The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 126

Cresthaven International Airport was lit up as bright as day.

At nine o'clock at night, Annelise Sargent and Harriet arrived at the airport.

The VIP lounge was mostly empty, so quiet that they could hear the low rumble of planes taking off and landing in the distance.

Harriet used Annelise's brand new passport to check her in for everything.

First class, direct flight to Oslo, no layovers, with a flight time of about eleven hours.

She only had one piece of luggage, the small black suitcase she had packed in advance, which was already checked.

Annelise walked into the lounge restroom alone.

She stripped off the blood-soaked, stiff dark blue dress and tossed it straight into the trash can.

She looked at her heavily scarred back in the mirror.

Several vivid, crisscrossing purplish-red whip welts marked her skin. The worst of them were split open and still oozing fine beads of blood.

Gritting her teeth, she used the antiseptic swabs Harriet had bought on the way to disinfect her wounds little by little.

The moment the cold medicine touched her cuts, a piercing sting shot through her.

But compared to the pain in her heart, this physical pain was nothing.

She carefully covered every wound with thick sterile gauze, then changed into the loose, solid black hoodie Harriet had prepared for her.

The oversized hoodie completely hid her scars and the fresh white bandages.

The woman in the mirror was pale, her lips completely devoid of color.

But her eyes shone brightly, like two stars burning in the dark night.

The moment of parting had finally arrived.

Standing at the gate, looking at Annelise's pale yet resolute face, Harriet couldn't hold it in anymore. She crouched on the floor, covered her face, and let out muffled, agonizing sobs.

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