When She Rose From The Ashes Novel

Chapter 120 The Forgotten Memory 51 +10 Free Coins Her reflection still looked like herself , yet not quite . Most of her features remained , but her contours had been subtly refined . At first glance , she was still Natalic . Look longer , and she had become something else entirely . Before , Natalie's beauty had been soft , like a lily - delicate and pure . Now , she was a blazing red rose , sharp - edged , dangerous , breathtaking with a kind of defiant allure . " Is this really me ? " She raised a trembling hand , fingers brushing her new skin . Baron's smile deepened . " It's you .

At sixteen , you were already this dazzling , this untamed ." Sixteen ? Natalie blinked . She wanted to argue - when had she ever been so bold ? But then , unbidden , a memory she had long buried broke the surface . That year , she had gone abroad for a dance competition . For once , away from home , she dared to try a striking makeup look - fierce , smoldering . The effect was stunning . Too stunning . Strangers stared , whispered , followed. What should have been triumph ended in fear . She remembered the leers , the mocking laughter , and the accusation that her beauty was an invitation .

She had cried , ashamed . In that moment she learned - sometimes , beauty itself was treated as a sin . After that , she swore off heavy makeup . She wore simplicity like armor , and over time , even the memory blurred . The Summers couple had never known about it . She had believed it was hers alone to carry . And yet here was Baron , recalling it so easily . Her breath caught . Hadn't he once said they had met before ? Could it have been then - during that very competition ? Her mind raced , searching the fragments of that night . And suddenly - she saw it .

She had been fleeing down a back alley , heels clattering against stone , her heart pounding after the harassment . She ducked behind a row of trash bins , praying to get back to the hotel unseen . 1/3 Chapter 120 The Forgotten Memory And then - she stumbled . A body . +10 Free Coins A man sprawled on the ground , blood soaking his chest . His face was smeared , indistinct in the dark , but when she tried to retreat , a hand clamped around her ankle . " Help me , " he rasped - in the local tongue . Natalie nearly screamed . She had never seen so much blood , never been this close to death .

Her instincts shrieked at her to run , but his grip was iron . Panicked , she pulled free what little she had - her wallet , her phone - and dropped them beside him . " I'm just a student . I don't want trouble . Here - take this . Call someone . We never saw each other , all right ? " She tugged at her leg , desperate . The man groaned , rolling back against the filthy bricks . Only then did she see the knife , buried deep in his chest . Her stomach lurched at the copper stench , the sight of so much red . " Just pull it out , " he whispered .

" Bandage me , and whether I live or die - I'll swear we never met . " " You've got to be kidding me! " she hissed , horrified . He was blackmailing her ? " I gave you everything ! Call an ambulance , damn it ! " " If I could go to a hospital , do you think I'd be lying here ? " His voice shook with weakness , but his gaze was unyielding . " I - I don't have medicine , " she stammered . " My pocket . But I can't reach . " Natalie bit her lip . So he had no strength to reach for medicine - but enough to keep her trapped ?

2/3 18:30 Wed , Sep 24 51 Chapter 120 The Forgotten Memory +10 Free Coins She realized then - he wasn't letting her leave unless she did this . And time was running out . Soon her coach would notice her absence ; she'd lose her spot in the competition . Terror and desperation warred inside her . Finally , with trembling hands , she crouched , steeling herself . And in one swift motion - yanked the knife free .