In \u201cWe Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love,\u201d the protagonist grapples with the aftermath of an unexpected and tumultuous encounter with Ethan, who has crossed boundaries by treating her poorly and involving her mother in his manipulations. The story opens with the protagonist sharing her distressing experience with her grandmother, Nan, while they wait for their coffee. The emotional weight of Ethan\u2019s visit lingers heavily, as she reflects on the turmoil it has caused, particularly concerning Irene, who is blissfully unaware of the deceit surrounding her engagement.<\/p>\n
As the protagonist tries to navigate her feelings of disgust and guilt, she is determined to maintain her focus on her responsibilities, particularly the debt her father left behind. Her internal conflict intensifies when Nan questions whether she should inform Irene about Ethan\u2019s true nature. The protagonist feels torn; she recognizes the potential harm to Irene but also fears the repercussions of speaking out, which could jeopardize her job and her fragile stability. This sense of duty and the desire to protect Irene complicates her emotions further, leaving her feeling trapped in a web of loyalty and fear.<\/p>\n
When they enter the campus lounge, the atmosphere shifts dramatically. The protagonist becomes acutely aware of the whispers and accusations directed at her, stemming from an incident involving Carol\u2019s expulsion from school. The tension escalates as Carol\u2019s friends confront her, blaming her for the consequences of Carol\u2019s actions, despite the protagonist\u2019s insistence that Carol had cheated. This confrontation reveals the protagonist\u2019s resilience, as she stands her ground against the hostility, refusing to be intimidated by the accusations.<\/p>\n
The emotional turmoil culminates in a moment of defiance for the protagonist. While she initially feels overwhelmed by the blame and scrutiny from her peers, she ultimately chooses to confront the situation head-on, demonstrating her strength and resolve. The story captures the complexities of loyalty, guilt, and the struggle for personal integrity in the face of adversity, as the protagonist navigates her relationships and the fallout from decisions made by others.<\/p>\n
**We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love**
\nby Aila Frost<\/p>\n
The barista stood there, a friendly smile plastered on her face, ready to take our orders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe he had the audacity to treat you like that last night,\u201d Nan exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief and anger. \u201cAnd to drag your mother into it? Unbelievable!\u201d<\/p>\n
It was the morning after Ethan\u2019s unexpected visit, and I had just finished recounting the chaotic events of the previous night to my grandmother. The memory still clung to me like a shadow, heavy and suffocating. I was reeling from the shock of Ethan\u2019s nerve to waltz into my home, all while I was contemplating the unthinkable\u2014agreeing to be his mistress.<\/p>\n
My stomach churned at the thought, a mix of disgust and guilt swirling within me. I felt a pang of sympathy for Irene; she was innocent in all this turmoil, and yet, she didn\u2019t deserve to be caught in such a web of deceit, even if she remained blissfully unaware of it all.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told him to leave,\u201d I concluded, shrugging off the memory as if it were an unwanted coat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat can I get for you ladies this morning?\u201d Nicole, the barista, inquired, her voice brightening the otherwise tense atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Nicole was familiar; we shared a few classes together, and I had seen firsthand how fierce she could be in the ring. I had sparred with her on several occasions, and she had always pushed me to my limits. She worked at the coffee shop every other morning, and her skill in crafting beverages was nothing short of perfection.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a vanilla cappuccino for me,\u201d I replied, feeling a small sense of normalcy wash over me.<\/p>\n
\u201cMake that two,\u201d Nan added, reaching for her wallet. I shook my head, determined to take charge of this small moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll pay,\u201d I insisted, pulling my own wallet from my bag.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou got me a coffee last time,\u201d she reminded me, a playful glint in her eye.<\/p>\n
I handed my card to Nicole, and after a brief moment, she returned it with a smile. \u201cComing right up,\u201d she said, turning to prepare our drinks.<\/p>\n
As we stepped aside, waiting for our cappuccinos, Nan\u2019s curiosity bubbled over. \u201cSo, what are you planning to do about the whole Ethan situation?\u201d she asked, her brows raised in concern.<\/p>\n
I met her gaze with a frown, the weight of the question pressing down on me. \u201cWhat can I do?\u201d I replied, my voice tinged with frustration. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t seem to understand the word \u2018no.\u2019 All I can do is keep my head down and work to pay off my father\u2019s debt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nan\u2019s expression shifted slightly, a mix of concern and curiosity. \u201cAre you going to tell Irene what her fianc\u00e9 is up to?\u201d she probed, her tone serious.<\/p>\n
I paused, contemplating her question. The thought of dragging Irene into this mess felt wrong. \u201cIt\u2019s not my place,\u201d I finally said, shaking my head. \u201cAnd Gavin made it clear he doesn\u2019t want me to say or do anything that could jeopardize this engagement. If I were the reason his daughter got hurt, he would never forgive me, and I\u2019d lose my job.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t want to get involved,\u201d I added, my voice quieter now, as if confessing a secret.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour cappuccinos are ready!\u201d Nicole announced, sliding two to-go cups in our direction with a bright smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks,\u201d I said, grabbing both cups and handing one to Nan.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll see you in class later,\u201d Nicole called out as we exited the coffee shop, stepping back into the bustling campus.<\/p>\n
Nan seemed to sense my reluctance to discuss last night\u2019s events any further, choosing instead to let the topic rest.<\/p>\n
To her, I was just another girl in the crowd, someone who barely knew Irene. The Landrys had always kept their lives under wraps, and while Irene was often in the spotlight, she remained an enigma to those outside her family.<\/p>\n
If Nan only knew that I had begun to unravel the mystery of Irene Landry, she would undoubtedly question how I had come to know someone so prominent. I would then be forced to reveal the entire truth, a truth that could breach my contract and jeopardize my job.<\/p>\n
This job was my lifeline; it was essential for both my father\u2019s and my survival.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have about thirty minutes before class starts. Want to head to the lounge for a bit?\u201d I suggested as we approached the familiar buildings.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure,\u201d Nan replied, her voice brightening.<\/p>\n
We entered the lounge, which was buzzing with activity. Students were scattered about, chatting and laughing before their morning classes. However, as soon as I stepped inside, I sensed something was off.<\/p>\n
Whispers floated through the air like a thick fog, students exchanging glances and furtive <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 58 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-21127","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\/21127","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=21127"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21127\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}