All Chapters of When Love Burned to Nothing: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

I almost bolted out the door, as if I was running from something. To my surprise, Ken Bowen actually chased after me."Why are you in such a rush? It's cold out. You didn't even grab a proper coat."He held out a fur coat. I shook my head and refused it. "No, thanks. You bought it with your money."He froze for a few seconds, irritation and a hint of concern flashing in his eyes.Normally, he would've snapped at me already. This time, his tone softened instead."I didn't finish what I was saying. If you regret this, you know where to find me."Then he pressed something flat and cold into my palm."Your wish coin."He deliberately squeezed my hand, as if everything was still under his control.I closed my fingers around the wish coin, something I hadn't seen in years, and my emotions tangled into a mess.When we first got married, he had 100 custom wish coins made, calling them rewards for me.Back then, when things were good, I would get one every month and could trade it fo

Chapter 2

Back when Ken was still struggling to get his business off the ground, he got targeted by rivals looking for payback.That day was my first day out of college, my first day at work. I couldn't stand watching it happen. I called the police, hurled my backpack at the bad guys, and grabbed Ken before sprinting away.Still, there were too many of them. Before the cops arrived, I took three knife wounds for him.I was rushed to the hospital. Ken was hurt even worse, but he still stayed by my side and took care of me for a full month.We were young, caught up in everything at once. We fell in love before we even realized it. When his startup finally took off, we got married.Not long after, my eldest, Carly Bowen, was born. Ken was even more excited than I was. He kept saying he would give me and our child the best life possible.He loved his career, so I stayed behind him, supporting his work and holding everything together at home.People mocked me for getting married before I had e

Chapter 3

After that night, I got seriously sick. I vomited blood and passed out in the middle of the night.Ken was terrified. He pulled together the best medical team he could find to save me."Babe, as long as you get better, I'll do whatever you say. I'll be the best husband ever. I swear."For a while after that, he really did rein himself in. Bianca left his company, too.Life seemed to slip back into what it used to be. The three girls were thrilled their dad was home more often.But that illusion was shattered a few days ago. I was on my way home from the hospital after taking care of Whitney when I ran into Ken. He was with all three girls and Bianca, eating at a newly opened trendy restaurant.Through the huge glass window, I saw Ken and Bianca feeding each other using their mouths.My three daughters sat across from them, giggling."Mom, Dad, you two are so embarrassing!"It felt as if I had been struck by lightning. The three girls I had raised all by myself were calling ano

Chapter 4

"No, please don't!" I cried. "Whitney just finished surgery. If you stop her treatment now, it'll kill her."Ken knew exactly how much Whitney meant to me. And yet, just to punish me, he still cut off the medical payments.Ignoring my pleading, he finished the call and went back to work, as if nothing had happened.I dragged my weak body to his office anyway, forcing myself to go beg him in person.The moment I stepped inside, I realized Bianca had returned. Not only that, she was now the vice president.That position had been empty all this time. Back then, to thank me for staying home and supporting him, Ken had promised me, "The VP spot will always be yours. Once the kids are grown, you'll come work at the company as vice president."I never imagined that the position he once promised me would be given to another woman.Ken froze for a moment when he saw me, but he quickly recovered.Bianca walked around the desk and sat down on his lap, looking at me with open mockery."Yo

Chapter 5

Ken froze. He asked into the phone, disbelief written all over his face, "What did you just say? Linette set her house on fire? Why would she do that?"With a deep frown, he headed straight to the hospital.Bianca stayed close beside him, deliberately stirring things up."Is it possible that she's just jealous of us? Maybe it's just a trick to get you to give in to her!"As she spoke, she pressed herself against his back, her body brushing his spine.But Ken felt restless. Something about all of this felt wrong. He hadn't expected things to go this far.When they arrived at the hospital, he finally saw the person lying in the bed.I was already awake. Burns of different sizes covered my body, the pain dull but constant.I stared blankly at the ceiling. I had already made peace with dying. I had no family left in this world. What was the point of staying alive, anyway?Ken looked at the blisters and burns on my skin and couldn't find the words.Panic flickered across his face

Chapter 6

Bianca's face went stiff. Her mind was racing.No matter how she tried to explain it, she knew Ken wouldn't believe her anymore.Watching her eyes dart around, Ken finally snapped and pointed at the door, his voice shaking with rage."Get the hell out! I never want to see you again!"Bianca knew he was furious. Seeing that there was no point in pushing it, she left in silence, her head down.After she was gone, Ken stepped forward and clutched my hand, his voice full of regret."Linette, I'm so sorry. She fooled me. Please forgive me this once, okay?"I didn't look at him. I just closed my eyes and pretended I couldn't hear a thing.Doctors and nurses rushed in soon after.They carefully cut away my bandages. The burns underneath had worsened. They cleaned the wounds, drained the blisters, and wrapped me up again.Ken stood nearby, wiping his tears nonstop.Suddenly, the heart monitor let out a sharp, piercing beep.Ken froze, staring at the screen in terror, then ran out,

Chapter 7

Ken never expected his daughters to be this heartless.Fury surged through him as he smacked Carly on the arm."What are you talking about?!" he snapped. "Your mother is gone, and this is how you talk about her?"But the girls kept giggling on the side, not a trace of grief on their faces.Carly shrugged like it didn't matter. "So what? She wasn't that great, anyway. We've got a better mom now."Ken knew exactly who she meant.And yet, the woman they were praising was the same one who had driven their real mother to her death.Even he knew how much I had given for those kids.So why had his daughters become this cold toward me?Ken stared at them, shaking with rage. Guilt crushed down on him until he slapped himself hard twice across the face.Queenie burst into loud sobs at the sight, terrified.The entire hospital room descended into chaos. The noise made my head ache.I looked at Ken. Annoyed, I muttered, "What's the point of this now?"He had chosen Bianca first. The k

Chapter 8

Back at the hospital, Ken had already asked the doctor about the cause of my death.The doctor told him plainly that contaminated liquid entered my wounds later on, leading to a fatal infection.In other words, Bianca was the one who killed me.Yet, she showed not a shred of guilt.So Ken slipped sleeping pills into a batch of freshly baked cupcakes and smiled as he fed one to Bianca.After finishing it, Bianca grew groggy and collapsed onto the bed, fast asleep.The kids didn't last much longer, either. One by one, they slumped over.I stood there watching, a knot of confusion forming in my chest.What was he planning to do? Why didn't he spare the girls?I stood beside him and said helplessly, "Ken, stop!"I truly didn't understand him. He had betrayed me first by choosing Bianca. Why was he acting like a devoted husband now?Ken couldn't hear me. He pulled out his phone and scrolled through our old photos. Tears welled in his eyes as he stroked my face on the screen."Li

Chapter 9

I stood beside him, watching the dead look in his eyes, and let out a quiet sigh."Ken, why go this far?"The kids were still young. No one had ever taught them right from wrong. If you really thought about it, it wasn't entirely their fault.Looking back on my own life, I realized that maybe I hadn't been a very good mother either.While I was lost in those thoughts, Carly woke up.The moment she saw what Ken was doing, fear flooded her face, and she screamed. The tape over her mouth swallowed the sound.By then, Ken had already poured out all the oil.He sat down beside Carly and peeled the tape off her mouth."Anything you want to say?" he asked. Carly stared at him like he was a stranger and screamed at the top of her lungs."Mommy Bianca, save me! Please save me!"Ken hadn't expected that even now, his daughter still hadn't realized her mistake. He stepped forward and kicked Carly hard."Stop yelling! Linette was your mom! Since you like Bianca so much, I'll make sure

Chapter 10

I stood up and looked at Ken coldly."You really are heartless."He froze, clearly not expecting me to accuse him the moment we met again. Panicking, he rushed over and wrapped his arms around me."I just wanted to avenge you. I dragged them all here to apologize to you."As he spoke, he glanced back at the three girls.Their eyes were still clouded with confusion. When they saw Ken gesturing toward them, they instinctively walked over.After surviving the flames, they obeyed Ken without thinking.The three of them lined up nervously and called me "Mom".Nearby, Bianca shuddered, her face twisted with hatred as she stared at us."You monsters!" she hissed. "I won't let this go!"With that, she turned and vanished into the air.Ken looked back at me and noticed my body starting to fade, turning translucent.He clutched me in panic."Linette, I don't want to be separated from you ever again!"I shoved him away impatiently and pointed toward the firefighters still working in

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