The Ashes of Vows (Elara and Damon) novel Chapter 17

17

Julian, already in the driver’s seat, started the car smoothly.“Buckle up. It’ll be safer if I take you.”

1 gripped the corner of my cane.

Over the past few days, my vision had surprisingly started to get better.

The fog in front of my eyes had thinned out a lot, and daily activities weren’t nearly as limited anymore. My doctor’s tests also showed

improvement in the damaged optic nerve, which meant I’d be leaving here soon.

The car quickly made its way to the pier. On the way, I got out to buy a bouquet of hydrangeas.

I loved hydrangeas.

When I was a kid, my mom and I lived in a small courtyard house in the countryside, just the two of us. And the flower we had most of there was hydrangeas.

Years later, Damon had bought several batches of rare varieties from abroad, in all sorts of colors, and filled our entire garden with them

for me.

But now, all of that was just a memory…

“Mr. Hart,” I said, “I’d like to go alone, just to get a look at the ocean from a distance.”

Hat and mask securely in place, I was all geared up as I got out of the car.

Julian didn’t object. He just reminded me, “The car will wait for you right here. If anything happens, remember to hold down your phone’s power button. My number is your emergency contact.”

I gripped my white cane, my back slowly fading from Julian’s view.

What I didn’t see was a familiar yacht gradually pulling into the dock at a nearby spot, just off to the side.

I stood there, gazing out at the deep blue sea, and placed the hydrangeas I was holding in front of the railing.

“Happy birthday, Mom!

This is your first birthday since we’ve been apart. Since there’s no headstone, this is the only way I can see you.”

My tears had dried up ages ago,

but my eyes still

stung.

“Oh, by the way, I’ve done everything I can, in my own way, to get justice for you. Whatever the outcome, at least I won’t have any more regrets.”

I managed a sad smile.“They say all the oceans of the world are connected in some way, so this time next year, I should be with you by a different sea.”

After I said the last bit, I took one last, long look at the ocean before turning away.

That single glance instantly sent shivers down my spine.

Peeking out from under my low–brimmed hat, I saw a figure coming down from a yacht…

It was Damon!

I instinctively whipped around. That split second, Damon, stepping off the yacht, paused. A powerful jolt hit him, and the instant he

12:02

“Say it,” he told me. “Sav

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looked up, he caught a glimpse of a retreating back.

From the soft, low ponytail, to the uncannily familiar waist–to–hip ratio…..

He froze, his entire body tingling as if struck by lightning. Then, he bolted after her, like a man possessed.

“Elle!”

“Elle, is that you?!”

My white cane clattered to the ground. Even with my vision still fuzzy, I practically dove into the Maybach’s passenger seat.

“Drive! Please, just drive!”

My voice came out as a shaky whisper.

Julian didn’t waste a second. The Maybach’s tires screeched as he floored it, the sleek car a blur as we sped away from the dock.

It wasn’t until we were miles away, a safe distance from whatever I was running from, that he finally pulled over to the side of the road.

“What’s wrong?”

Julian frowned, his gaze fixed on my abnormally pale face.“Are you… not feeling okay?”

My unusual behavior was too obvious. The slight tremor in my shoulders gave away a mix of worry, fear, or maybe even a jolt of panic.

“Miss Sterling,” he said, “don’t be scared. You’re safe now.”

He reassured me, reaching out to buckle my seatbelt, but the next second, I grabbed his wrist.

My palm was ice cold. I said, each word deliberate, “Mr. Hart, I have to get out of here. Now!”

Meanwhile, back at the dock, Damon was frantically chasing after that stumbling figure. But he was a step too late. He only vaguely saw the person slip into a luxury car before it vanished.

Damon stood in the ocean breeze, eyes red–rimmed, his frantic gaze sweeping the surroundings.

It was too similar. That silhouette, it was so much like mine.

He couldn’t even tell if he was seeing things, if it was just his mind playing tricks. He circled the pier, frantic, desperate. Then he saw it: that white hydrangea bouquet.

Damon’s eyes welled up instantly. He picked up the hydrangeas, clutching them tight to his chest.

In his open palm lay a ruby diamond ring.

That was Damon’s and my wedding ring. It had been found on the deck three days ago, and he’d been searching the sea for me ever since, without a wink of sleep.

He couldn’t even remember how many times he’d drifted so despairingly out at sea, just to recover my body.

No wonder,

No wonder he couldn’t find me, no matter what. I wasn’t dead.

He hadn’t been mistaken. I was still here. I was back….

Damon quickly dialed his assistant.“Check all surveillance footage around the docks,” he barked.“Don’t miss a single detail. I want results tonight.”

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