All Chapters of Ashes of Betrayal, Flames of Regret: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

CHAPTER ONE"Congratulations, Viola! You have been promoted to the position of the Director of our Paris office." My boss smiled at me from across her polished desk."Really? You're serious?" I couldn't believe my ears."Dead serious! You'll need to relocate next month. I suggest you start making arrangements immediately."I rushed out of the building with excitement. Paris! Brian would be so proud. Seven years of struggling together, and now everything was falling into place. I rushed home, eager to share the news with my fiancé.But when I unlocked our apartment door, I found Vanessa, Brian's dead best friend's sister sitting on our couch, her eyes red and puffy. She'd had these depressive episodes for months now, but Brian hadn't mentioned she'd be visiting today."Vanessa? What are you doing here? Is Brian home?" I asked, setting my purse down.She looked up at me, her expression suddenly darkening. "Why do you always have to ruin everything? Every time I come here, you make every

CHAPTER THREEI knelt on the elevator floor, desperately trying to gather my parents' ashes with trembling hands."Viola, get up. You're embarrassing yourself. People are going to think something's wrong with you. This is exactly why I can't take you anywhere these days." Brian hissed through clenched teeth.I looked up at him through tears. "Something is wrong! My parents' ashes are all over this dirty floor! How can you just stand there?"The elevator doors opened, and an elderly couple stepped back in shock when they saw me on my knees."Is she okay?" the woman asked Brian.Brian flashed his charming smile. "She's fine. Just having one of her episodes. My poor fiancée has... issues." He tapped his temple meaningfully. "We're taking care of her."The woman's eyes widened as she pulled her husband back. "Let's wait for the next one, dear."As the doors closed, Vanessa's voice cut through my sobs."Just look at what you've done. You've made a complete scene, and now poor Brian has to

CHAPTER FIVEThe plane landed at dawn. I grabbed my suitcase and walked through the terminal like I was in a dream. Everything felt unreal. The French announcements overhead. The smell of fresh coffee. People speaking a language I barely understood.I was really doing this. I was really here.The taxi driver loaded my bag and pulled away from the airport. I pressed my face against the window, watching Paris wake up. Bakeries were opening their doors. People in scarves hurried to work. The city looked gray and cold, but somehow beautiful."Address?" the driver asked in broken English.I showed him the paper my company sent. He looked at it and whistled low. "Very nice area, mademoiselle."Twenty minutes later, we stopped in front of a cream-colored building with black iron balconies. The kind of building I used to dream about when I was stuck in that tiny apartment with Brian, listening to him praise Vanessa's taste in everything.The concierge was an older woman with kind eyes. She ha

CHAPTER SEVENBRIAN’S POVI sat on the couch, watching the wedding planner spread glossy photos across the coffee table. Vanessa leaned forward, her eyes bright with excitement."The Four Seasons," she said, tapping a photo of a massive ballroom. "This is the one I want."The planner smiled. "Excellent choice. It's one of our most popular venues.""And for my dress, I need Vera Wang." Vanessa pulled out her phone, showing a picture she'd probably looked at a thousand times. "This one. With the long cathedral train.""Beautiful," I said, even though my throat felt tight.Vanessa didn't seem to hear me. She was already moving on to the next thing. "For the champagne toast, I want Dom Pérignon. Not regular champagne—Dom Pérignon. There's a huge difference.""Of course," the planner said, writing faster now."And I want a live orchestra. At least twenty musicians. Maybe more if the space allows." Vanessa's voice got faster, more excited. "Oh! And the rehearsal dinner has to be in the Hamp

CHAPTER NINEBrian’s PovI felt my phone buzz in my jacket pocket as I stared at Vanessa in her twenty-thousand-dollar dress. The officiant was saying something about commitment and forever, but all I could think about was Stellar Dynamics.They were supposed to sign Monday morning. Five-year contract. Two million dollars.The phone buzzed again."Brian?" Vanessa hissed through her smile. "Are you listening?""I do," I said automatically.Her eyes flashed with warning, but she kept smiling for the cameras. Three hundred guests. The Plaza Hotel. This wedding was costing me everything. Viola had wanted something small. I'd called her unromantic. Now I was standing here in front of hundreds of people I barely knew, pretending everything was perfect."You may kiss the bride."I kissed Vanessa, and the crowd erupted. But my hand was already reaching for my phone."Don't you dare," Vanessa whispered against my lips.I pulled back and checked the screen. Twelve missed calls from my CFO. My c