All Chapters of Rising From The Ashes: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The world had not forgotten Natalie Evans.Rumors about her abrupt disappearance spread like wildfire through high society, each more outrageous than the last. Some whispered she had fled the country, broken and humiliated. Others insisted she was secretly plotting a grand return, more powerful than ever. There were those who pitied her, believing she had finally succumbed to the overwhelming pressure of rebuilding her life in the public eye. And then there were the cynics, scoffing at the idea that she had truly left at all.Adrian Sinclair listened to all of it in silence, his sharp gray eyes scanning the latest article dissecting her whereabouts. The media vultures had latched onto her disappearance with an insatiable hunger, eager for any shred of information.He had seen headlines speculating everything from an exotic retreat in the Maldives to an emotional breakdown that had landed her in some exclusive, hidden rehab facility. None of it was true. None of it fit the Natalie he k

The air in the secluded mountain retreat was crisp, the silence broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves outside. Natalie sat by the window, her eyes tracing the jagged edges of the distant peaks. It was time to return, to step back into the world that had once tried to break her.Evelyn watched her from across the room, her expression unreadable. "So, you’ve made up your mind?"Natalie nodded. "I have.""Good," Evelyn said, crossing one leg over the other. "Because the moment you step foot back in the city, all hell will break loose. Adrian won’t sit back and watch. Daniel will try to use you to his advantage. And the vultures in high society? They’ll be circling, waiting for you to stumble."Natalie’s lips curled into a smirk. "Let them. I’m not the woman they remember."Evelyn exhaled sharply, shaking her head with a grin. "That’s what I wanted to hear."By the time Natalie arrived at the private airport, she had already mapped out her next moves. A luxury jet waited on the

The wind howled outside Natalie Evans' isolated mountain cabin, rattling the windowpanes as snow enveloped the dense forest in a muffled quiet. It was warm within, thick with the scent of pine and crackling wood, but the spitting flames could not thaw the growing tension that had gripped the room. The unexpected guest from only hours earlier, Marcus Vance—a close friend from her past corporate life—now leaned against the fireplace, arms folded, watching Natalie pace."You've been quiet for too long, Natalie," Marcus said, his voice low and steady. "They think you're weak. They think you ran away."Natalie stopped mid-stride, her back to him. Her black hair fell down her shoulders like an inky waterfall, shining in the firelight. She turned slowly, her expression unreadable."Let them think what they will," she said, her voice steel wrapped in velvet. "I didn't disappear. I changed.".Marcus’ lips curved into a half-smile. “I’m glad to see the fire’s still there. But you’ll need more t

The chill in the mountain breeze was sharper than usual that morning, as if the earth itself prepared to witness the revelation of something historic. Natalie stood at the wide bay window of her isolated refuge, arms crossed over a cashmere shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Her breath frosted the glass ever so slightly as she looked out at the snow-shrouded woods, mind racing with a thousand frantic thoughts.Her unexpected visitor—Eva Monroe, her former legal advisor and once a trusted friend—sat at the rustic oak table behind her, leafing through documents that Natalie had carefully compiled over the past several weeks. Eva's brow furrowed deeper with every page she turned."You’ve been busy," Eva said finally, her voice laced with both admiration and concern. "This isn’t just a comeback. It’s a full-on declaration of war."Natalie slowly turned around. Her eyes, which had previously been soft and innocent, now held an edge that had been honed through pain and betrayal. "I didn't

The sun streamed softly through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Manhattan skyscraper. Natalie Evans walked to the edge of her brand-new office, a glass citadel that dominated the center of the city she'd lost and was determined to regain.The skyline stretched out to infinity in front of her, a men-made horizon that had previously misjudged women like her. But now, she was not just a name used with sympathy at society galas or glossed over at boardroom tables. She had returned, not with only vengeance—but with a purpose.The clack of designer heels echoed across the polished floors. Her assistant, Julia Marks, entered with a sleek tablet in hand and a knowing look. "Ms. Evans, the final list of candidates for your executive team is ready for your review. Also, the press has picked up on your re-emergence. You’re trending. Again."Natalie twirled with a half-smile. "Let them gossip. I want them to know I'm back. No more hiding in the shadows."Julia handed her the tablet. "There's