All Chapters of Rising From the Ashes After Seven Years Wasted: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Men and women who were elegantly and lavishly dressed mingled in Seyfried Manor, where a grand banquet was held.Ingrid Bacon raised her hand and showed the bracelet that symbolized her current status on her wrist to the socialites around her. Gasps of amazement came from the crowd, followed by mocking glances directed at me as I stood quietly in the corner.Wayne Seyfried sat at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping toward me from time to time.After she'd had enough of basking in everyone's praise, Ingrid carried a glass of champagne and walked over to me. Her gaze fell on my neck, where an extremely rare pink diamond necklace hung.Three years ago, Wayne had spent eight million dollars at Sorrell Auctions to buy it for me on my birthday.Ingrid let out a soft laugh and deliberately leaned close to my ear. "Hillary, since you've already handed over the bracelet, isn't it inappropriate for you to keep wearing the necklace meant for the lady of the house?"She reached out, int

I didn't stop. Instead, I walked straight to the kitchen.Wayne had drunk a lot last night. He suffered from a serious stomach condition. Every time he had a hangover, he needed to drink a bowl of the bone broth I made to soothe his stomach.For the past seven years, I had prepared that broth dutifully for him. Now, I silently stood in front of the stove and watched the broth simmer in the pot.This would be the last time I made this for him.I poured the broth into an insulated container and placed it on a tray. Then, I headed toward Wayne's study.The door to the study was slightly ajar, and voices drifted out from inside. Wayne was talking with his childhood friend, Jimmy Law.Just as I was about to knock, Jimmy's voice came through the door clearly.He said disapprovingly, "Wayne, don't you think you've gone too far this time? You took back the bracelet and gave away the necklace. You even let Ingrid wear the Stargazer gown. Hillary has been with you for seven years. She'd e

When I reached the intersection outside the manor district, 12 black Rolls-Royce Phantoms came to a synchronized stop in front of me through the snowstorm.The door of the car in the middle opened. Micah stepped out wearing a custom-made black overcoat. He strode toward me through the snow.The moment he saw my thin clothing and frostbitten cheeks, there was a look of fury that surged rapidly in his eyes. He removed the overcoat that still carried his body heat and wrapped it tightly around me, pulling me protectively into his arms."How could Wayne let you stand in the snow dressed like this?" he fumed, clenching his jaw hard. His voice was thick with suppressed rage, and he looked heartbroken. He apologized, "Sorry, Hillary. I came too late."I leaned against his broad, reassuring shoulder. At that moment, I felt the warmth of family and affection that I hadn't experienced in so long.I shook my head and spoke in a remarkably calm tone. "Not at all. Your timing was perfect. Le

"Wayne, this dress is still a little too loose. Can you have someone alter it for me?" Ingrid asked.Wayne looked at the necklace that had originally belonged to me. Then, he looked at the ruined gown.Disgusted, he felt an overwhelming urge to retch.He rushed forward and ripped the necklace from Ingrid's neck while roaring furiously, "Take it off! Who gave you permission to wear her clothes? Take it off right now!"Ingrid let out a terrified scream at the sight of his bloodshot eyes.…One month later, bright lights illuminated the top-floor ballroom of Saphira's largest hotel, the Imperial Hotel. The Lachlan family, the wealthiest family in Grandor, had reserved the entire top floor for an extraordinarily grand homecoming banquet.Every prominent and influential figure in Saphira had been invited.Wayne attended the banquet with Ingrid.During the past month, several major overseas projects belonging to the Seyfried Group had come under relentless attack from unidentified f

Even as the bloody scene unfolded, Wayne never spared Ingrid a single glance. Suddenly, he bent both knees and dropped to the ground in front of me. His pride and dignity broke down and vanished completely in that moment.…The day after the banquet ended, my family launched a devastating commercial assault against Seyfried Group. Its stock price plummeted day after day, and its entire cash flow chain collapsed.The powerful figures in Saphira who had once been close to Wayne distanced themselves from him after witnessing the Lachlan family's terrifying power.In less than half a month, every asset under the Seyfried family's name was seized by court order. The lofty and untouchable Wayne Seyfried no longer existed in Saphira.Winter settled over the city, and temperatures dropped well below freezing.For seven consecutive days, Wayne stood outside the luxury penthouse building where I lived. He wore only a thin suit, his hair was disheveled, and his face had taken on a sickl