Chapter 13
Lately, Colton had become distant–chillingly so.
Clarissa felt it. And the more she noticed, the more terrified she became.
One night, she couldn’t resist the urge and secretly went through his briefcase.
What she found inside froze her blood cold–a confidential investigation file.
“It’s over…”
Her face turned deathly pale. Her hands trembled so violently she nearly dropped the
He knew. He knew everything.
pages.
In a panic, she shoved the report back in and began packing. Her mind screamed just one word:
Run.
When Colton came home, he found her dragging a suitcase toward the door.
He stood in the doorway, voice sharp as steel. “Where are you going?”
J
Clarissa jolted in fear, forcing a smile. “I–I just thought I’d take Joey out to the countryside for a few
days…”
Colton let out a sharp, derisive laugh. “What’s wrong? Feeling guilty?”
She backed up, pale as a sheet. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
Colton stepped closer, every word colder than the last. “You actually thought you could bury the
truth forever?”
Clarissa’s knees buckled. She collapsed to the floor in a sobbing heap. “Colton, please, let me explain…”
He looked down at her with a disgusted glare. “Explain? Sure. I’d love to hear it.”
“Explain how you colluded with Raymond Briggs to get Natalie killed!”
Clarissa began to shake violently, her voice breaking in hysterics. “I didn’t mean to! I was just…
scared!”
“Scared?” Colton sneered. “Scared she’d take back what was hers?”
“But I grew up in the Sinclair family too! Why should I have to give up everything the second she came back?!”
Chapter 13
68 42%
Colton’s voice was ice. “So you drugged her, made her miscarry, set her up to be assaulted–and in
the end, killed her?”
Clarissa collapsed in a heap, sobbing hysterically.
“I just… I just wanted her gone…”
Colton closed his eyes, chest heaving. At last, the truth was out. From her own mouth.
He called Richard and Elizabeth Sinclair over and laid all the evidence before them.
Elizabeth fainted on the spot.
General Richard Sinclair stared at the pages, tears shimmering in his eyes. His voice trembled. “Monster… We created this monster with our own hands.”
They finally understood that all those years of blind favoritism toward Clarissa… had cost them their real daughter’s life.
In a fury, General Sinclair slapped Clarissa hard across the face. “Get out! From this day on, the Sinclair family has no daughter named Clarissa!”
Clarissa clutched her cheek, then suddenly burst out laughing, hysterical and manic. “Now you regret it? Spare me. If you really loved Natalie, why did you always choose me over her?!”
“You’re no better than I am. She’s dead now–and suddenly, you’re pretending to be the grieving parents?! Spare me.”
General Sinclair shook with rage, but it was Colton who spoke next–calm, low, deadly.
“You think… you’re getting away with this?”
He raised his hand, and two military officers stepped forward, pinning Clarissa down.
She struggled wildly. “What are you doing?!”
Colton stared her down. “You owe Natalie a debt that can never be repaid.”
Clarissa was locked away in the basement.
Colton gave the order: one bowl of water and half a slice of bread a day. Nothing more. Let her taste the same torment Natalie once endured.
He stood outside the iron door, voice dark and cold:
“This is only the beginning, Clarissa.”
“Everything Natalie suffered–I’ll make sure you feel it a hundredfold.”
Chapter 13
68.42%
Curled in the corner, Clarissa screamed in anguish.
“Colton Blackwood! You’ll die in hell!”
He didn’t even flinch.
Die in hell?
He already had.
When Natalie opened her eyes, all she saw was a strange, unfamiliar ceiling.
She tried to move her fingers, but the pain that shot through her body was blinding. Memories
surged back like a tidal wave–flames, betrayal, despair.
She was supposed to be dead.
“You’re awake.”
A gentle male voice came from beside her. She slowly turned her head and saw a stranger–maybe in his early thirties, with soft features and calm eyes–mixing something in a small porcelain bowl.
“L…”
Her throat was so dry, she couldn’t make a sound.
The man quickly set the bowl aside and lifted her head gently, helping her sip some warm water.
“Easy now. Your injuries were severe. It’s a miracle you’re alive.”
His voice was low, but reassuring.
Only then did Natalie notice the bandages wrapped around her arms and neck. The bitter scent of
ointment clung to the air.
She raised a trembling hand to her cheek and felt the rough texture of scar tissue.
Her heart sank like a stone.
“My… face…”
But the man showed no revulsion–only quiet, unwavering compassion.
“The burns were deep. But don’t worry–I’ll do everything I can.”
“Who… are you?” she whispered, voice barely audible through the dryness in her throat.
Chapter 13
68.42%
Chapter 14
“My name is Ethan Langston,” the man said with a gentle smile. “I’m trained in holistic medicine.”
“That day, I was out foraging herbs in the mountains when I spotted the warehouse engulfed in
flames. I ran inside, and you were already unconscious.”
Natalie stared at him, stunned. Her eyes welled up with tears. She hadn’t expected anyone to save
her.
“Thank you…” Her voice cracked with emotion.
Ethan shook his head. “No need. Just focus on healing.”
In the days that followed, Natalie slowly began to recover under Ethan’s quiet, constant care.
He changed her dressings, brewed her herbal treatments, and even cooked porridge for her
himself. His hands were clean and steady, every movement precise and gentle, as if afraid to hurt
her.
She slowly shed her guard and began to trust again.
Ethan was nothing like Colton. He was patient, kind, and never condescending. He didn’t force anything on her. He simply helped–quietly and steadily.
A month later, Natalie was able to get out of bed.
She stood before the mirror, her gaze fixed on the web of scars across her body. Her hands shot up
to cover her face.
“It’s hideous… isn’t it?” she whispered with a bitter smile.
Ethan stepped up behind her, resting his hands lightly on her shoulders. “Scars fade. You’ll see. I
promise.”
“But… my legs…” her voice caught.
Natalie lowered her gaze to her once–graceful dancer’s legs, now marred with burns and stiff at the
joints.
Ethan knelt before her, his fingers pressing gently along her knees.
“The injuries are serious,” he said. “But not beyond repair.”
Natalie’s breath caught. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve inherited a treatment method–acupuncture combined with herbal soaks and daily therapy.
Chapter 14
73.68%
L
It’s slow, but it works. If you’re willing to try, I think you can dance again.”
Tears streamed down Natalie’s face.
“Really… I could dance again?”
Ethan nodded. “If you believe in it–and yourself.”
From that day forward, Natalie began her long, painful road to recovery.
Each morning, Ethan would administer acupuncture; at night, he prepared herbal baths and
massaged her stiff joints. The pain was excruciating at first, often making her break out in cold
sweats. But Ethan never left her side.
“Hold my hand when it hurts,” he’d whisper.
And she did–gripping his wrist so tightly it left marks, but he never complained. He would simply
wait–silent, steady–until the pain ebbed.
Three months later, Natalie could feel her legs again. The first time she managed to lift her foot,
she burst into tears.
“I can move… Ethan, I can move!”
He grinned and tousled her hair. “This is only the beginning.”
Time passed. Her scars began to fade, and her legs grew stronger with each day.
She started trying out simple dance moves–still clumsy, still hesitant–but Ethan stood beside her
with admiration in his eyes.
“You’re beautiful,” he said sincerely.
Natalie shook her head. “I’m still far from it.”
“But you’re better than yesterday. That’s enough.”
His encouragement warmed her heart.
Before she realized it, Natalie had started to look forward to seeing him every day. When he left to
gather herbs, she’d catch herself glancing toward the door, waiting.
One night, she jerked awake, heart pounding–fire, screams, helplessness all flooding back at once. Her pajamas were soaked in sweat, and she couldn’t stop trembling.
The door creaked open softly.
Ethan stepped in holding a cup of warm tea. “Bad dream?”
Chapter 14
-73.68%
He sat beside her on the bed and handed her the cup.
Natalie accepted it with shaky hands. He hesitated for a moment, then reached over and gently held
her hand.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said softly. “I’m here.”
His touch was warm and steady. Something in her chest cracked open. She leaned against his
shoulder, voice barely a whisper.
“Ethan…”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For saving me.”
Ethan was silent for a moment, then spoke in a low, quiet tone. “Actually… I should be the one
thanking you.”
Natalie blinked. “Why?”
“Before I met you, my life was routine. Diagnosing patients, studying medical texts, gathering
herbs.” He smiled. “But you changed that. You made everything… different.”
Natalie’s heartbeat quickened.
Ethan looked at her, his gaze tender and unwavering. “Natalie, I like you.”
She froze.
“I know you’ve been through a lot,” he added gently. “And I’ll wait as long as you need. But I want you to know this–you deserve to be loved. To be treated with care.”
Tears slipped down Natalie’s cheeks. She nodded slowly and leaned into his arms.
“I like
you too…‘
Ethan wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.
