Riley’s breath caught in her throat.
The next moment. Nora’s eyes met hers.
She wrapped her arms around Asher’s waist and deliberately said: “Keep talking. Asher. I love hearing this.”
Asher pressed himself against her, completely unaware of Riley upstairs.
He played with her long hair: “Talent, career, love, friendship… Riley had everything, but you had nothing. Nora, if I’d known about your congenital heart condition, about your cruel parents, about how you’d be sold to an old man if you didn’t succeed in the orchestra… I never would have treated you that way. As your only support now, I had to plan ahead for you. I hope everything I’ve done can make up for the pain I once caused you.”
“Aren’t you afraid Riley might get heartbroken and leave you?” Nora asked.
Asher hesitated for a moment, then spoke with certainty: “Riley loves me. She’d never leave me.”
“If she finds out, she might make a scene, but that’s all. After her parents divorced, her father abandoned her and her mother remarried. She only has me and Vivian now. I’ll take good care of her for the rest of her life.”
His confident tone was like a knife, finally cutting the last thread of Riley’s attachment.
Riley’s heart died. It would never ache again.
She returned to the bedroom with an expressionless face, removed the ring from her finger, and threw it forcefully into the
trash can.
That ring–each man could only order one in his lifetime.
Years ago, Asher had spent three months learning at a factory to craft it himself. It meant everything to her; even during bankruptcy, she couldn’t bear to sell it.
But now, she didn’t want it anymore.
Just like she didn’t want Asher anymore.
She slept dreamlessly that night.
The next morning, Riley was awakened by a commotion.
She opened her eyes groggily to find Asher and Vivian gone.
Looking down from the second floor, she saw several intimidating men fighting with Nora over some luxury handbags.
“Go ask my parents for the money they owe you! Why come after me? I’m broke! These bags were gifts from my boyfriend–you can’t take them!” Nora screamed.
One man kicked her in the waist: “We heard you got a heart transplant and found a rich boyfriend who buys you designer stuff. Don’t play dumb! If your parents can’t pay, we’re coming for you! Pay up!”
Nora fell to the ground and, in’desperation, ripped off the scar sticker on her chest: “I never had a transplant! This scar is fake! These bags are knockoffs! I seriously have no money!”
21:57
Two Chances, One Bullet: How His “Next Life” Promise Failed
59.5%
The men froer in shock. Se did they
words heart condition was fate?
A moring smile curved soley’s lips.
Adder, this is the women you felt so indebted to that you needed to compensate her with my heart? Her lies were certainly expensive.
Uninvolved, Riley turned to go back to her room when Nora spotted her standing by the second floor stairs.
The rushed up and grabbed Riley: “Hey! She has money! She can pay for me!*
Riley stumbled as she was dragged along, the stitches on her leg immediately bursting open, blood flowing freely. “Nora, have you lost your mind?”
Ignoring her. Nora darted into the study and ran out with a violin case: “How about taking this violin as payment? It was bought at an auction in England–it must be worth a fortune!”
“No!”
Riley grabbed the case desperately: “Nora, stealing my heart was bad enough–what right do you have to use my violin to pay your parents‘ debts? This is mine!”
