In this chapter, Judy confronts Ethan about a shocking demand he has made, which shatters her heart and sense of trust. Ethan\u2019s transformation from the warm man she once adored to a cold, demanding figure is palpable, leaving Judy feeling betrayed and bewildered. He insists that she become his mistress, offering to take care of her family in exchange. This demand feels like a betrayal to Judy, who once would have done anything for him, highlighting the emotional turmoil she experiences as she grapples with the man he has become.<\/p>\n
As the conversation unfolds, Judy\u2019s feelings of disbelief and anger intensify. She recalls the love they shared and questions how it could mean nothing to Ethan now. Despite a brief flicker of tenderness from him, it quickly dissipates, replaced by his insistence on her submission to his desires. Judy\u2019s internal struggle is evident as she battles against her bond with Ethan and her own sense of self-worth. The mention of his impending marriage to another woman, Irene, adds to her anguish, as she feels both jealous and empathetic toward Irene, who genuinely loves Ethan.<\/p>\n
Judy\u2019s defiance grows as she confronts Ethan about his arrogance and the manipulation he employs, especially in leveraging her mother\u2019s well-being to coerce her into compliance. She firmly rejects his advances, asserting her autonomy and expressing her disgust at his behavior. The tension escalates as Ethan attempts to physically assert his claim over her, but Judy stands her ground, declaring that he has lost all rights to her due to his betrayal. The emotional weight of their shared history and the painful reality of their current situation culminate in a powerful moment of confrontation.<\/p>\n
The chapter closes with a sense of unresolved tension as Ethan\u2019s phone interrupts their heated exchange. This moment serves as a reminder of the external pressures and obligations that complicate their already fraught relationship. Judy\u2019s heartache is palpable, and the reader is left wondering how the dynamics between them will evolve in the face of betrayal, love, and the looming presence of another woman in Ethan\u2019s life.<\/p>\n
**TITLE: We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost**<\/p>\n
**Chapter 0056**<\/p>\n
**Judy\u2019s POV**<\/p>\n
\u201cReturn the favor?\u201d I echoed, my heart plummeting into the depths of my stomach as if it were a stone cast into a dark abyss.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d Ethan\u2019s voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. He cleared his throat, his posture straightening as if he were preparing for battle. The warm, gentle expression he had worn throughout the day vanished, replaced by a cold, unyielding glare that sent an icy shiver racing down my spine.<\/p>\n
Instinctively, I took a step back, a primal urge to distance myself from him surging within me. I didn\u2019t want to be near this man, the one I once adored.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know exactly what I\u2019m talking about, Judy,\u201d he stated, his brows knitting together in a frown as he fixed his intense gaze on me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want you to be my mistress.\u201d<\/p>\n
The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. \u201cDo what I ask, and I\u2019ll ensure your mother is taken care of, and your father will be home by the end of the night.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart felt like it was shattering at the thought of the man I had once loved more than anything in the world now making such a despicable demand. There was a time when I would have moved mountains for him, but now, as I stood before him, all I could see was a stranger, a cold, unrecognizable figure.<\/p>\n
His eyes, once warm and inviting, were now frigid and distant. His lips were pressed into a thin, unforgiving line as he glared at me, and I found myself grappling with disbelief. No matter how many times he repeated his request, I couldn\u2019t fathom the depths of his selfishness. He wanted me\u2014his fated mate\u2014to accept a role that felt like a betrayal, all while he prepared to marry another woman.<\/p>\n
A woman who, in my heart, I believed deserved better than this. Irene was sweet, kind, and it was evident that she loved Ethan with a sincerity that made my heart ache. It was painful to accept that another woman held such feelings for my mate, but I also understood the cruel reality: the heart desires what it desires, and hers longed for Ethan.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow could you ask such a thing from me, Ethan?\u201d I whispered, my voice trembling as it barely escaped my lips. \u201cDid our two years together truly mean nothing to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
For a fleeting moment, his expression softened, a flicker of the man I once knew shining through. \u201cOf course, it meant something to me,\u201d he replied, stepping closer, invading my personal space. \u201cThat\u2019s why I can\u2019t let you go, Judy. You are my mate\u2026 you belong to me, and I will have you in any way that I can get you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWouldn\u2019t you rather be with me in secret than not be with me at all? Think about your wolf.\u201d<\/p>\n
His words hung like a dark cloud over my head. My wolf had been silent throughout this harrowing conversation, her presence a quiet storm within me. I could feel her watching, her pain echoing my own. She didn\u2019t want to be a mistress either, but the bond we shared with Ethan made it hard to let go.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd your wolf is okay with making his mate a mistress?\u201d I shot back, narrowing my eyes at him, refusing to back down.<\/p>\n
Ethan shrugged nonchalantly, his indifference infuriating. \u201cHe knows what needs to be done. That\u2019s the qualification of being an Alpha,\u201d he stated matter-of-factly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou aren\u2019t an Alpha yet,\u201d I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, a flicker of defiance still burning within me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have the Alpha blood and the Alpha traits. Soon, thanks to Irene, I\u2019ll have the official title as well.\u201d His arrogance was suffocating.<\/p>\n
I rolled my eyes at him, disgusted. \u201cYou make me sick,\u201d I muttered, feeling the heat of my anger rise.<\/p>\n
With a smirk that twisted my insides, he closed the distance between us, almost daring me to step away again. I was exhausted, my willpower waning. The weight of his words pressed down on me like a heavy shroud, and I stood there, staring up at him, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve always been so good together, Judy. Don\u2019t break us because you are too selfish to see what needs to be done,\u201d he said, his voice low and smooth as he reached out, his hand brushing against my cheek.<\/p>\n
As his fingers grazed my skin, it felt like fire, burning and searing. I recoiled instinctively, glaring at him with fury igniting in my eyes. How dare he put me in this position? How dare he use my mother\u2019s well-being as leverage to manipulate me into submission?<\/p>\n
Sickened by his audacity, I clenched my fists at my sides and took a large step back, creating distance between us. \u201cDon\u2019t touch me,\u201d I hissed through gritted teeth. \u201cYou have no right to touch me ever again!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are mine, Judy!\u201d he growled, his voice low and threatening as he reached for my arm. I flinched away from his grasp, my heart racing.<\/p>\n
\u201cCorrection,\u201d I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. \u201cI was yours. You lost every right you had to me the moment you chose another woman.\u201d<\/p>\n
The moment you knelt and proposed to someone else right in front of me. \u201cYou didn\u2019t even have the decency to tell me about her, Ethan. You let me find out the hard way, and I will never forgive you for what you have done.\u201d<\/p>\n
The betrayal cut deeper than any physical wound. \u201cNot only to me but to my family as well. I can\u2019t prove it, but I know you had something to do with my father\u2019s business going bankrupt.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smirked, folding his arms across his chest, the picture of smug satisfaction. \u201cExactly, you can\u2019t prove anything,\u201d he said, his tone dripping with arrogance, as if he reveled in the power he wielded over me. \u201cIt\u2019s your word against mine, and guess who everyone is going to listen to?\u201d<\/p>\n
Just then, Ethan\u2019s phone buzzed insistently in his pocket, breaking the tension. It wasn\u2019t the first time it had rung that evening, yet he had ignored every call. His sigh was heavy, a mix of annoyance and obligation, as he pulled out his phone, frowning at the screen. I thought perhaps he would finally answer, realizing that whoever was calling must be important, given the urgency in their attempts to reach him.<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of that devastating confrontation, the air between us crackled with unresolved tension and heartbreak. I had once believed that love could conquer all, but standing before Ethan, I felt the shattering of that illusion. The man I had cherished had morphed into a stranger, wielding my vulnerabilities against me like weapons. As I grappled with the remnants of our shared past, I realized that love, when tainted by betrayal, could become a source of profound pain rather than solace. I had to reclaim my identity, to sever the chains of expectation that bound me to a man who no longer honored the bond we once shared. The anger and hurt surged within me, fueling a newfound determination to protect not only myself but also my family from the repercussions of his actions.<\/p>\n
With each heartbeat, I felt the weight of my decision solidifying. I wouldn\u2019t allow Ethan to dictate my worth or my future any longer. As he stood there, phone in hand and arrogance etched across his face, I knew that I was done being a pawn in his game. The love that had once burned brightly between us had turned to ashes, leaving only the faintest echoes of what could have been. I took a deep breath, grounding myself in the reality of my choice. I was no longer his; I was reclaiming my power, my autonomy, and my right to love freely. With a final, resolute glare, I turned away from him, the path ahead uncertain but filled with the promise of self-discovery and the hope that I could build a future that remembered love without the shadows of betrayal.<\/p>\n
In the next chapter of \u201cWe Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love,\u201d readers can expect the tension between Judy and Ethan to escalate as the stakes rise higher than ever. With Ethan\u2019s manipulative request hanging heavily in the air, Judy is faced with an impossible choice that could alter the course of her life forever. Will she succumb to his demands, risking her own dignity and the well-being of her family, or will she find the strength to defy him, even if it means facing dire consequences? The emotional turmoil within her will deepen, forcing Judy to confront not only her feelings for Ethan but also the darkness that lurks beneath his charming facade.<\/p>\n
As the chapter unfolds, the arrival of the mysterious phone call may introduce unexpected twists that could change everything. Who is trying to reach Ethan, and how will their presence impact the already volatile situation? The tension is palpable, and secrets long buried may rise to the surface, revealing truths that could shatter Judy\u2019s world even further. With each passing moment, the reader will be left breathless, anticipating how Judy will navigate this treacherous landscape of love, betrayal, and the fight for her own identity. The battle lines are drawn, and as Judy grapples with her heart and her instincts, the next chapter promises to be a whirlwind of emotions, revelations, and a fierce struggle for autonomy in a kingdom built on ashes.<\/p>\n
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 56 We Built a Kingdom From Ashes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21125\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}