Chapter 229 Left Her Mind Completely Blank
The question had haunted Corrine’s thoughts like a persistent shadow.
It represented everything–her decision to choose Bruce against her family’s wishes, her relentless dedication to the Ashton family’s success.
Her heart thundered in her chest as she voiced the question.
A thoughtful gleam flickered in Bruce’s eyes at her question.
Corrine studied his expression, and in that moment of silence, understanding crystallized within her.
Her lips curved into a subtle, knowing smile as she gracefully slipped into her waiting
car.
The vehicle pulled away, leaving Bruce rooted to the spot, lost in a fog of confusion.
Only after her car vanished into the distance did her earlier words echo through his mind. “I helped elevate the Ashton family, giving you the audacity to test my limits repeatedly. But that ends now. Watch closely as I dedicate myself to returning the Ashton family to their humble beginnings.”
Would she follow through?
Bruce desperately clung to memories of the compliant Corrine who had once yielded to his every demand. Surely she wouldn’t destroy what she had helped create. The Ashton family’s rise had been paved with countless obstacles, each one overcome through Corrine’s unwavering dedication.
But the current Corrine was different.
She had endured his betrayal, and now faced Rita’s calculated assault on her reputation.
With her fierce spirit, forgiveness seemed impossible.
The realization sent ice through Bruce’s veins, making him shudder uncontrollably.
Panic drove him to reach for his phone, seeking Farris‘ counsel,
Then doubt crept in–the Ashton family had evolved beyond its humble beginnings Could Corrine’s words alone topple their empire?
They held numerous important development projects, and once loans and government permits were secured, the Ashton family’s power would be consolidated.
Her threats seemed hollow in the face of such stability.
Inside the car, Corrine sat in contemplative silence, watching the world blur past her
window.
Nate’s rich, magnetic voice broke through her thoughts. “Aren’t you worried about making your boyfriend jealous now?”
Corrine leaned into Nate’s offered comfort, a weary sigh escaping her lips. “All these years of dedication suddenly feel absurd.”
The truth she had cherished had crumbled to dust, rendering her years of devotion meaningless.
“Have you been to Forestvale?” Nate’s question pierced the silence.
Emotion flickered across Corrine’s features as memories surfaced. “Yes,” she admitted
after a pause. “During a summer camp with Jules. One sleepless night, I scaled the school wall and wandered until I found myself in a place…”
That place had shown her life’s fragility and humanity’s cruel indifference.
Time had seemed to crawl, each moment stretching into an eternity of horror.
People had huddled like terrified animals in filthy corners, desperate to survive the
chaos.
The memory remained a festering wound in her psyche.
“That was no place for a girl,” Nate observed quietly.
Corrine straightened, studying him intently as if searching for something hidden
beneath his exterior.
“What is it?” Nate asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Nothing,” she murmured, lowering her gaze.
Back then, someone had protected her through that blood–soaked night, speaking those
same words.
She had spent years searching for answers, but Bruce’s responses had left her hollow.
Then Nate spoke again, and his words left her mind completely blank.
