Chapter 15
Half a year later, Ethan received an acceptance letter from Arlington Hills Medical University–a prestigious institution in the capital city.
“I’ve been admitted to a residency program in Arlington,” he said, holding the letter, then hesitated as he looked at Natalie. “I want you to come with me,” he said softly, holding her gaze. “But only if you’re ready.”
Natalie’s fingers trembled slightly. Arlington. The very place she had fought so hard to escape.
Ethan noticed the unease in her eyes and gently took her hand.
“If you don’t want to go, I’ll turn it down-”
“No,” Natalie took a deep breath. “I can’t spend the rest of my life running.‘
Ethan reached out, brushing his fingers tenderly across her cheek.
“No matter what lies ahead, I’ll be by your side–always.”
That night, before they left for Arlington, Natalie opened her heart–completely.
She spoke of Colton’s betrayal, of Clarissa’s manipulations, of her parents‘ relentless cruel favoritism, and of the fire that had almost claimed her life, body and soul. By the time she finished,
her cheeks were soaked with tears.
Ethan had stayed silent throughout, listening with patience and pain in his eyes. When she was
done, he wiped her tears with the gentlest touch.
“It’s over now,” he whispered. “From this moment on, you have me.”
Wrapped in his embrace, Natalie felt a sense of peace she hadn’t known in years.
Upon arriving in Arlington Hills, Ethan found a quaint, secluded cottage nestled near the outskirts of the medical university–a modest home surrounded by greenery, far from the noise of the city.
Despite his demanding schedule, he always came home in time to have dinner with her.
Natalie began dancing again.
She wore a soft veil while practicing in their garden–starting with the basics, slow and uneven at first. Her movements lacked their former grace, but day by day, she felt her rhythm return.
Ethan often stood nearby watching her, pride shining in his eyes.
Chapter 15
78.95%
“You’re getting better every day,” he would say.
Natalie would laugh and shake her head. “Still a long way to go.”
“There’s no rush,” he smiled. “We’ve got all the time in the world.”
And they did.
For the first time in her broken, wandering life, Natalie had found something she thought she’d
never have again–someone to belong to. Someone who chose her without condition.-
Under Ethan’s meticulous care, the scars on Natalie’s face had all but vanished.
Her skin had regained its smooth, porcelain texture–so much so that Ethan often cupped her
cheeks and teased, “Am I a miracle worker or what?”
Natalie would giggle, eyes filled with warmth and gratitude.
He encouraged her to enter a regional dance competition.
At first, she hesitated. The idea of returning to the public eye, of facing everything she’d buried,
was terrifying. “You don’t need to hide anymore,” he whispered, taking her hand in both of his. “Your dancing doesn’t just belong to you–it belongs to the world. Let them see you shine.”
And so, she said yes.
On the day of the competition, Natalie stood beneath the stage lights in the elegant dress Ethan had chosen for her. Her movements were poised and radiant, flowing as if she’d never been hurt.
The judges and audience were stunned. Applause echoed endlessly through the hall.
She took first place without contest–her name called beneath a standing ovation, the entire
auditorium echoing with thunderous applause. Afterward, her photo was printed in the event
program, a feature promoting the upcoming gala performance.
Natalie stared at the image of herself in the glossy booklet. For a moment, it felt surreal–like the
girl consumed by fire had finally been reborn.
What she didn’t know was that the booklet had somehow ended up in Colton Blackwood’s hands.
He hadn’t been himself in a long time.
Since the day of Natalie Sinclair’s “death“, Colton had slowly withered into a shadow of the man he
once was.
After Clarissa’s schemes were exposed, he had personally had her sentenced to prison–but no
amount of justice could undo what he had done to Natalie.
Chapter 15
78.95%
He often dreamed of her, standing amid flames, her eyes hollow with despair as she whispered, “In
the next life, I hope we never meet again.”
Each time he woke, the pain cut deeper.
That day, a dance program landed on his desk by accident. He flipped it open absentmindedly-
until his eyes locked onto the cover.
The woman was veiled, revealing only her eyes. But those eyes–clear, calm, and burning with the
same defiant spirit–pierced straight through him.
Colton’s hands trembled.
“No… this isn’t real…” he muttered, eyes fixed on the veiled dancer.
He flipped to the inside page.
There, beneath the photo of the dancer, was a single name: Nina Sinclair.
A pseudonym. But to Colton, it felt like someone had thrown him a lifeline.
His rational mind screamed that it wasn’t possible–that Natalie was gone–but something inside him howled louder: Go. Go see her. What if it’s really her?
That very night, he bought a ticket to the performance and went alone.
The theater dimmed. The music began.
There she was.
Natalie stood beneath the spotlight, clad in a flowing white gown, each movement liquid and effortless–like water cascading through light, like wind brushing through spring petals.
Her every motion was fluent and elegant, in perfect harmony with the music.
Colton sat frozen in his seat, fists clenched tight, eyes locked on her.
Even with the veil, he knew. He knew.
Her form, her energy, the tilt of her chin–every detail matched the girl who had once danced through his dreams.
His eyes stung with tears.
“Natalie…” he whispered, voice cracked and hollow, as if the name itself might shatter him.
The performance ended with thunderous applause. She bowed gracefully. Her gaze swept over the audience serene, detached–until it landed on one face.
Chapter 15
78.95%
Her body stiffened. Her eyes widened beneath the veil..
She had seen him.
78.95%
