“I knew some of those thoughts weren’t mine.”
But every time Ttried to fight them…”
“…it was like something pushed me back.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“I watched myself hurt Amber.”
There it was.
The real wound.
Not the drug.
Not the manipulation.
Amber.
He lowered his head.
“I don’t know how to face her.”
I sighed.
“Amber blamed herself.”
His head snapped up.
“What?”
“She thought that if she hadn’t gone shopping that day, none of this would have happened.”
His expression shattered.
“She postponed her pregnancy appointments because you promised to go with her.”
“She visited you every single day.”
“She sat beside you for hours.”
“She never stopped believing you would come back.”
Jason covered his face with both hands.
“I accused her…”
“I questioned our babies…”
“I remember saying those things.”
“I couldn’t stop.”
His shoulders shook.
“I don’t deserve her.”
I reached over and smacked the back of his head.
ལ་ཊ།
+158cnus
7/9
Not hard.
Just enough to interrupt his spiral.
He looked up, completely confused.
“…Why did you do that?”
“Because you’re being an idiot.”
He stared at me. ↑
“Listen carefully.”
“You were drugged.”
“You were manipulated.”
“You fought that drug harder than any patient I’ve ever treated.”
I folded my arms.
“Do you know what impressed me the most?”
He slowly shook his head.
“You didn’t believe Monica.”
“Not completely.”
“Even after everything she told you…”
“You still told her she was wrong.”
His eyes widened.
“The security cameras recorded everything.”
“You fought.”
“The drug eventually won.”
“But you fought.”
He looked away, tears silently falling.
“Now stop thinking about the perfect apology.”
“Stop trying to prepare some dramatic speech.”
“When Amber walks through that door…”
“Just be honest.”
He nodded.
Very slowly.
“…Can you call her?”
ཀཊ།
+15 Bonus
8/9
I smiled.
was going to.”
I stepped into the hallway and pulled out my phone.
She answered before the first ring had finished.
“Emory?”
“You should come back to the castle.”
There was immediate concern in her voice.
“Is everything alright?”
I looked back through the half-open bedroom door.
Jason was sitting upright.
For the first time in weeks…
He looked like himself.
I couldn’t help smiling.
“He’s awake.”
Silence.
Then I added softly,
“Amber…”
“Jason is back.”
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+15 Bonus
9/9
+15 Bonus
Trouble
Amber POV
The moment Emory said those three words-
“Jason is back.”
-I forgot everything else.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I ended the call before he could say anything more.
The children were still finishing their lesson, so I quickly asked another teacher to take over the last twenty
minutes.
“I’m sorry, everyone.”
“I have an important family matter.”
Alice looked at me suspiciously.
“Is Dad awake?”
I blinked.
“Why would you think that?”
She grinned.
“You smiled.”
Children really did notice everything.
I laughed softly.
“Finish your lesson, Princess.”
“I’ll tell you everything later.”
I hurried toward the parking lot, climbed into my car, and started driving back to the castle.
It wasn’t far.
Ten minutes, maybe fifteen.
I couldn’t stop smiling.
Jason was awake.
He was really awake.
For the first time in weeks, I let myself imagine him smiling at me again.
Maybe everything would finally be alright.
Halfway there…
The engine coughed.
1/5
Then again.
My smile disappeared.
“No.”
⚫15 8chus
The dashboard lit up with warning lights.
The car slowed before rolling to a complete stop beside the entrance to the Ember Mine.
I tried the ignition again.
Nothing.
“Come on…” 1
Silence.
I grabbed my phone.
No signal.
Of course.
The mountains always interfered with reception around the mines.
I stepped outside and looked toward the castle.
The direct road curved around the mountain.
It would take another twenty minutes on foot.
Then I looked toward the old mine entrance.
The restored tourist route connected to tunnels beneath the mountain.
One of those exits emerged much closer to the castle.
It would be faster.
I hesitated for exactly three seconds.
Then curiosity won.
“I’ll cut through the mine.”
I locked the car and walked inside.
The air immediately became cooler.
Soft lights illuminated the restored pathways, making it easy to navigate.
-7
Even after seeing them countless times, the glowing gemstones embedded throughout the walls still stole my breath away.
Tiny veins of crystal shimmered beneath the stone, reflecting golden, blue and violet light across the tunnel.
It almost felt magical.
I walked slowly, admiring the walls as I passed.
2/5
Trouty
Then…
Something caught my eye.
A narrow opening between two large rock formations.
I frowned.
That hadn’t been on any of the architectural plans.
I walked closer.
The opening was almost completely hidden by naturally fallen stone.
Anyone walking normally would never notice it.
Behind the rocks…
A weathered metal door.
Old.
Very old.
No markings.
No lock visible from the outside.
I should have turned around.
I knew that.
Instead…
I smiled. 1
“Just one quick look.”
Curiosity had defeated common sense once again.
I pushed against the door.
With a long metallic groan…
It slowly opened.
Beyond it…
Only darkness waited.
Jason POV
One hour.
Amber had been gone for one hour.
At first, I wasn’t worried.
Traffic happened.
+15 8chus
3/5
Meetings ran late.
had probably stopped to talk to someone.
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