The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 182

That silent vow to herself sank into the endless quiet like a pebble dropped down a deep well, stirring no echoes.

If he came, she wouldn't hide.

But she would absolutely never give him a response.

After ending the video call with Harriet, she sealed that thought away completely.

November in Oslo brought its third winter right on schedule.

Heavy snow fell without warning one morning, blanketing the entire Grünerløkka district in a thick, peaceful layer of white.

Yet Annelise's life was warmer and more vibrant than ever before.

“Anne! Anne! Look at this!”

Sophia darted out from the back workbench like an excitable red setter, holding an open calendar high in the air, nearly knocking over a freshly delivered bucket of white buttercups by the door.

“I did the math! Counting from our opening day, next Tuesday will be exactly our one-thousandth day!”

Annelise, who was standing on a small stepladder taking down a hanging golden pothos for an elderly customer, paused.

A thousand days.

She had almost forgotten how much time had passed.

Three years could actually fly by when you were no longer measuring your days in endurance and waiting.

“We have to celebrate!” Sophia's eyes sparkled like stars, her face brimming with anticipation. “Let's throw an event! We'll call it 'Daisy's One Thousandth Day.' What do you think?”

Stepping down from the ladder, Annelise handed the lush green plant to the customer and smiled at Sophia's youthful, energetic face.

She nodded.

“Let's do it.”

The celebration was planned out by Sophia and their new assistant, Emma—simple yet heartwarming.

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