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Burnt to ashes
Last Updated:
2025-03-16 15:26:00
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The One He Let Go She didn’t see it coming
Kate’s POVI sat on the curb for what felt like hours, the cold air seeping through my bones as I stared at the smoke still curling in the distance. My house was gone. My money was gone. Marcus was gone. I had nothing. But I still had connections.I forced myself up, wiping the back of my hand across my face. Davis’s old business partners, they owed me. They were his boys, but they were powerful. More importantly, they were still in the game. And I needed them. …….I took the bus, because what choice did I have?—and arrived at a discreet bar in Brooklyn, one of the spots Davis used for meetings. The place was dimly lit, cigarette smoke filled the air. The scent of old whiskey and sweat clung to the leather seats. I walked in like I belonged. Like I wasn’t standing there in the same clothes I left jail in, my face screaming desperate. A few men sat in a corner booth, murmuring among themselves. I recognized them instantly, Victor, Greg, and Tomas. They’d been handling Davis’s offs
Last Updated : 2025-03-16The One He Let Go The last friend she had
Kate’s POVThe streets blurred around me, but I kept moving. I could still fix this. The business partners? They were mere thugs. They only cared about power and money. If I could just get my hands on some cash, I’d be valuable to them again. I just needed to borrow some money. And I knew exactly who to call. Fraya. She had always been there for me. Right now, she was the only one I could turn to. Fraya was one of my closest friends, standing here now, she was my last hope. I dug out my phone, hands shaking, and dialed her number. The phone rang once. Twice. Then went to voicemail. I clenched my jaw. I called again, straight to voicemail. What the hell? I tried again. This time, the phone rang longer before a sharp click echoed in my ear. A voice. Her tone was clipped, impatient. “Kate.” Relief flooded me. “Oh, thank God. Fraya, I need…..” “What do you want?” I faltered. “I—I need to meet you. It’s important.” Silence. Then a slow, irritated sigh. “Kate, I’m busy.”
Last Updated : 2025-03-16The One He Let Go The job she never wanted
Kate’s POVThe sun was setting when I stepped into a close diner. It wasn’t much, just a run-down little place with shining neon lights and cracked leather booths. The smell of cheap coffee and fried food clung to the air, mixing with something stale. I hated it, but i didn’t have a choice. I needed money. The thought of going to Kelly made my stomach churn. I would rather scrub floors than beg her for a single cent. I squared my shoulders and approached the counter. A baldman with a thick gut leaned against the register, flipping through a newspaper. His name tag read Tony – Manager. He didn’t even look up. I cleared my throat. “Excuse me.” He grunted. “Yeah?” I hesitated. God, this was humiliating. “I need a job.” That got his attention. He lowered the paper and really looked at me. His gaze moved over my designer coat, my already thinning manicured nails—what was left of them—before settling on my face. Then, he laughed. Loud and mocking. “You?” He snorted. “You wa
Last Updated : 2025-03-16The One He Let Go The ultimate rock bottom
Kate’s POV The moment I saw that car outside the diner, my stomach dropped. Sleek black Audi. The same luxury model I had paid for, Marcus’s car. He was here. My fingers clenched around the edge of my tray. My heart pounded so hard it drowned out the chatter of the diner. Finally, I found him. For weeks, I had been looking. Calling disconnected numbers, asking people who only sneered at me. Now, he was right outside, sitting behind the wheel of the car I bought him like nothing had happened. I almost ran out right then and there. Almost. But this wasn’t the place. Not yet. Not where he could just speed off and leave me humiliated in the middle of the street. I needed to do this right, to catch him in a way he couldn’t escape. So, I waited. I held my breath as the driver’s side door opened. And then she stepped out. A woman, tall, stunning. Dressed in an expensive, body-hugging dress that screamed money.My money. The way she moved, the confidence in her stride, the way Marc
Last Updated : 2025-03-16The One He Let Go Regret
Kate’s POV I didn’t even remember how I got here. One minute, I was walking barefoot, my clothes damp from the night air, my stomach aching with hunger. Next, I was standing in front of Kelly’s house.Her perfect house. The white porch lights shone against the darkness, glowing like some kind of sanctuary. How did I even get here? Because my feet had led me here anyway. Because I had nowhere else to go. I swallowed hard and forced myself forward. The moment I knocked, I regretted it. What if she slammed the door in my face? What if she had already called the police? But before I could turn and run, the door opened. Kelly stood there. Her hair was loose, slightly tousled like she had just gotten out of bed. But her expression was sharp. Her eyes were cold. She didn’t look surprised to see me. Just unimpressed. Like she had expected this. “Kate.” Her voice was flat and emotionless.I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I had practiced what I was going to say in my head a th
Last Updated : 2025-03-16The One He Let Go The final unraveling
Kelly I was heading home from a late meeting at the office when I first noticed her. The city’s glow blurred in the rain, turning sidewalks into reflective mirrors. But there, amid the indifferent bustle of people hurrying to escape the downpour, I saw a familiar figure. A figure I’d hoped to forget. Kate. She was slumped against a cold brick wall, her once-pristine designer coat now threadbare and stained. Her hair, once styled with care, was a tangled mess, damp with rain and sweat. I slowed down, a knot of conflicting emotions tightening my chest. I knew I shouldn’t care. I had moved on, free from the toxic memories that Kate represented. But as I drew closer, the sight of her brought an unexpected mix of bitterness and a strange kind of pity.A small group of passersby were clustered nearby. I overheard snippets of conversation: “Is that… isn’t that Kate Brook?” “Look at her, she’s a mess.” “Well deserved.”Their words, harsh and unsympathetic, stung even though I trie
Last Updated : 2025-03-16The One He Let Go Behind the screen
Kelly “This is Kelly Brook on Channel 5 News,” I began, my voice steady even as my heart hammered. “Anderson Grant, America’s rising star, has filed for divorce after a decade-long marriage to Miss A, sources close to the couple confirm that this decision comes as a surprise to Miss A, who was not informed prior to the filing. I paused, panic rising. But I had to steady myself, I was on live television and nationwide, people were watching. "We’ll bring you more updates on this developing story, stay stuned!" The broadcast ended, and the moment the cameras switched off, I exhaled sharply. Peeling off my earpiece, I leaned back trying to control the anxiety clawing at my chest. Anderson wasn’t just a headline. He was my husband. My secret husband. For ten years, we had kept our marriage out of the spotlight. The world adored him, but no one knew he belonged to me. I had agreed to keep it private, thinking it would protect us. But now, I wasn’t sure if that secrecy had been
Last Updated : 2024-12-01The One He Let Go The stranger in my own home
Kelly I stumbled out of the hospital, clutching my arm where I had yanked out the IV. Blood trickled down, staining my sleeve, but I didn’t care. My head pounded with the weight of too many unanswered questions. I pressed forward, searching frantically for my car. I didn’t see him until it was too late. “Whoa! Are you okay?” I collided with someone. “I’m fine,” I muttered, stepping back and barely sparing him a glance. "Are you sure? You’re bleeding,” he pressed, but I shook my head, muttering another rushed apology as I brushed past him. Taking a few glances, I spotted my car by the driveway. I slid inside, holding my wrist to keep it from bleeding out. °○°○°○°○°○°○°○°○°○°○° The house was eerily quiet when I pulled into the driveway, the kind of silence that prickled at my skin. My heart sank when I saw my belongings piled randomly on the front porch. Pushing the door open, I stepped inside and froze. Evelyn stood in the middle of the living room—Aiden was cli
Last Updated : 2024-12-01
Latest chapter
The One He Let Go The final unraveling
Kelly I was heading home from a late meeting at the office when I first noticed her. The city’s glow blurred in the rain, turning sidewalks into reflective mirrors. But there, amid the indifferent bustle of people hurrying to escape the downpour, I saw a familiar figure. A figure I’d hoped to forget. Kate. She was slumped against a cold brick wall, her once-pristine designer coat now threadbare and stained. Her hair, once styled with care, was a tangled mess, damp with rain and sweat. I slowed down, a knot of conflicting emotions tightening my chest. I knew I shouldn’t care. I had moved on, free from the toxic memories that Kate represented. But as I drew closer, the sight of her brought an unexpected mix of bitterness and a strange kind of pity.A small group of passersby were clustered nearby. I overheard snippets of conversation: “Is that… isn’t that Kate Brook?” “Look at her, she’s a mess.” “Well deserved.”Their words, harsh and unsympathetic, stung even though I trie
The One He Let Go Regret
Kate’s POV I didn’t even remember how I got here. One minute, I was walking barefoot, my clothes damp from the night air, my stomach aching with hunger. Next, I was standing in front of Kelly’s house.Her perfect house. The white porch lights shone against the darkness, glowing like some kind of sanctuary. How did I even get here? Because my feet had led me here anyway. Because I had nowhere else to go. I swallowed hard and forced myself forward. The moment I knocked, I regretted it. What if she slammed the door in my face? What if she had already called the police? But before I could turn and run, the door opened. Kelly stood there. Her hair was loose, slightly tousled like she had just gotten out of bed. But her expression was sharp. Her eyes were cold. She didn’t look surprised to see me. Just unimpressed. Like she had expected this. “Kate.” Her voice was flat and emotionless.I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I had practiced what I was going to say in my head a th
The One He Let Go The ultimate rock bottom
Kate’s POV The moment I saw that car outside the diner, my stomach dropped. Sleek black Audi. The same luxury model I had paid for, Marcus’s car. He was here. My fingers clenched around the edge of my tray. My heart pounded so hard it drowned out the chatter of the diner. Finally, I found him. For weeks, I had been looking. Calling disconnected numbers, asking people who only sneered at me. Now, he was right outside, sitting behind the wheel of the car I bought him like nothing had happened. I almost ran out right then and there. Almost. But this wasn’t the place. Not yet. Not where he could just speed off and leave me humiliated in the middle of the street. I needed to do this right, to catch him in a way he couldn’t escape. So, I waited. I held my breath as the driver’s side door opened. And then she stepped out. A woman, tall, stunning. Dressed in an expensive, body-hugging dress that screamed money.My money. The way she moved, the confidence in her stride, the way Marc
The One He Let Go The job she never wanted
Kate’s POVThe sun was setting when I stepped into a close diner. It wasn’t much, just a run-down little place with shining neon lights and cracked leather booths. The smell of cheap coffee and fried food clung to the air, mixing with something stale. I hated it, but i didn’t have a choice. I needed money. The thought of going to Kelly made my stomach churn. I would rather scrub floors than beg her for a single cent. I squared my shoulders and approached the counter. A baldman with a thick gut leaned against the register, flipping through a newspaper. His name tag read Tony – Manager. He didn’t even look up. I cleared my throat. “Excuse me.” He grunted. “Yeah?” I hesitated. God, this was humiliating. “I need a job.” That got his attention. He lowered the paper and really looked at me. His gaze moved over my designer coat, my already thinning manicured nails—what was left of them—before settling on my face. Then, he laughed. Loud and mocking. “You?” He snorted. “You wa
The One He Let Go The last friend she had
Kate’s POVThe streets blurred around me, but I kept moving. I could still fix this. The business partners? They were mere thugs. They only cared about power and money. If I could just get my hands on some cash, I’d be valuable to them again. I just needed to borrow some money. And I knew exactly who to call. Fraya. She had always been there for me. Right now, she was the only one I could turn to. Fraya was one of my closest friends, standing here now, she was my last hope. I dug out my phone, hands shaking, and dialed her number. The phone rang once. Twice. Then went to voicemail. I clenched my jaw. I called again, straight to voicemail. What the hell? I tried again. This time, the phone rang longer before a sharp click echoed in my ear. A voice. Her tone was clipped, impatient. “Kate.” Relief flooded me. “Oh, thank God. Fraya, I need…..” “What do you want?” I faltered. “I—I need to meet you. It’s important.” Silence. Then a slow, irritated sigh. “Kate, I’m busy.”
The One He Let Go She didn’t see it coming
Kate’s POVI sat on the curb for what felt like hours, the cold air seeping through my bones as I stared at the smoke still curling in the distance. My house was gone. My money was gone. Marcus was gone. I had nothing. But I still had connections.I forced myself up, wiping the back of my hand across my face. Davis’s old business partners, they owed me. They were his boys, but they were powerful. More importantly, they were still in the game. And I needed them. …….I took the bus, because what choice did I have?—and arrived at a discreet bar in Brooklyn, one of the spots Davis used for meetings. The place was dimly lit, cigarette smoke filled the air. The scent of old whiskey and sweat clung to the leather seats. I walked in like I belonged. Like I wasn’t standing there in the same clothes I left jail in, my face screaming desperate. A few men sat in a corner booth, murmuring among themselves. I recognized them instantly, Victor, Greg, and Tomas. They’d been handling Davis’s offs
The One He Let Go Burnt to ashes
Kate’s POVI shoved my hands into my coat pockets, fingers searching for anything, loose bills, forgotten cash, anything. Nothing. Just fifty damn bucks. My throat tightened as I stared at the crumpled bill in my palm. It wasn’t enough. Not enough for a cab, not enough to get me across town, not enough to drag myself out of this humiliation. I turned my phone over in my hands, staring at Marcus’s last text again, as if it willl disappear and something positive will appear, but the message stared back at me. The words sent a fresh wave of nausea through me. This is getting real….Marcus was gone and he had taken everything. And I was stranded outside this damn prison with only fifty bucks and my pride, which was quickly slipping through my fingers. I shifted on my feet, ignoring the ache in my legs from standing for nearly an hour. I had expected him to be here. Expected something. But all I got were the stares. The murmurs started quietly at first, low whispers passing through
The One He Let Go Freedom feels like a Nightmare
Kate’s POV The cold evening air hit my skin the moment I stepped outside the prison gates. Freedom, at last. It was supposed to feel exhilarating, like I could finally breathe after being suffocated for months. Instead, all I felt was exhaustion. My eyes scanned the parking lot, my heart lifting slightly with anticipation. Any moment from now, Marcus would pull up, with that smug grin of his, arms open like I was the best thing to ever happen to him. No doubt, I am.But then, there was no black Audi. No familiar tall figure leaning against the car, waiting for me. My fingers clenched around the plastic bag holding the few possessions I had left. Maybe he was running late. I checked my phone, finally returned to me after months of deprivation. No missed calls. No texts. I exhaled sharply and dialed Marcus’s number. It rang. Once. Twice. Then—Straight to voicemail. Is this some sick joke? My stomach twisted, but I shook off the unease. Relax, Kate. He’s just busy. I tried aga
The One He Let Go The fall of Kate and Evelyn
KellyThe air inside the police station was strained. I watched as Evelyn sat across from me, her wrists cuffed, her usually neat hair disheveled. The smug arrogance she once carried was gone, replaced by a hollow, defeated expression. She had no more tricks to play, no more lives to manipulate. Adrian sat beside me, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Susan, on the other hand, stood rigid near the door, her fingers clenched into fists. Who would Evelyn call for help? Anderson? Lucian?Detective Harris, the lead investigator, leaned forward, voice steady. “Evelyn Grant, you’re facing charges of child abduction, falsification of medical records, and fraud. You can make this easier on yourself by cooperating.” Evelyn scoffed, tilting her head. “Cooperate? Do you have any idea what I did for this girls?” Her eyes snapped to me, then to Susan. “I gave you a life. I saved you.” Susan let out a harsh laugh. “Saved me?” She stepped forward, voice shaking with anger. “You stole my
