From Ashes to Sunrise

I had no time to think too much. I got out of the car first and hurried to the window of the car in front.

In the back seat, Edmund was on the phone, arranging work details. His sharp, cold facial lines made me instinctively pause my hand that was about to knock on the window.

Sensing my presence, he did not even lift his head. He only slightly raised his chin toward the driver's seat to signal.

A person who looked like an assistant got out and walked over to me. "Miss, based on what just happened, this is entirely your responsibility."

I was about to respond when my phone rang again. "Miss Elliott, your mother has been rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. Please come as quickly as you can!"

Hearing this, my heart jolted. Even though my mother had never treated me well, I still hoped she could stay in this world with me for one more day.

In a rush, I pulled out paper and a pen from my bag, wrote down my number, and handed it to the assistant. "All repair costs, please confirm and call me afterward. I will take full responsibility and never shirk it. But I really have to leave right now. My mother is in emergency surgery at the hospital. Please make an exception."

The assistant hesitated for a moment. Seeing the unmistakable anxiety on my face, he finally nodded in agreement.

I thanked him quickly and turned to leave.

At that moment, Edmund had also finished handling his work inside the car.

He looked up and, through the window, caught sight of my departing figure. For an instant, he froze.

Eight years ago, that long-buried memory suddenly came alive in his mind.

The girl's silhouette overlapped for a split second with the woman hurrying away in front of him.

"Mr. Holt, we've already discussed it. She takes full responsibility. But she was in a hurry to get to the hospital, so she left her contact information and asked us to reach out after assessing the damage."

After the assistant finished his respectful report, he noticed Edmund's grave expression. A moment later, he asked again. "Or should we call the police to handle..."

"No need." Edmund came back to his senses and interrupted the assistant. "You don't need to handle it anymore. Give me the contact information. I will deal with it myself."

The assistant was puzzled but still agreed.

I rushed to Central Hospital at the fastest speed possible. The light above the operating room was already on. I sat alone on the bench outside, filled with anxiety and unease.

It was not until the surgery was nearly over that my father and Colton finally hurried in.

My father passed by me with a cold face, as if I were nothing more than air. He did not ask a single question about my mother's condition.

I had long grown used to his indifference. I only found it strange. Since he did not care about my mother or me, why had he come at all?

Colton stood beside me. Seeing my worried expression, he spoke in a flat tone. "Don't worry."

Remembering how he had described his feelings toward me back at home, those words now felt even more laden with pity.

I tugged at the corner of my mouth. I had no desire to accept his pity.

The three of us waited in silence like that, separated by the widest distance in the world.

Finally, the light above the emergency room went out.

Colton and my father immediately rushed over.

I thought they still held some concern for my mother. But before any relief could show on my face, their concerned words interrupted everything.

"Shirley, how are you? Are you tired?"

"Shirley, why is your face so pale? Did you not have time to eat anything today?"

Hearing those familiar terms of endearment, my heart skipped.

Then the doctor slowly removed his mask. A face that resembled mine by seventy percent, yet softer and more delicate, appeared.

It was Shirley!

Eight years apart, and she shone even more brilliantly than before. Even in a white coat, her graceful figure could not be hidden.

My father gently stroked Shirley's head, his tone full of indulgence. "Look at how exhausted you are. I had someone stew soup. It's being kept warm in the car. I'll have it brought to you right away."

Colton's gaze never left her for a moment. In his eyes was the deep affection I had once longed for.

I watched the three of them together in perfect harmony and gave a self-mocking laugh.

In the end, my mother and I had never been worth mentioning in front of Shirley.

They had only come for her.

I abruptly interrupted their eager conversation. "Doctor, how is my mother?"

At that, Shirley's gaze finally fell on me, carrying the pity and superiority of someone looking down from above. "I'm sorry. I did my best. She has already passed away."

Before I could shed a tear, my father had already stepped forward to hold Shirley's hand. "It's not your fault, Shirley. You did wonderfully. She simply wasn't fortunate enough."

Colton also spoke softly in agreement from the side. "Derek is right, Shirley. You must not feel guilty over this."

Big tears fell one after another. Suddenly, a surge of courage rose in me. I coldly questioned my father. "Dad, have you ever cared about my mother in your heart? Even just a little?"

My father snorted coldly. He could not even be bothered to glance at me. Instead, he turned to Colton and said, "Colton, take Shirley back to rest. And about the divorce, hurry it up. I don't want to wrong Shirley. As her father, I want to give her the grandest wedding, so she can marry in splendor."

Colton smiled brightly. "Of course. Shirley is the love of my life. I would never let her suffer."

In the vast corridor, only I grieved for my mother's death.

I saw through my father's heartless indifference and no longer held any expectations toward him.