Semua Bab From Dust to Ashes: A scorned Bride : Bab 31 - Bab 40

Grey.I woke with a jolt, my head pounding like a drum, every inch of my body aching as though I had been trampled. For a moment, I couldn’t even recognize where I was. Fuck! I couldn’t see anything. My breath came in shallow, frantic gasps as I struggled to make sense of everything. What baffled me was the fact that none of the police force had been able to find me.I blinked, trying to clear the haze from my mind. My eyes were blurry, and there was something thick in my mouth. Panic surged within me as I instinctively tried to speak, only to find that my lips were sealed shut by something tight. My heart pounded faster as I twisted my head, trying to move, but the bindings around my wrists and ankles restricted my movements. I was tied down.Where the hell was I?I tugged harder against the ropes, but they only tightened, digging into my skin. My throat was dry, like sandpaper, and my stomach growled in hunger. I couldn’t remember how long it had been since I had eaten anything. My

Grey’s POVI knew Bryce wouldn’t believe me.Even before I told him, as I sat behind my desk, watching him toss his phone between his hands like he always did when he was bored or skeptical, I could already see the disbelief etched on his face. Hell, I wouldn’t believe me either if I hadn’t lived it.But I had to try."Bryce," I said, my voice more serious than I intended. “You remember Camilla, right?”He raised an eyebrow, smirking a little. “What kind of question is that? Of course, I do. She was the same woman that came here claiming to be pregnant with your child… until she died.”I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the polished mahogany surface of my desk. “Yeah… about that. I think she’s alive.”Bryce stared at me, the smirk not fading. “Come again?”“I saw her. She saved me when I was kidnapped. She got me out, Bryce. I know it sounds crazy, but it was her. And that was what I was trying to tell you last night."He laughed.Like, actually laughed. Loud and long. He even til

Camilla.I didn’t expect to be stunned. The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of what could only be described as a palace carved out of glass and white marble. I blinked, twice, maybe three times, and even rubbed the edge of my sleeve against my eyes, hoping I wasn’t hallucinating. But no—this was real. This was Grey’s house.The walls stretched high into the sky, with delicate arches and floor-to-ceiling windows that reflected the golden dusk like they were part of the sun itself. A circular driveway curled around a fountain so pristine I could see the rippling reflection of a swan statue balanced in its center. The air smelled like lavender and wealth. There were actual gardeners trimming the already-perfect hedges, and I caught the soft echo of a grand piano playing from inside.I stood there, frozen. My heart thudded somewhere near my throat. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe for a moment.This was his world. And I—what was I doing here?The image of the slum I left behind fla

Julia.I don’t know how long I sat on that park bench, knees pulled to my chest, face buried in my hands. The tears had dried up, but the ache in my chest stayed, like a dull blade slowly turning. I should’ve stayed away. I wanted to stay away. Every fiber in me screamed that going back to that house, to him, was the worst idea possible. But then that was all I have, and I could not possible run away from it like a coward.Dragging myself to my feet felt like dragging a boulder. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, ignoring the judgmental looks from passersby. My legs moved on autopilot, taking me through streets that were far too familiar, back to the one place that was supposed to be safe—but hadn’t been for a long time.I unlocked the door, pushing it open slowly like the house might somehow swallow me whole.And then I saw something that took me a while to decode.A pair of women’s panties. Just lying there. On the floor. Pale pink lace.My heart stopped mid-beat. My brain st

Camilla.I’d never known boredom could be this loud. The silence of the mansion roared in my ears as I paced around my room, again, arms folded, lips pressed into a thin line. The walls felt like they were closing in, suffocating me with every passing hour. I wasn’t a prisoner, technically, but that’s exactly what it felt like. A golden cage wrapped in luxury, yes—but a cage all the same.Grey hadn’t come to see me all day. Again.I flopped onto the bed, rolling onto my side to stare at the cold, untouched spot next to me. My hand hovered over the sheets, then clenched into a fist. I was done being ignored. If Grey wasn’t going to give me attention, then I’d get it elsewhere—even if it meant sneaking out.When Miri, one of the younger maids, walked by my room with a tray of clean towels, I sprang to the door like a woman possessed.“Miri!” I called, soft enough not to draw attention, but loud enough to make her stop.She peeked her head in, cautious. “Yes, ma?”I stepped closer, dropp