Phoenix Mode, Activated: Burn Me Once, Watch Me Rise

you that the IVF procedure has

e report she was holding, and the paper tremb

remember how many times she

s family waited for her to conceive. Despite all tha

vailable-conceiving naturally, alternative reme

's office, intending to knock. However, she stop

ne lining is extremely thin. By forcing herself t

, her husband does not want children at all. Because of

bolt of lightning had torn through her chest, and

ve? The thought echoed in her mind, and she

.

herself onto the mattress. Even with the early summer sunlight spill

er, and a sharp scent of alcohol mixed w

apped his arms around her and slid his war

e muttered, his voic

mor through her body, but instead, her ch

to the hospital for the IVF results, an

" she said quietly, her throat r

ped, and the pause lingered

difficult for you. I'll be away on a business trip for two months. Make sure y

lingering kisses, heavy with alcohol and marked by t

Chelsey, yet resisti

ul with her and nev

the bathroom. He washed her with quiet patience. After that, he

ed so many others they had share

would have looked like

ually evened out, but Chelsey rema

the briefcase Brett had casual

d never searched through his belongings, an unsp

within her. As she watched Brett sle

ister pack of small white pills hi

were contr

n place as she stared

cy, she had never used such pills, and she had only

w deeply she and Brett loved each other, s

was somewhat prepared for this after hearing the conversa

ant a child to keep contraceptive pills with him? W

antly insisted the housekeeper prepare nourishing soup for her. A chilling

deep cold spread throug

photograph slid free from the

aking it clear that it had bee

ounger Brett, smiling warmly, whil

are doing?" Brett's voi

e bed, and now he strode over, ripped the photo

Since when did you start beha

tears threatened to fall as a deep, p

stable laughter. "I have spent

before a stabbing pain su

final image etched into her mind w

.

a violent jolt as Chel

tly, a wave of acrid smoke flooded her sen

out now!" someone sho

ther voice sho

out while Chelsey pushed herself uprigh

ittered with fallen bottles, while colored ligh

tion locked onto a familiar figu

was supposed to have died in

in, Chelsey hastily reached for her phon

n were the words "Ma

sey's breathi

night when the fire claimed L

been r

f toward the door, but agony shot through her inju

crash rang out. With a force

next instant was the tall out

nding before her, and years of misplaced trust drove he

s face still marked by youth, yet already hinting at

ugh familiar, his voice carried a strained ur

did before-to come straight to her, pull her into his arms,

rested on her for only

pace, bypassing her completely as he headed fo

ed no second look, only toss

held tightly against him,

sey's hand remained stre

ained away until only a dul

ured ankle, leaving her no ch

ead of Lydia? The idea crushed her with despair