suit covered in dust, prying my fingers away from his arm one by one.

"Chloe, you've always been strong. You'll be fine. Vanessa is different."

Hearing his words, my heart sank bit by bit.

Vanessa Sullivan was Ethan Gray's wealthy first love from high society.

That girl had been pampered her whole life. She never had to support Ethan's startup by living in a basement for three years eating bread, ruining her stomach, or drinking until she had a bleeding ulcer just to attract investors for him.

All she had to do today, when Ethan had finally made it, was shed a few tears to throw him into complete chaos.

"Ethan... it hurts so much..." I clutched my wound, trying to grab his pant leg.

Ethan took a deep breath and avoided my hand.

He fell silent for a moment, then finally took out his phone with only two percent battery left and dialed the number he knew by heart.

The moment the call connected, his tense voice instantly became gentle and anxious: "Vanessa, did the power go out where you are? Don't be scared. Just stay in the apartment elevator and don't move. I'll figure out a way to come save you right now."

The phone screen's faint glow illuminated his sharp features.

My heart, in that moment, felt hotter than the flames around us, yet instantly fell into an icy abyss.

"Ethan Gray..." I called his name desperately. "I've lost so much blood. I'm going to die..."

He covered the phone's mouthpiece, turned his head, and scolded me with furrowed brows: "Chloe, just hang in there! The building fire caused a massive power outage in the area. Vanessa is trapped in her apartment elevator! She was locked in a basement for three days and nights years ago when she saved me---she has severe claustrophobia! Can you imagine how terrified she must be alone in the dark right now?"

"But... the rebar went through my bone..." My whole body convulsed with pain, tears mixing with blood as they hit the ground.

"Beep---" The phone died completely and went dark.

Ethan irritably shoved his phone in his pocket, took off his designer suit jacket, and roughly pressed it against my wound.

"Ahhh---!" The intense pain made me let out a piercing scream, and my vision went black.

"Stop screaming!" His tone was cold and impatient. "Chloe, you've always been sensible and strong. What's a little pain? You have a strong constitution. You can definitely hold on until the rescue team searches floor by floor. Vanessa's mental state can't handle this kind of trauma. I have to go make sure she's safe."

He stood up, looking down at me from above.

"Ethan Gray." I stared at him intently, using the last of my strength to ask, "What if the rescue team doesn't come and I burn to death?"

His jawline tensed, his eyes completely devoid of warmth: "Are you using these extreme words to force me to give in again? I'm just making the most rational choice. Once I confirm Vanessa is okay, I'll bring people to save you immediately."

With that, he turned without hesitation, his tall figure quickly disappearing into the smoke-filled corridor.

Flames gradually closed in, the surrounding temperature so high it felt like it would melt a person.

I lay on the scorching floor, watching the direction he left, the last bit of warmth in my heart completely burned to ashes.

I don't know how much time passed before the door was violently split open with a fire axe.

"There's a survivor here! Quick! Stretcher!"

Blinding flashlight beams shone on my face as several fully equipped firefighters rushed in.

Seeing the horrific rebar through my shoulder blade and the huge pool of blood on the floor, even these experienced rescue workers gasped.

"The victim has lost massive amounts of blood and is in severe shock! Start cutting immediately, prepare the cardiac stimulant!"

The vibration from the saw cutting the rebar made me hurt so much I didn't even have the strength to scream.

In the second before I lost consciousness, I heard a voice come through the walkie-talkie from downstairs: "Captain, we found a male outside the building perimeter trying to force his way into the apartment building across the street that lost power. We've detained him..."

I closed my eyes, a tear of despair sliding from the corner of my eye.

When I woke up again, it was three days later.

The smell of disinfectant was pungent. I struggled to open my eyes to see the white ceiling of a VIP hospital room.

Hearing the sound, the man sitting on the sofa slowly uncrossed his legs.

"You're awake?" Ethan's tone was flat, as natural as if he were asking what I had for breakfast.

He walked to the bedside and opened a premium thermos on the table, ladling out a bowl of fragrant chicken soup.

"This is from that exclusive restaurant you love. I had my assistant wait in line for two hours to get it." He scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to my lips. "Eat. The doctor said you need nutrition."

"Take it away." My voice was as hoarse as sandpaper rubbing together, so weak I didn't even have the strength to turn my head.

Ethan's hand froze in midair, a flash of impatience in his eyes.

"Chloe, how long are you going to throw this tantrum?" He set the bowl down heavily on the nightstand, soup splashing out. "I told you, I can't be an ungrateful person. You're out of danger now, aren't you? It's just some superficial injuries. A few days of rest and you'll be fine."

A nurse pushing a medication cart walked in just in time to hear this and turned pale with anger.

"How can you talk like that as a family member?" The nurse pulled back my blanket and unbuttoned my hospital gown, revealing the horrifying scar with over twenty stitches.

"The patient's wound came within a hair's breadth of piercing her heart. When she arrived, she was already in severe hemorrhagic shock. We spent a day and night in ICU resuscitation to bring her back! If you're family, please get it straight---this is a severe penetrating injury, not some superficial wound!"

Ethan's expression instantly darkened, his cold gaze sweeping over the nurse: "This is our family business. It's not your place as an outsider to interfere."

The nurse was frightened into silence by his terrifying look, her eyes reddening as she changed my dressing.

Ethan turned his head, looking down at me from above.

"I know you feel wronged. But these past few days I've been busy with the company's post-disaster reconstruction, and I've had to take care of Vanessa after her shock. I'm already exhausted. Can you be a little more understanding?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, his tone carrying a patronizing compromise.

"The day after tomorrow is the day we agreed to get our marriage license. After we register, I'll take you to Europe to relax. You can pick out whatever bags you want. Let's just turn the page on this, okay?"

I looked at him quietly, suddenly feeling he was completely unfamiliar.

He was used to my five years of unconditional devotion and compliance. He was certain I loved him to the bone, certain I couldn't leave him.

So he could brazenly trample my boundaries, treat my life as worthless, then hand out some cheap material compensation to dismiss me.

Just then, his phone rang with a special ringtone.

He answered almost immediately, his previously cold voice instantly becoming so gentle it could drip honey: "What's wrong, Vanessa? Another nightmare? Don't be scared, I'm coming right over."

After hanging up, he grabbed his coat from the chair without hesitation.

"Vanessa's emotionally unstable. I need to go see her."

He pulled a folded piece of paper from his suit pocket and placed it on the nightstand.

"This is the marriage health certificate. Day after tomorrow at 10 a.m., I'll wait for you at the county clerks office entrance. Don't be late."

At the door, he stopped and looked back at me, his tone carrying a warning: "Chloe, don't disappoint me."

The hospital room door closed.

I looked at that red-stamped marriage certificate, and beside it, his blood-soaked shirt from when he pressed it against my wound that day in the fire---now dried and blackened.

Using what little strength I had left, I swept both the marriage certificate and the bloody shirt into the trash.

The process of changing the dressing was like slow torture.

The gauze tore at my flesh. I broke out in cold sweat, biting my lip hard until I tasted the strong metallic tang of blood.

The nurse wiped my sweat with pity, her eyes red: "Your fianc is too heartless. How could he leave you alone at a time like this to go be with another woman?"

I said nothing, just managed a pale, transparent smile.

It didn't matter. I didn't need him anymore.

After the intense pain subsided, I leaned against the headboard and opened my social media. The first post was one Vanessa had just updated.

In the photo, she leaned delicately against Ethan's chest while he looked down cutting her steak, his eyes full of undisguised affection.

The caption read: "No matter how terrifying the darkness, as long as you're here, I'm not afraid of anything."

Below was her own comment: "Some things can't be stolen through desperate clinging. Those who are favored will always act without fear."

I stared at the screen, my stomach churning with spasms.

This was the "emotionally unstable" first love who had been "severely traumatized" according to Ethan.

That afternoon, Ethan returned. He pulled out an exquisite velvet box from his briefcase and tossed it onto my blanket.

"I've had my assistant transfer that hillside villa in the southern district into your name."

He pulled out a chair and sat down, his tone full of arrogant certainty: "Vanessa was badly traumatized this time. Her therapist says she needs long-term companionship. Let's postpone getting our license the day after tomorrow by a month."

He looked at me as if looking at a subordinate throwing a tantrum.

"That villa is worth fifty million. Consider it compensation. We've been together this long---you should know how to choose."

I looked at that velvet box and suddenly laughed.

"Fine." I looked at him calmly, my eyes completely emotionless. "I agree to postpone."

Ethan froze.

He seemed not to have expected me to agree so readily. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by satisfied approval.

"You really are sensible."

He reached out, wanting to pat my head like before.

I turned my head away, dodging his touch with disgust.

His hand froze in midair, his expression darkening slightly. Just as he was about to lose his temper, the hospital room door was suddenly pushed open.

Vanessa entered carrying an enormous fruit basket, wearing three-inch heels and perfect makeup.

"Ethan, I knew you'd be here."

She completely ignored me in the hospital bed, walking straight to Ethan and naturally linking her arm through his, pressing half her body against him.

"Miss Hartley, I heard you were seriously injured. I came specially to see you." Vanessa covered her mouth with an exaggerated look of shock and sympathy. "I'm so sorry. Ethan was too worried about me that day during the fire---he probably neglected you. You don't blame him, do you?"

Ethan frowned but his tone was gentle: "Vanessa, your body hasn't recovered yet. Why did you come out?"

"I was worried Miss Hartley might be angry at you because of me." Vanessa bit her lip pitifully, her eyes instantly reddening. "After all, it's almost time for you two to get your marriage license."

"Miss Sullivan's information is really out of date." I leaned against the pillow, watching her performance coldly. "Mr. Gray just postponed getting the license. He said he needs to leave time to properly accompany you, the psychological trauma patient."

Vanessa's eyes lit up, a gleam of triumph flashing through them before she put on a look of panic.

"Really? Ethan, that's too unfair to Miss Hartley. She's been with you for five years after all. Even without credit, she deserves recognition for her hard work. How can you postpone the wedding for me?"

Ethan patted her hand reassuringly: "I've already given her the villa in the southern district as compensation. She deserves it. You don't need to feel guilty."

Vanessa let out an exaggerated gasp.

"Oh my God, Miss Hartley, you really hit the jackpot."

She released Ethan and walked to my bedside, looking down at me from above, lowering her voice to a volume only we could hear as she sneered:

"But then again, for a gold-digger from the bottom like you, you could never earn this much money in your lifetime. Trading one month's postponement for fifty million---that's quite the deal. You might as well give up the position of Mrs. Gray now."

I looked at her utterly fake face, the rage in my heart no longer suppressible.

I grabbed the glass water cup from the table and threw it hard at Vanessa's feet without hesitation.

"Crash!" Glass shattered, water splashing everywhere.

"Ah!" Vanessa screamed and collapsed to the floor, tears instantly pouring out like broken pearls. "Chloe, are you crazy!"

Ethan flew into a rage, striding over and pulling Vanessa protectively behind him.

"Chloe! What the hell is wrong with you!" he roared.

I laughed coldly, my chest heaving violently with anger, pulling painfully at my wound.

"Good intentions? She came to my hospital bed to show off and called me a bottom-feeding gold-digger---that's her good intentions?"

Vanessa hid behind Ethan, crying pitifully, trembling all over.

"Ethan, I didn't... I just thought Miss Hartley must be happy getting the villa, so I wanted to congratulate her. I don't know what I said to anger her. Why would she do this to me..."

As she cried, she secretly reached out and, while Ethan wasn't paying attention, viciously grabbed my IV tube hanging by the bedside.

She yanked hard.

"Hiss---"

The needle instantly slid roughly out of the vein in my hand, blood spurting out and dripping onto the white sheets.

"You're asking for it!"

I forced myself to sit up despite the searing pain in my shoulder and back.

Using all my strength, I slapped Vanessa hard across her pitiful face.

"Smack!"

The crisp sound of the slap echoed throughout the hospital room.

Vanessa's head snapped to the side from the force, five bright red finger marks instantly appearing on her pale face. She covered her cheek, staring in disbelief.

"You dare hit her?!"

Ethan completely lost it. Like an enraged lion, his hands clamped around my wrists like iron vises, slamming me back onto the hospital bed.

"Chloe, you're completely unreasonable! When did you become such a vicious shrew!"

He pressed down on me from above, the fury in his eyes seeming ready to burn through me.

I struggled desperately, my wrists marked with red welts from his grip.

"Let go of me! Ethan Gray, you blind bastard!"

During the violent struggle, I heard a teeth-grinding tearing sound from my right shoulder blade.

Then, excruciating bone-deep pain swept through my entire body.

The freshly sutured wound had been forcibly torn open by him.

Warm blood instantly gushed out, rapidly staining my white hospital gown and spreading across the sheets in a large, horrifying red patch.

Ethan looked down and saw that glaring blood.

His pupils contracted sharply, veins bulging on the back of his hand, undisguisable panic and shock flashing through his eyes.

"Chloe..."

He instinctively released his grip, his voice trembling as he reached to cover my wound.

But just then, Vanessa suddenly covered her face, moaning in pain, her body sliding limply downward.

"Ethan, I feel so dizzy... I can't breathe... I'm so scared..."

Ethan's movement froze.

Between me, covered in blood, and Vanessa, "on the verge of collapse," he hesitated for less than a second.

"You brought this on yourself." He abruptly withdrew his hand, issuing a cold order. "When you learn to control your emotions and apologize to Vanessa, then we'll go get our marriage license."

With that, he scooped Vanessa up in his arms and rushed out of the room without looking back.

"Doctor! Come quick and check on Vanessa! She's fainted!"

His frantically worried shouts echoed through the corridor.

I collapsed on the hospital bed, watching the blood continuously flowing from my shoulder and back, my vision gradually blurring.

With trembling hands, I pressed the call button.

Doctors and nurses rushed in. Seeing the bed full of blood, their faces went deathly pale as they immediately wheeled me toward the emergency room.

"Patient's wound torn open a second time, massive hemorrhaging! Prepare blood plasma quickly!"

The pain of being re-sutured was even more unbearable than the first time. Without anesthesia, each stitch piercing through flesh felt like slow torture of my soul.

After the emergency treatment ended, I lay weakly in the hospital bed, my face paler than paper.

I took out my phone and dialed an encrypted international number.

The phone rang three times before being answered.

"Hello, Grandpa. It's me, Chloe."

On the other end, an elderly man's trembling, excited voice came through, filled with incredible joy.

"Chloe? You're finally willing to contact Grandpa! I found out where you were three years ago, but you refused to acknowledge me as your grandfather for that poor boy's sake, preferring to suffer! Have you come to your senses now? I'll send the private jet to pick you up right away!"

I closed my eyes, tears silently falling and landing on the pillow.

"Grandpa, I was wrong. I shouldn't have run away from home for a man. I shouldn't have been so foolish. I want to come home."