While I Was Dying, He Watched Fireworks With Her

A dark look settled over Patrick's face. "You want to divorce me?"

He grabbed Ashley by the throat and tightened his grip. "Have you actually been cheating on me? You used to stick to me like glue no matter how often I tried to push you away, and now you're suddenly asking for a divorce?"

His fingers pressed harder. Ashley's face slowly turned purple as she fought to speak.

"P-Patrick... Isn't Jolie the only woman you've ever loved?" She managed to speak. "Once you divorce me, the two of you can finally be together."

Hearing Jolie's name, Patrick eased his grip before finally letting her go.

"So we're back to Jolie again," he said with irritation. "I've told you she's nothing more than a friend now. Quit letting your jealousy turn her into a target."

Ashley dropped heavily to the floor, desperately drawing in air. Her heart surgery was still recent, and the struggle had left her chest throbbing with pain. She clutched it while trying to steady her breathing. "A friend?" she rasped. "The sort of friend you sleep with?"

Patrick's tone became icy. "I know you resent Jolie, but keep those accusations to yourself. If you ever confront her and humiliate her, our marriage won't last much longer."

Ashley took out the divorce agreement she had signed at the hospital and tossed it at his feet. "Perfect, because I don't want this marriage anymore. You give me $20, 000 a month and expect me to handle every household expense with it, yet you can spend $50 million on fireworks for the birthday of the woman you love. I'm not living this way anymore."

By the time she stopped speaking, her breathing had become labored again. She stayed down until the pain eased, then grabbed the console by the doorway and slowly hauled herself upright.

Her eyes were swollen and red, yet there was no hesitation in her decision. "Our marriage ends here, Patrick."

She turned and opened the door.

Patrick's frigid voice came from behind her. "If you leave through that door, Ashley, don't expect another chance with me. Five years ago, you were a helpless woman with no memories. If I hadn't taken you in, you wouldn't have the life you're living now."

Ashley felt her chest constrict with pain.

Five years earlier, a car accident had wiped her memory clean.

With no idea who she was or where to go, she had wandered the streets alone. Before long, she had drawn unnecessary attention.

One day, several street thugs trapped her, ripped at her clothes, and tried to rape her.

Patrick had arrived at the critical moment. His bodyguards chased the men away, and to Ashley, he looked like the person who had saved her.

He later proposed that she marry him, explaining that it would silence his family's constant pressure for him to settle down.

Having no memories and no one else to rely on, Ashley treated Patrick as her only lifeline. She eventually fell for him and accepted his proposal without a second thought.

From then onward, she molded herself into the wife she thought he wanted—quiet, obedient, and easy to please, taking care of his household more like a servant than an equal.

Ashley staggered out of the house and straight into the downpour.

The icy rain washed away the final remnants of her confusion. For the first time in years, she could finally see her life clearly.

She refused to become that exhausted housewife again, wasting her days serving Patrick and waiting for him. She was Ashley Edwards, and she was finally going to take her life back.

Ashley entered a number that had been buried with the memories she lost in the accident.

The instant the call went through, a woman's emotional voice came over the line. "Ashley? Is that really you? Where have you been all this time? I've looked everywhere for you."

Guilt washed over Ashley. Holding back her tears, she murmured, "Mom, I'll tell you everything once I get there. For now, I just want to go home."

Eileen Edwards could barely hide how much she had cried. "Of course, sweetheart. I'll have someone come for you immediately."

Ashley had finally recovered all her memories.

Ashley's true identity was far greater than simply being an Edwards. She was Starlight, the famous painter who had kept her real name hidden from the world.

She was finally returning to take back the life that had been stolen from her.

Eileen's driver reached her shortly afterward.

By the time Ashley arrived at the Edwards family's residence, her parents had already hurried outside to receive her.

"Ashley, you're really back," Eileen cried, tears streaming down her face. "We've missed you terribly."

Steven Edwards had always been a tough and resolute businessman, yet seeing his daughter again left even him unable to hide his tears.

Ashley pulled both of them into a tight embrace. "Mom, Dad, I'm so sorry."

For five years, she had remained in the same city as her family. She had paid no attention to the outside world. Instead, she had stayed home, looking after Patrick and his parents. That was why her parents had failed to track her down despite their years of efforts to search for her.

She couldn't help feeling that she was partly responsible for all those wasted years.

She was preparing to explain the truth when another voice suddenly broke into the emotional reunion. "Mom, Dad, is that my sister?"

Ashley's head jerked toward the speaker.

Not far away stood a young woman who looked delicate and harmless. Her neatly styled hair framed her shoulders, while her gentle features made her seem like someone who had been carefully sheltered from the world.

The girl tilted her head curiously. "You're Ashley?"

Ashley couldn't understand why a stranger was standing so naturally in her home.

The young woman introduced herself through her actions before Eileen could say anything, stepping closer and affectionately taking Eileen's arm.

Eileen gently patted Leanne's hand before explaining, "Ash, this is Leanne, your younger sister. When you disappeared five years ago, your father and I were completely broken. We couldn't accept that you were gone, so we adopted her. She's been a wonderful daughter and has stayed by our side all these years."

For several seconds, Ashley could do nothing but stare at them in disbelief.

While she had been struggling through life without even knowing her own identity, her parents had filled the empty space she left behind with another daughter.

Steven shifted awkwardly before speaking. "We honestly believed you would never return. Leanne helped us through the years when we had almost nothing left to hope for."

Ashley's heart ached. His explanation stirred that old, bitter feeling of being replaced.

A flash of resentment crossed Leanne Edwards' face, but she quickly covered it with a pleasant smile. "I'm really happy that you've come home. There's just a little problem. Mom and Dad gave your old bedroom to me, so you'll probably need to use a guest room. But if having your old room matters that much to you, I can move out and return it to you."

Eileen's face brightened. She was clearly pleased by what she saw as Leanne's willingness to give way.

Ashley's lips curved into a humorless smile. "Keep it. I've never been interested in anything that's already been handed down to someone else."

Rather than getting angry, Leanne remained perfectly composed. She picked up a glass, filled it with water, and held it out to Ashley with the same innocent smile. "You must be exhausted after traveling this far. Here, have something to drink."

Then, without warning, the glass tilted in Leanne's fingers.

"Oh!" She cried out in surprise as the water splashed over Ashley, soaking part of her clothes.