At that very moment , Ashley Whitmore was sitting on a private island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean- Coralwind Private Island . She swayed lazily in a rocking chair , the ocean breeze on her skin and warm sunlight spilling over her cheeks . A quiet , contented smile lingered on her face . Beside her sat a man with eyes the color of deep sapphire . He peeled a tangerine with deliberate care , holding a slice to her lips . " Ashley , try this , " Cyrael Laurent said in perfect Mandarin , his tone tender and full of affection . " It's delicious , " she replied with a soft , genuine smile . Ashley had never imagined she'd one day let her heart open again to another man's love . Three years ago , she had staggered out of Cresthill Manor , bruised all over , shattered in every way that mattered . It had taken her hours to find a kind - hearted driver willing to take her to a hospital . That night , her child died . And with that , so did her heart . With her immigration paperwork in hand , she fled to Canada and found her mother . Her battered body had terrified her family . Under the patient care of her mother and stepfather , Ashley's physical wounds slowly began to heal . But the ones in her heart remained . Ashley , a licensed psychologist herself , knew better than anyone : no one could save her . Not even herself . Every night she was jolted awake by nightmares - visions of that twisted monster Vincent , of Ethan's cold , calculated betrayal , of Lila Bennett's entitled rage and cruelty . She could still hear the rip of her torn clothes , feel the searing pain of a child being ripped from her body , and the needles of cactus spines buried in her flesh . These memories clung to her skin like a second skin -one woven entirely from trauma . She had done nothing wrong . She had only saved a man's life . She had only fallen in love . So why had the world punished her so viciously ? Chapter 13 65.00 % EVONY Download Ashley couldn't make sense of it . It was as if she had been forced into a dark corner with no light , no escape . And then came Cyrael . He was the son of her stepfather's longtime friend . Unlike many in his family , he had no interest in business . His passion was art . He was the one who stopped her when she stood on the ledge , ready to jump . He took her to psychiatric wards to witness the resilience of those battling their demons , and to maternity wards to hear the first cries of new life . Slowly , he reminded her of what it meant to be alive . He taught her to paint - how to pour her pain onto canvas , how to turn suffering into something beautiful . Cyrael even began studying psychology himself , determined to become her anchor , her safe harbor . His unwavering smile and gentle persistence broke through her walls . Under his care , she gradually stepped out of the shadows and even resumed her studies in clinical psychology . Having lived through her own hell , Ashley found herself better equipped to help others navigate theirs . She had become not just a counselor , but a survivor who could truly empathize . One month ago , she and Cyrael got engaged . CoralwindIsland was his engagement gift to her . They had been vacationing there for a week now . " Want some more ? " Cyrael's voice gently pulled her from her thoughts . Ashley shook her head with a smile . " No , thank you . " " Then it's time for some rest . You need proper sleep , " he said softly , scooping her up into his arms and carrying her inside . He tucked her gently into bed , brushing a few strands of hair from her forehead , and began telling her a quiet story - just as he always did . Only after Ashley drifted off to sleep did Cyrael leave to tend to his own tasks . Ashley truly believed life would go on like this : peaceful , quiet , happy . She had never expected to see Ethan again . But fate had other plans. She had just returned to Canada when she ran into him . Chapter 13 65.00 % EVONY Download Ethan had tracked her down a week earlier . The moment he did , he dropped everything and flew to Canada . For the past seven days , he had been keeping watch outside Ashley's home . When she finally saw him- Ashley froze For a moment , she barely recognized the man standing before her . Chapter 13