All Chapters of When Love Fades to Ashes: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Lily could feel the Grim Reaper coming for her, and genuine tears began to well up in her eyes as she struggled to remain standing, shaking her head fervently.William finally released her.She collapsed to the floor, gagging from the prolonged choking.Terror filled her eyes as she glanced at William. She tried to crawl away from him, but he immediately grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back to him."Wait! William, it's me, Lily… You've always adored me since we were kids…" Lily sobbed, desperately trying to remind him of their past to calm William down."Yes, I did adore you the most, which is why I've tolerated your bratty behavior all these years," he said coldly. "But Sophie is the one I love the most, and I won't let anyone hurt her—not even you!"William was shocked to realize that Lily, the woman he had grown up with, was capable of something so heinous.He finally understood that all of Lily's complaints about Sophie were lies.His expression hardened as he said,

Lily's eyes were filled with fear. She refused to return to her family and tried to run away, but she accidentally slipped and fell into a puddle of dirty water.The butler scoffed, shaking his head in disdain when he saw how much filth she was covered in.He ordered the bodyguards he had brought to take Lily back to the Manse residence.-Lily was greeted with a tight slap before she could even regain her senses upon arriving at her house."You ungrateful girl! After everything I've done to raise you, hoping you'd help me win your father back… Thanks to you, that bitch's position in the family is set in stone!"I've got to hand it to you… I chose to let that vixen win your father over so I could get him to let you study abroad. Yet all you've done there is cheat on your exams, smoke, get tattoos, and sleep around with anyone you want!"How could you do this to me?! How could you indulge in your vices while I suffer here?!"Elizabeth gritted her teeth in rage at Lily's frighten

Using his connections, William discovered Sophie's phone number and current address.He still found it hard to believe, feeling uneasy as he stared at the details written on a piece of paper.He desperately wanted to call Sophie but didn't know what to say, leaving him frustrated.'Sophie clearly died at the competition venue,' he thought. 'So how did she come back to life? And why is she in Bloomington?'The police said she filed her marriage registration two days ago, but she's my fiancée…'He felt restless, torn over whether to call Sophie. He even tried to console himself, telling himself that she must have become engaged to someone else because she had lost her memory.When he calmed down, he remembered her odd behavior the month before the incident.In the past, Sophie would get jealous and angry whenever another woman appeared in William's life, no matter how understanding she claimed to be. She would stay angry until he apologized.Yet, she hadn't gotten angry when she

Elliot noticed that Sophie was still in a bad mood and decided to go ring shopping with her.-"This is one of our best-selling series that symbolizes true love. Please, pick whichever you like and give it a try," the director of the jewelry shop said, introducing a collection that caught Sophie's eye.However, her interest faded as soon as she saw the deep mark on her ring finger.Once, she had dreamed of wearing a wedding ring, but William had completely worn down that dream.Subconsciously, Sophie now saw a wedding ring as a shackle, something that would only weigh her down.Meanwhile, Elliot noticed Sophie hesitating, her thoughts seemingly elsewhere. He wrapped his arm around her waist and gently guided her to another part of the store."I'm sorry, I…" Sophie began, but trailed off, still struggling with her emotions.She bit her lip, unsure of what to say to explain herself. After all, no man would enjoy it if his wife refused to wear a wedding ring.Elliot, watching her

Elliot could feel the sweat on Sophie's palm, so he silently grasped her hand, holding it tightly as if to offer her courage.Sophie took a deep breath, looked at William, and said firmly, "I don't love you anymore, William. And I'm getting married soon."As if he'd just heard a joke, William stepped forward and reached for Sophie's hand, but she shook him off sharply.With a cold gaze, she continued. "I can't stand being compared to someone else, and I can't stand being treated like a second choice after being abandoned time and time again when I was with you."I lived in constant fear before, all because of the rumors—not just from the Lockes, but from the public as well. And all you did was turn your back and watch it all happen."William was at a loss for words, his expression falling as his mind swirled in turmoil. After all, Sophie was speaking the truth.Sophie took a deep breath, perhaps forcing herself not to shout, and stared at him. "I spent five years trying to follow