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CHAPTER 101

last update Date de publication: 2026-03-25 15:44:24

ESMERALDA'S POV

I'm in the elevator when my phone buzzes.

Marcus.

Marcus: Articles are live. All three outlets simultaneously. It's everywhere.

I check the time.

9:47 PM.

Perfect timing.

I text back: Good. Send me the links.

They come through immediately.

NEW YORK TIMES:Julian Voss Charged with Fraud, Tax Evasion

WALL STREET JOURNAL:Evidence Reveals Systematic Corporate Crime

BLOOMBERG:Billionaire Faces Twenty Years After Offshore Accounts Exposed

I click on the Times article.

Read the opening
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  • Ashes Of His Regret    CHAPTER 103

    JULIAN’S POV The holding cell is cold in a way that seeps into your bones and refuses to leave.Concrete walls. Metal bars. Fluorescent lights that never turn off, humming faintly overhead like a constant reminder that sleep isn’t meant to come easy here.I’ve been sitting here for three hours.I’m still wearing the same suit I had on at the hotel—the one I carefully chose, thinking it would impress Esmeralda. Now it just clings to me, wrinkled and stale, carrying the faint scent of sweat and something far worse.Desperation.The arrest happened fast. Too fast to process, too clean to resist.Federal marshals showed up at the hotel, their presence sharp and final.“Julian Voss, you’re under arrest for wire fraud, tax evasion, securities fraud…”The charges kept coming, stacking one after the other like nails sealing a coffin.I didn’t fight them. Didn’t even think to.What would have been the point?They read me my rights. Slapped the cuffs on. Walked me through the lobby like a spec

  • Ashes Of His Regret    CHAPTER 102

    DAMIEN'S POVShe wentto bed, while I stay in the living room.Making calls.I called Marcus first."It's done," he says. "Julian's arrested. Evidence is everywhere. We won."Won."How's Esmeralda?" he asks."Processing.""Is she okay?""I don't know. She's..different, a little bit quieter.""That's normal. Revenge has a cost.""I know.""Do you? Because you look like you're questioning this whole thing."Am I?"I'm questioning what it did to her. She came home shaking. Empty. Like she hollowed herself out to destroy him.""She'll be okay. Give her time.""Will she? Or did we just—" I stop. "Did we just turn her into someone she's not?"Marcus is quiet."Damien. She chose this. You didn't force her.""Didn't I? I gave her the tools. The resources. The plan. What if she only went through with it because I made it possible?""Or what if she went through with it because Julian destroyed her and she needed justice?""Justice. Revenge. What's the difference?""About eight years of your lif

  • Ashes Of His Regret    CHAPTER 101

    ESMERALDA'S POVI'm in the elevator when my phone buzzes.Marcus.Marcus: Articles are live. All three outlets simultaneously. It's everywhere.I check the time.9:47 PM.Perfect timing.I text back: Good. Send me the links.They come through immediately.NEW YORK TIMES:Julian Voss Charged with Fraud, Tax EvasionWALL STREET JOURNAL:Evidence Reveals Systematic Corporate CrimeBLOOMBERG:Billionaire Faces Twenty Years After Offshore Accounts ExposedI click on the Times article.Read the opening paragraph."Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges tonight against Julian Voss, former CEO of Voss Industries, after evidence surfaced revealing systematic fraud, tax evasion, and securities violations. The evidence includes recorded confessions..."Recorded confessions.His words. His voice. His crimes.All on record.All public now.The elevator reaches the lobby.I walk out.The doorman smiles. "Have a good evening, ma'am.""Thank you."I get in the car.Tell the driver: "Home, please."

  • Ashes Of His Regret    CHAPTER 100

    JULIAN'S POVShe's gone the door closed five minutes ago, and I am still standing here.Staring at nothing.She said I repulsed her,She said my touch makes her skin crawl, She said....she said she doesn't love me anymore.I sit down, The champagne is still on ice. Unopened, the city lights are still beautiful through the window.The suite is still perfect, but none of it matters, because she's gone, and she's not coming back.I thought...I don't know what I thought, that the interview would reach her, that seeing me would remind her of what we had, that love could survive destruction.But it can't.I destroyed her love.Killed it with neglect and betrayal and chose my mother over my wife. And now it's gone.Really gone.Not dormant. Not waiting.Just—gone.I pour myself champagne, drink it straight from the bottle.Pathetic.I'm pathetic.Begging on television.Kissing her without permission.Desperately clinging to a relationship that died eight months ago.My phone rings.I don't

  • Ashes Of His Regret    CHAPTER 99

    ESMERALDA'S POVThe suite is exactly as I requested.Living room. Bedroom visible through an open door. Floor-to-ceiling windows showing the city lights.Champagne on ice. Dom Pérignon.He remembered."I didn't know if you still liked" Julian gestures to the champagne."I do."He looks nervous. Thinner than I remember. Dark circles under his eyes."You look good," he says."Thank you.""Different. But good.""People change.""I know. I've changed too."Have you? I want to ask.But I don't.Not yet."Should we sit?" I ask."Yes. Of course."We sit on the couch. Too much distance between us. Too formal.He's fidgeting with his hands."I saw your interview," I say.His face lights up. "You did?""The whole world did, Julian. It went viral.""I meant what I said. All of it.""Did you?""Yes. I love you. I've always loved you. And I know I destroyed us but—" He leans forward. "If there's any chance. Any possibility—""Julian. Stop."He stops."I didn't come here to get back together with y

  • Ashes Of His Regret    Chapter 98

    ESMERALDA'S POVI wake up at 6 AM.The day of.Damien's already awake. Sitting in the chair by the window.Just watching me."How long have you been up?" I ask."A while.""Couldn't sleep?""No."I sit up. "Damien""Don't. Don't try to make me feel better. I'm allowed to be terrified.""I know.""Do you? Because you seem calm. Almost...peaceful."Am I?"I'm not peaceful. I'm just...resolved. I know what I'm doing tonight. And I'm ready.""And what are you doing?""Getting closure. Ending this. Coming home to you."He stands. Walks to the bed."What if seeing him changes things?""It won't.""But what if it does? What if you walk in that room and he's—" He stops. "Different. Changed. Actually worthy of you?""He's not.""How do you know? You haven't seen him since he did that interview."The interview.Right.The one where he publicly declared his love on national television."I saw it," I say quietly."And?""And it doesn't change anything.""You're sure?""Yes. It was desperate. Mani

  • Ashes Of His Regret    CHAPTER 33

    ESMERALDA'S POVI wake to sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows and the warm weight of Damien's arm across my waist.For a moment, I just lie there, disoriented.Then the memories flood back.The penthouse. The scotch. The contract.His bedroom. His hands. His mouth.*Oh god.*I slept

    last updateDernière mise à jour : 2026-03-23
  • Ashes Of His Regret    CHAPTER 26

    JULIAN'S POVI see them the moment they step back inside.Damien Hale's hand is on her lower back on Esmeralda's bare skin, where that goddamn dress plunges. Her cheeks are flushed, her lips slightly swollen, her hair just disheveled enough to tell a story I don't want to read.They were outside fo

    last updateDernière mise à jour : 2026-03-22
  • Ashes Of His Regret    CHAPTER 32

    ESMERALDA'S POVDamien's hands are everywhere.Sliding down my sides, gripping my hips, pulling me closer like he can't get close enough.I've forgotten what it feels like to be wanted like this. With this kind of intensity. This kind of hunger.Julian's touch became perfunctory toward the end. Rou

    last updateDernière mise à jour : 2026-03-23
  • Ashes Of His Regret    CHAPTER 30

    ESMERALDA'S POVThree days later, I'm back at Damien's penthouse.This time it's not midnight after a gala. It's eight PM on a Thursday, and we're supposed to be discussing logistics for the upcoming charity auction where we'll make our second public appearance as a "couple."But first, he said, we

    last updateDernière mise à jour : 2026-03-23
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