LOGINCHAPTER EIGHTFive years later, Ember lay on the bed in her little room at the hospital, her scattered long hair falling carelessly on her face. The loud ringing of her phone caused her to open her eyes with a frownWho the hell is thatShe had been attending to patients since two days now, and just when she wants to get some sleep, some annoying creature just wants to frustrate herGroaning, she picked the constantly ringing phone“Hello, Director Jim.As expected, Jim's flattering voice came laced with a little seriousness and urgency“Ember, you're resting?Ember felt the urge to roll her eyesOf course he knew she's taking a rest“What is it, Jim?” Ember asked, sitting up while running her hands on her scattered hair“Can you come down for a few minutes?Her eyes flicked to the clock“Why?“I need to discuss something with you, please, just for 30 minutes.“20,” Ember insisted“Fine, 20 minutes. It won't take long. Thank you, Dr. Valen.Ten minutes later, Ember stepped into Jim's
CHAPTER SEVENEmber woke to the sharp scent of disinfectant.A hospital.Before she could process anything else, a familiar face rushed into her view.“Ember!” Pearl cried, tears streaming down her cheeks as she grabbed her hand. “You scared me to death. I thought you wouldn’t wake up.”Ember blinked slowly, her head throbbing as if it were splitting apart. She scanned the room, the beeping machines confirming what she already knew.“That bastard Alpha,” Pearl snapped, anger blazing through her tears. “How dare he treat you like that? And your father God, I wish I could kill him.”Pearl paced beside the bed, fists clenched.“You’ve never known injustice your entire life, but ever since you married him, it’s been nothing but humiliation. Over and over again.”Ember tightened her grip on Pearl’s hand and managed a faint, bitter smile.“I’m fine,” she said softly.Then, after a pause, “At least this taught me something. I have no one but myself… and you. I don’t care about them anymore.
CHAPTER SIXHe had always known she loved him.Yet all these years, he had watched her make a fool of herself just to stir some feeling in him. She had been loving, crying, struggling.And Ryker? He had watched coldly from the sidelines as she struggled pointlessly within the circle he had drawn for her, utterly unmoved, like the coldest of spectators.He knew well enough that she loved him. Yet he humiliated her.The cruelty and betrayal broke her.Ember dug her nails deeply into her palms to maintain her composure. She looked at Ryker with a determined expression.“Try me.”With that, she turned to walk away.But Ryker’s mother, the queen, immediately walked up to her with a scowl on her face. Dressed in a pristine white chiffon dress, she exuded an ethereal beauty.“Ember Valen, one moment please.”Ember followed her with a frown. She had always known that Marilee Hale—Ryker’s mother—never liked her, but she followed her nonetheless.At the corner of her eye, she could see Ryker ru
CHAPTER FIVERyker’s face turned grim with anger.“Was that why you spread rumours online that she’s a homewrecker? Do you know how much damage that caused to her career? She literally cut her wrists when she couldn’t take it anymore.”“I didn’t spread any rumours, but whoever did that deserves an award,” Ember said hotly.Ryker’s face was livid with rage.“Ember!”Grabbing her wrist, he shoved his phone in her face. On the screen was a post her best friend, Pearl, had made, accusing Linda of being a homewrecker. Surprisingly, the post had gained over a thousand engagements.It seemed not many people hated her after all.“What? That’s what she gets for trying to be a homewrecker. And before you ask, I didn’t tell her to post that,” Ember insisted stubbornly.She hadn’t really asked Pearl to post it, but Pearl must have been so angry that she did it on her own.Ryker immediately took her phone from her handbag and handed it to her.“Make a post saying she isn’t a homewrecker.”Ember st
CHAPTER FOUREmber came back to an empty house, with only the maids and guards as her companions.But she didn’t care.That night, Ryker didn’t come back home either. Ember still didn’t care. In the past, she would have called him and sent him lots of flirty messages. But what happened a few days ago was enough to reset her love-struck brain.Of course, he never stayed out late before, and he rarely traveled for business meetings. So Ember just knew he was with his sweetheart.True to her words, the internet was buzzing with news of the small-time actress and the youngest, handsome Alpha Ryker.The hashtags read:The small-time beautiful actress and handsome Alpha Ryker were spotted leaving the hospital.Beautiful actress Linda finally reunited with her heartbeat.Alpha Ryker throws his childhood sweetheart a welcome party.Alpha Ryker and his sweetheart.Ember was nearly frustrated. It seemed wherever she went online, they were there. They were literally everywhere.It felt as though
CHAPTER THREE“Let go of me!”Her fists and legs swung roughly as he lifted her and carried her to the car.The scene brought fresh memories to her mind.It was the same way he had lifted her on the first day they met.But the difference was that this time there wasn’t even a bit of gentleness on his face—only hate and coldness.Tears welled up in her eyes before she could stop them.Ryker was momentarily dazed.Without even realizing it, he reached out to wipe her tears but stopped midway.She was the one in the wrong—clearly she was only putting on an act for him.Ember wanted to laugh when she saw him put his arm down.If it were before, he would have calmly wiped her tears even if his face was devoid of any emotion.What now?Was he tired of pretending to love her?When they arrived at the hospital, Linda was lying on the bed, her face pale. Immediately she saw Ember, she tugged at Ryker’s arm, her face filled with terror.“Ryker, why did you bring her here? Her face looks scary.”







