Chapter 16
When Wendy calmed down, she noticed Jason’s shirt was soaked with blood–his wound had reopened during the struggle.
She quickly cleaned and bandaged it again.
Afterward, exhausted, she texted Yvonne, “Ugh! So much drama lately. I’m swamped.”
The moment she hit send, a ding came from Jason’s phone.
Frowning, she sent another message, “You there?”
Ding-
Jason’s face paled as he scrambled to silence his phone.
But Wendy was faster, snatching it from him.
Her own messages stared back from the screen.
The air turned deadly still.
Jason exhaled, shoulders slumping in resignation. “I confess. The story I told you the girl in the flower shop–was you. When I returned to Vostoklia, you were already with Ethan and seemed happy. Then one day, Yvonne told me you wanted the amnesia drug I’d funded. I had her give it to you. After you left for Lumière, I followed because I couldn’t let you face this alone. I borrowed Yvonne’s account to help you settle in, to ‘coincidentally‘ meet you.”
Jason’s eyes reddened as he added, “But I swear, I meant no harm. I just… wanted to protect you.”
The flood of information overwhelmed Wendy.
She stood silently. “Leave. I need to think.”
Seeing her pale face, Jason’s heart ached, but he didn’t want to burden her further. “Okay.”
Once he was gone, Wendy leaned against the door and slid to the floor.
The weight of the past pressed down on her, suffocating.
What was she supposed to do?
That night, she didn’t sleep a wink.
The next morning, Jason returned as usual to help.
He changed water, trimmed stems, wrapped bouquets–just like always.
Wendy worked alongside him in silence, the air thick with unspoken tension.
The door chimed as it opened, revealing the man from last night–Ethan, though he hardly looked the same. Dark circles bruised his eyes like he hadn’t slept in decades. His voice came out tentative, almost painfully polite-
“I’d… like to buy some flowers.”
Wendy didn’t bother looking up from her pruning shears. “Not selling.”
“Name your price.” His fingers twitched against his coat sleeve. “A million. A billion. Whatever number you say-
“Get out!” Jason shoved him hard. “She said no.”
Once again, Jason forced Ethan out.
”
Through the display window’s glass, he watched them work–Wendy and that man, their heads bent together as they trimmed stems. Then it happened -a laugh broke across her face, bright and unguarded in a way Ethan had never seen.
his hands.
The familiarity of it stabbed through him. That was how she’d looked at him once, a lifetime ago in another city. Before the betrayals. Before the blood on
His chest constricted. What goddamn incantation would undo this? What saint took bribes for second chances?
Heart aching, Ethan turned to leave–only to spot a shadowy figure lurking nearby, eyes fixed on Wendy through the window.
The man held a bottle of clear liquid, poised to rush into the shop.
A terrible premonition struck.
Chapter 16
Bang!
The door burst open as the man hurled the liquid straight at Wendy’s face.
Distracted by the flowers, Wendy didn’t react in time.
“Look out!” Jason wrapped his arms around her, twisting to shield her with his body.
At the same moment, another figure lunged forward, throwing himself between them and the attacker.
“Ahh!” Ethan screamed as his back erupted in white smoke, the stench of burning flesh filling the air.
A few drops splashed onto Jason’s arm, instantly eating through to the muscle.
Realization dawned on Wendy. “Sulfuric acid!”
