All Chapters of When love turns to ashes : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The study in Edward Lancaster’s estate was like stepping into the past mahogany shelves stacked with first editions, the scent of aged whiskey and cigar smoke lingering in the air like old secrets. A single fire crackled in the grand fireplace, casting a golden glow on the paintings of generations of Lancasters who’d built and bled for power.Xander stepped inside, shoulders squared, heart heavy. His father sat behind his massive oak desk, swirling a glass of brandy with the smugness of a man who had waited too long for something and finally gotten it.“You’ve done it, haven’t you?” Edward said the moment he saw his son’s face. He didn’t even wait for confirmation. “She said yes. She’s your girlfriend now.”Xander gave a slow nod, jaw tightening. “She agreed. We’re… officially together.”Edward stood, raising his glass with a grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “Cheers, son. You’re now the true son of your father.” He walked over and clinked his glass against Xander’s untouched one. “To

Larry sat behind his wide, mahogany desk, surrounded by glossy charts and quarterly reports, trying desperately to concentrate on numbers, forecasts, and profit margins. His tie was loosened, his sleeves rolled up, sweat gleaming at his temples. The world outside still moved at a frenetic pace, but he needed focus.That was until Audrey barged in, waving her phone with reckless energy.“Larry—you need to see this,” she said, thrusting the screen in front of his face.He pulled his gaze away from the spreadsheet. “What now?”She tapped the phone—opened Instagram, a tabloid site, and dozens of blurry paparazzi photos of June and Xander walking arm-in-arm, laughing, sharing a quick kiss in front of a restaurant. June’s head rested gently on Xander’s shoulder; Xander’s hand shielded her from one of the photographers as if guarding something precious.“Oh my God,” Audrey murmured, voice thick with satisfaction. “Look at them, Larry. They’re getting closer.”Larry’s face hardened, muscles t

Audrey stood by the full-length mirror in her bedroom, still dressed in the silk robe Larry had bought her during their brief “honeymoon” weekend after the rushed registry wedding. She looked at her reflection with narrowed eyes—not in admiration, but in calculation.She wasn’t comfortable.Not even a little.Something in the air was shifting. Larry was there with her, yes. Physically. He answered her texts, picked her up from appointments, even indulged her little whims when necessary. But she wasn’t blind—his heart was elsewhere.With her.June.Audrey paced the floor barefoot, the cold tiles grounding her as her mind buzzed in a frenzy. “This wasn’t supposed to be this hard,” she muttered under her breath. “She was supposed to be history.”But June Williams wasn’t fading quietly into the past.If anything, she was rising—again.The media had started buzzing, posting subtle snapshots of June’s growing public reappearance. Paparazzi had even snapped her coming out of a charity event

The hum of Xander’s phone on the bedside table pulled him from the stillness of early morning. Sunlight filtered through the white curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. June was still asleep beside him, her body curled toward the window, her breaths steady and slow, like ocean waves lapping against the shore. Her hair was tousled, one hand tucked under the pillow. She looked peaceful, for once.Xander reached for his phone, expecting a calendar reminder or a work email.But it was a text.From an unknown number."She doesn’t love you. She’s still in love with Larry. She’ll leave you the moment he calls. Open your eyes, Xander. Don’t be a fool."There was no name. No emoji. Just the cold weight of accusation.Xander sat up slowly, rereading the message. His chest tightened. He looked down at June sleeping soundly, unaware of the silent detonation that had just gone off in the room.His first instinct was disbelief. Who would send something like this? Why now?His mind raced.H

The marriage between June Williams and Xander Hale was the talk of the town. It wasn’t just the whirlwind nature of the engagement that had everyone buzzing it was the timing, the scandal, the unanswered questions. Society columnists devoured it. Social media ran with it. Whispers crept into business meetings, charity luncheons, and brunch tables:She moved on too fast.Was she really cheating on Larry?Why him? Why Xander?Is this about money? Revenge? Image?But for June, none of that mattered. The public could talk. People could judge. As far as she was concerned, she had chosen love. Or at least, she had chosen peace.And peace came with Xander.He had been steady in the storm, patient through her breakdowns, quiet in his support. When the world turned its back on her, he held her up. And for the first time in years, she didn’t feel like she was drowning.Which was why, on a quiet Wednesday afternoon, she picked up the phone and called the only person whose opinion could still swa