Chapter 18
Nolan’s hand trembled violently, nearly dropping his phone.
He staggered, almost falling, as the assistant’s words echoed through his mind like a knife repeatedly plunging into his heart.
“That’s impossible! It can’t be!”
A metallic taste filled his throat before blood erupted from his mouth, splattering across the window in
front of him.
The world began to spin around him before he collapsed heavily to the ground.
When Nolan regained consciousness, he saw nothing but blinding white. The sharp smell of antiseptic filled his nostrils, accompanied by the rhythmic beeping of medical equipment.
His assistant sat beside the bed, red–eyed, clutching a folder tightly. Seeing Nolan awake, he leaned forward, his voice hoarse “Sir, you’re finally awake.
Nolan’s vision was blurry as he struggled to focus“What… happened to me?”
The assistant lowered his head, his voice catching“You collapsed after coughing up blood. The doctors worked on you for twenty–four hours straight… they issued critical condition notices several times.”
Nolan’s brow furrowed as fragmented images flashed through his mind–the assistant’s voice on the phone, the news of Aurelia’s death…
His heart contracted painfully as he asked, his voice weak but urgent “A..Aurelia… she’s really dead?”
The assistant’s throat bobbed as he nodded “Yes, sir. Miss Thorne… had terminal cancer. And then they took so much blood..She was gone before they even realized what was happening. Her final wish was a sky burial, which is why I requested leave–to take her remains to Tibet. The burial master said she was a
pure soul…”
“A pure soul?” Nolan’s voice was barely audible as his fingers unconsciously gripped the sheets, k Mes turning white.
Seeing his reaction, the assistant’s eyes welled up further. He pulled a document from his pocket and handed it to Nolan with trembling hands “Sir, I… I couldn’t live with myself. I investigated what really happened that night. This contains the truth.”
Nolan’s shaking fingers took the document and opened to the first page. As he read through it, his face grew increasingly pale, shock and anguish threatening to overflow from his eyes.
06-52
Eternal Pledge, Where Mountains Touch
11.2%
Chapter 18
The document detailed the truth behind the accident–how Nolan’s mother, during a depressive episode, had mistaken a security guard for Nolan’s father and slept with him.
To protect the Creed family’s reputation, Aurelia had shouldered all the blame, even allowing Nolan himself to send her to prison.
“She… she did it for me…” Nolan’s voice was so hoarse it was barely audible as his fingers gripped the document tightly.
Another searing pain shot through his chest as he coughed up more blood, staining the white sheets crimson. His body fell back helplessly against the bed as the world began to blur.
“Sir! Sir!!!”
Doctors and nurses rushed in as the emergency alarm sounded throughout the room. As Nolan’s consciousness faded, he thought he heard Aurelia’s voice.
He remembered her hesitant glances, her forced smiles in his presence, the countless times he’d noticed her paleness…
His heart felt as if it were being crushed by an invisible hand, the pain making it nearly impossible to
breathe.
Outside the emergency room, Nolan’s father and Evangeline arrived hurriedly.
His father’s face was dark, his tone impatient“Wasn’t Nolan looking for Aurelia? How did he end up this? That woman really is nothing but trouble!”
Evangeline stood to the side, her face pale and eyes uneasy.
like
She was about to speak when the assistant suddenly stood up, his voice cold with anger “Miss Thorne is. dead. They took so much of her blood to save Miss Winters that her heart stopped on that night.”
Evangeline reacted as if struck by lightning, her body jolting as the color drained from her face “What? She… she died saving me?”
Nolan’s father let out a cold laugh, his tone full of contempt “Good riddance! A woman like that should
have died long ago!“
Chapter 18
Nolan’s hand trembled violently, nearly dropping his phone.
He staggered, almost falling, as the assistant’s words echoed through his mind like a knife repeatedly plunging into his heart.
“That’s impossible! It can’t be!”
A metallic taste filled his throat before blood erupted from his mouth, splattering across the window in
front of him.
The world began to spin around him before he collapsed heavily to the ground.
When Nolan regained consciousness, he saw nothing but blinding white. The sharp smell of antiseptic filled his nostrils, accompanied by the rhythmic beeping of medical equipment.
His assistant sat beside the bed, red–eyed, clutching a folder tightly. Seeing Nolan awake, he leaned forward, his voice hoarse “Sir, you’re finally awake.
Nolan’s vision was blurry as he struggled to focus“What… happened to me?”
The assistant lowered his head, his voice catching“You collapsed after coughing up blood. The doctors worked on you for twenty–four hours straight… they issued critical condition notices several times.”
Nolan’s brow furrowed as fragmented images flashed through his mind–the assistant’s voice on the phone, the news of Aurelia’s death…
His heart contracted painfully as he asked, his voice weak but urgent “A..Aurelia… she’s really dead?”
The assistant’s throat bobbed as he nodded “Yes, sir. Miss Thorne… had terminal cancer. And then they took so much blood..She was gone before they even realized what was happening. Her final wish was a sky burial, which is why I requested leave–to take her remains to Tibet. The burial master said she was a
pure soul…”
“A pure soul?” Nolan’s voice was barely audible as his fingers unconsciously gripped the sheets, k Mes turning white.
Seeing his reaction, the assistant’s eyes welled up further. He pulled a document from his pocket and handed it to Nolan with trembling hands “Sir, I… I couldn’t live with myself. I investigated what really happened that night. This contains the truth.”
Nolan’s shaking fingers took the document and opened to the first page. As he read through it, his face grew increasingly pale, shock and anguish threatening to overflow from his eyes.
06-52
Eternal Pledge, Where Mountains Touch
11.2%
Chapter 18
The document detailed the truth behind the accident–how Nolan’s mother, during a depressive episode, had mistaken a security guard for Nolan’s father and slept with him.
To protect the Creed family’s reputation, Aurelia had shouldered all the blame, even allowing Nolan himself to send her to prison.
“She… she did it for me…” Nolan’s voice was so hoarse it was barely audible as his fingers gripped the document tightly.
Another searing pain shot through his chest as he coughed up more blood, staining the white sheets crimson. His body fell back helplessly against the bed as the world began to blur.
“Sir! Sir!!!”
Doctors and nurses rushed in as the emergency alarm sounded throughout the room. As Nolan’s consciousness faded, he thought he heard Aurelia’s voice.
He remembered her hesitant glances, her forced smiles in his presence, the countless times he’d noticed her paleness…
His heart felt as if it were being crushed by an invisible hand, the pain making it nearly impossible to
breathe.
Outside the emergency room, Nolan’s father and Evangeline arrived hurriedly.
His father’s face was dark, his tone impatient“Wasn’t Nolan looking for Aurelia? How did he end up this? That woman really is nothing but trouble!”
Evangeline stood to the side, her face pale and eyes uneasy.
like
She was about to speak when the assistant suddenly stood up, his voice cold with anger “Miss Thorne is. dead. They took so much of her blood to save Miss Winters that her heart stopped on that night.”
Evangeline reacted as if struck by lightning, her body jolting as the color drained from her face “What? She… she died saving me?”
Nolan’s father let out a cold laugh, his tone full of contempt “Good riddance! A woman like that should
have died long ago!“
Chapter 18
Nolan’s hand trembled violently, nearly dropping his phone.
He staggered, almost falling, as the assistant’s words echoed through his mind like a knife repeatedly plunging into his heart.
“That’s impossible! It can’t be!”
A metallic taste filled his throat before blood erupted from his mouth, splattering across the window in
front of him.
The world began to spin around him before he collapsed heavily to the ground.
When Nolan regained consciousness, he saw nothing but blinding white. The sharp smell of antiseptic filled his nostrils, accompanied by the rhythmic beeping of medical equipment.
His assistant sat beside the bed, red–eyed, clutching a folder tightly. Seeing Nolan awake, he leaned forward, his voice hoarse “Sir, you’re finally awake.
Nolan’s vision was blurry as he struggled to focus“What… happened to me?”
The assistant lowered his head, his voice catching“You collapsed after coughing up blood. The doctors worked on you for twenty–four hours straight… they issued critical condition notices several times.”
Nolan’s brow furrowed as fragmented images flashed through his mind–the assistant’s voice on the phone, the news of Aurelia’s death…
His heart contracted painfully as he asked, his voice weak but urgent “A..Aurelia… she’s really dead?”
The assistant’s throat bobbed as he nodded “Yes, sir. Miss Thorne… had terminal cancer. And then they took so much blood..She was gone before they even realized what was happening. Her final wish was a sky burial, which is why I requested leave–to take her remains to Tibet. The burial master said she was a
pure soul…”
“A pure soul?” Nolan’s voice was barely audible as his fingers unconsciously gripped the sheets, k Mes turning white.
Seeing his reaction, the assistant’s eyes welled up further. He pulled a document from his pocket and handed it to Nolan with trembling hands “Sir, I… I couldn’t live with myself. I investigated what really happened that night. This contains the truth.”
Nolan’s shaking fingers took the document and opened to the first page. As he read through it, his face grew increasingly pale, shock and anguish threatening to overflow from his eyes.
06-52
Eternal Pledge, Where Mountains Touch
11.2%
Chapter 18
The document detailed the truth behind the accident–how Nolan’s mother, during a depressive episode, had mistaken a security guard for Nolan’s father and slept with him.
To protect the Creed family’s reputation, Aurelia had shouldered all the blame, even allowing Nolan himself to send her to prison.
“She… she did it for me…” Nolan’s voice was so hoarse it was barely audible as his fingers gripped the document tightly.
Another searing pain shot through his chest as he coughed up more blood, staining the white sheets crimson. His body fell back helplessly against the bed as the world began to blur.
“Sir! Sir!!!”
Doctors and nurses rushed in as the emergency alarm sounded throughout the room. As Nolan’s consciousness faded, he thought he heard Aurelia’s voice.
He remembered her hesitant glances, her forced smiles in his presence, the countless times he’d noticed her paleness…
His heart felt as if it were being crushed by an invisible hand, the pain making it nearly impossible to
breathe.
Outside the emergency room, Nolan’s father and Evangeline arrived hurriedly.
His father’s face was dark, his tone impatient“Wasn’t Nolan looking for Aurelia? How did he end up this? That woman really is nothing but trouble!”
Evangeline stood to the side, her face pale and eyes uneasy.
like
She was about to speak when the assistant suddenly stood up, his voice cold with anger “Miss Thorne is. dead. They took so much of her blood to save Miss Winters that her heart stopped on that night.”
Evangeline reacted as if struck by lightning, her body jolting as the color drained from her face “What? She… she died saving me?”
Nolan’s father let out a cold laugh, his tone full of contempt “Good riddance! A woman like that should
have died long ago!”
The assistant’s fists clenched tightly, his knuckles white with strain.
Taking a deep breath, he handed another document to Nolan’s father“You’ve all misunderstood Miss Thorne! This contains the truth about what happened that night.”
Cternal Pledge Where Mountains Touc
11.5%
Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Chapter 18
Nolan’s hand trembled violently, nearly dropping his phone.
He staggered, almost falling, as the assistant’s words echoed through his mind like a knife repeatedly plunging into his heart.
“That’s impossible! It can’t be!”
A metallic taste filled his throat before blood erupted from his mouth, splattering across the window in
front of him.
The world began to spin around him before he collapsed heavily to the ground.
When Nolan regained consciousness, he saw nothing but blinding white. The sharp smell of antiseptic filled his nostrils, accompanied by the rhythmic beeping of medical equipment.
His assistant sat beside the bed, red–eyed, clutching a folder tightly. Seeing Nolan awake, he leaned forward, his voice hoarse “Sir, you’re finally awake.
Nolan’s vision was blurry as he struggled to focus“What… happened to me?”
The assistant lowered his head, his voice catching“You collapsed after coughing up blood. The doctors worked on you for twenty–four hours straight… they issued critical condition notices several times.”
Nolan’s brow furrowed as fragmented images flashed through his mind–the assistant’s voice on the phone, the news of Aurelia’s death…
His heart contracted painfully as he asked, his voice weak but urgent “A..Aurelia… she’s really dead?”
The assistant’s throat bobbed as he nodded “Yes, sir. Miss Thorne… had terminal cancer. And then they took so much blood..She was gone before they even realized what was happening. Her final wish was a sky burial, which is why I requested leave–to take her remains to Tibet. The burial master said she was a
pure soul…”
“A pure soul?” Nolan’s voice was barely audible as his fingers unconsciously gripped the sheets, k Mes turning white.
Seeing his reaction, the assistant’s eyes welled up further. He pulled a document from his pocket and handed it to Nolan with trembling hands “Sir, I… I couldn’t live with myself. I investigated what really happened that night. This contains the truth.”
Nolan’s shaking fingers took the document and opened to the first page. As he read through it, his face grew increasingly pale, shock and anguish threatening to overflow from his eyes.
06-52
Eternal Pledge, Where Mountains Touch
11.2%
Chapter 18
The document detailed the truth behind the accident–how Nolan’s mother, during a depressive episode, had mistaken a security guard for Nolan’s father and slept with him.
To protect the Creed family’s reputation, Aurelia had shouldered all the blame, even allowing Nolan himself to send her to prison.
“She… she did it for me…” Nolan’s voice was so hoarse it was barely audible as his fingers gripped the document tightly.
Another searing pain shot through his chest as he coughed up more blood, staining the white sheets crimson. His body fell back helplessly against the bed as the world began to blur.
“Sir! Sir!!!”
Doctors and nurses rushed in as the emergency alarm sounded throughout the room. As Nolan’s consciousness faded, he thought he heard Aurelia’s voice.
He remembered her hesitant glances, her forced smiles in his presence, the countless times he’d noticed her paleness…
His heart felt as if it were being crushed by an invisible hand, the pain making it nearly impossible to
breathe.
Outside the emergency room, Nolan’s father and Evangeline arrived hurriedly.
His father’s face was dark, his tone impatient“Wasn’t Nolan looking for Aurelia? How did he end up this? That woman really is nothing but trouble!”
Evangeline stood to the side, her face pale and eyes uneasy.
like
She was about to speak when the assistant suddenly stood up, his voice cold with anger “Miss Thorne is. dead. They took so much of her blood to save Miss Winters that her heart stopped on that night.”
Evangeline reacted as if struck by lightning, her body jolting as the color drained from her face “What? She… she died saving me?”
Nolan’s father let out a cold laugh, his tone full of contempt “Good riddance! A woman like that should
have died long ago!”
The assistant’s fists clenched tightly, his knuckles white with strain.
Taking a deep breath, he handed another document to Nolan’s father“You’ve all misunderstood Miss Thorne! This contains the truth about what happened that night.”
Cternal Pledge Where Mountains Touc
11.5%
Chapter 19
Chapter 19
The assistant’s fists clenched tightly, his knuckles white with strain.
Taking a deep breath, he handed another document to Nolan’s father“You’ve all misunderstood Miss Thorne! This contains the truth about what happened that night.”
Cternal Pledge Where Mountains Touc
11.5%
Chapter 19
Chapter 19
The assistant’s fists clenched tightly, his knuckles white with strain.
Taking a deep breath, he handed another document to Nolan’s father“You’ve all misunderstood Miss Thorne! This contains the truth about what happened that night.”
Cternal Pledge Where Mountains Touc
11.5%
Chapter 19
Chapter 19
