While I Was Dying, He Watched Fireworks With Her

An ambulance sped through the streets of Aleford.

"Your coronary artery is severely blocked," the paramedic said to Ashley Cooper. "You need an emergency bypass operation. Is there someone we should call for you?"

The urgency in his voice barely reached Ashley through the intense pressure crushing her chest.

"We've contacted the person listed for emergencies," another paramedic said. "Tell him to get to the hospital as soon as possible."

Clutching her chest, Ashley brought the phone closer. Every breath was shallow, and speaking took effort. "Patrick... They found a serious blockage in one of my coronary arteries. I need emergency bypass surgery. Can you please get to the hospital? They need you to sign consent forms."

"Stop it!" Patrick Cooper, her husband, snapped. "You seriously expect me to believe this? Making up something this ridiculous just to force me to see you is pathetic. I'm not dropping everything and rushing over there."

"Patrick..." Ashley's voice trailed off.

As the ambulance drove past Aleford's largest public square, flashes of light filled the window. Fireworks exploded across the night sky in brilliant bursts, bright enough to sting her eyes.

A moment later, Jolie Webb's cheerful voice sounded through the phone.

"Patrick, thank you for the birthday fireworks! You're so sweet!"

Ashley froze.

Jolie had been Patrick's first love, the woman he had never truly forgotten. She had returned from overseas only recently.

Suddenly, Patrick's refusal made sense. He was not too busy to come to the hospital. He was celebrating Jolie's birthday.

A fresh stab of pain ripped through Ashley's chest. Her breathing became even more difficult, and tears rolled silently down her cheeks.

Since they got married five years ago, she could not remember Patrick ever giving her a genuine smile.

She would spend hours cooking the dishes he liked most, hoping to please him. His response was always restrained and detached. "Not bad."

Once, when Patrick had been sick with a high fever, she stayed awake the entire night. By the next day, exhaustion had left her ill as well.

Patrick had shown little concern. "At least you know how to fulfill your responsibilities as my wife," he had said.

She had lost their baby, yet Patrick's face had remained unreadable. "We can have another one."

He had barely even looked in her direction.

Every year on her birthday, Patrick claimed work had made him forget. His solution was always the same: transfer three thousand dollars to her account and tell her to buy whatever she wanted.

Her best friend had even questioned why she continued to stay with him.

Patrick possessed more money than most people could imagine, yet he treated his wife's birthday like another obligation he could settle with a payment.

Money, however, had never been what Ashley wanted from the Cooper family. She had only wanted Patrick to love her.

For that reason, she had even agreed to hide their marriage for five years. The Cooper family knew she was his wife, but beyond them, their marriage did not officially exist in anyone else's eyes.

Now, with unbearable pain spreading through her chest, Ashley finally saw their marriage clearly. Patrick's treatment of her had never been about generosity or money. He simply had never loved her.

The pain became unbearable, and everything around her slowly slipped into darkness.

Through the fog settling over her mind, Ashley heard one of the paramedics yell toward the front of the ambulance. "Go faster! She's crashing. We can't wait for her emergency contact anymore. The hospital will have to proceed under emergency authorization."

"What happens if the surgery goes wrong?" another voice asked, trembling with panic.

"We save her life first!"

The voices surrounding Ashley faded into an indistinct hum. A sudden, searing pain shot through her head, and memories she had lost years ago rushed back all at once.

Everything returned to her.

She was from the Edwards family, one of the four most influential families in Aleford.

Ashley had no idea how much time had passed while she was unconscious.

When she finally opened her eyes, heavy bandages were wrapped around her chest. She managed to lift her head a little and noticed the visible relief on the faces of the doctor and nurses standing nearby.

"Thank goodness you're awake," the doctor said. "The bypass surgery was successful. You'll need to stay away from strenuous activity for about a month, but we expect you to recover fully."

After giving her the necessary instructions, he shook his head and added quietly, "I still can't understand how we couldn't reach even one member of your family before performing such a serious operation."

Ashley's face was drained of color, and her eyes remained swollen from crying. "Thank you, Doctor."

She understood clearly that without his intervention, she might not have survived.

The doctor assured her that gratitude was unnecessary. Keeping patients alive was simply part of his responsibility.

Ashley spent the next two weeks recovering in the hospital. Throughout, she kept waiting for Patrick to call. She thought he might eventually call and ask where she had gone.

For two full weeks, no call came. Not even a single message.

What did appear constantly on her phone were reports about Patrick and Jolie.

"Cooper Group CEO Purchases Luxury Yacht for Celebrated Artist Jolie Webb."

"Billionaire Executive Showers Girlfriend Jolie Webb With Rare Artwork and Expensive Jewelry."

Each new headline displayed just how much Patrick was willing to do for Jolie.

And the realization hurt each time.

Once she was discharged, Ashley returned home.

She had only just walked through the entrance when Patrick appeared. Without warning, he caught her by the wrist and pushed her against the wall near the console table.

"Where the hell have you been for two weeks?" he asked in a dark, dangerous voice. "Did you run off with another man just because I wasn't giving you enough attention?"

The force of his grip sent pain through Ashley's healing chest. For a moment, she felt close to losing consciousness again.

Patrick moved to kiss her, but Ashley quickly turned her head aside. The smell of cigarettes lingered heavily on his breath.

"You've spent every day with Jolie," Ashley said, fighting to keep her tears from falling. "So why does it matter to you where I've been?"

This time, she did not shrink away from him.

Patrick caught her chin and forced her face back toward his. "You're still my wife, Ashley," he said. "Don't forget that. I'm warning you to know your place and stay faithful to me. If you don't..."

His other hand moved beneath her skirt, touching her without tenderness or consideration, as though humiliating her was the entire point. His desire was unmistakable, and he did nothing to conceal it.

Patrick had never loved her.

While she had been undergoing heart surgery, he had been arranging fireworks for the woman he had never managed to forget. After she disappeared for two weeks, his first concern was whether she had been with another man.

She could no longer see any reason for everything she had endured.

Patrick's touch became more intrusive. A quiet sound escaped her before she could suppress it, and humiliation immediately washed over her.

She had finally reached her limit. Her body remained weak and pale, but her decision was firm. She lifted her hand and struck Patrick hard across the face. "Patrick, I want a divorce."

A dark look settled over Patrick's face. "You want to divorce me?"

He grabbed Ashley by the throat and tightened his grip. "Have you actually been cheating on me? You used to stick to me like glue no matter how often I tried to push you away, and now you're suddenly asking for a divorce?"

His fingers pressed harder. Ashley's face slowly turned purple as she fought to speak.

"P-Patrick... Isn't Jolie the only woman you've ever loved?" She managed to speak. "Once you divorce me, the two of you can finally be together."

Hearing Jolie's name, Patrick eased his grip before finally letting her go.

"So we're back to Jolie again," he said with irritation. "I've told you she's nothing more than a friend now. Quit letting your jealousy turn her into a target."

Ashley dropped heavily to the floor, desperately drawing in air. Her heart surgery was still recent, and the struggle had left her chest throbbing with pain. She clutched it while trying to steady her breathing. "A friend?" she rasped. "The sort of friend you sleep with?"

Patrick's tone became icy. "I know you resent Jolie, but keep those accusations to yourself. If you ever confront her and humiliate her, our marriage won't last much longer."

Ashley took out the divorce agreement she had signed at the hospital and tossed it at his feet. "Perfect, because I don't want this marriage anymore. You give me $20, 000 a month and expect me to handle every household expense with it, yet you can spend $50 million on fireworks for the birthday of the woman you love. I'm not living this way anymore."

By the time she stopped speaking, her breathing had become labored again. She stayed down until the pain eased, then grabbed the console by the doorway and slowly hauled herself upright.

Her eyes were swollen and red, yet there was no hesitation in her decision. "Our marriage ends here, Patrick."

She turned and opened the door.

Patrick's frigid voice came from behind her. "If you leave through that door, Ashley, don't expect another chance with me. Five years ago, you were a helpless woman with no memories. If I hadn't taken you in, you wouldn't have the life you're living now."

Ashley felt her chest constrict with pain.

Five years earlier, a car accident had wiped her memory clean.

With no idea who she was or where to go, she had wandered the streets alone. Before long, she had drawn unnecessary attention.

One day, several street thugs trapped her, ripped at her clothes, and tried to rape her.

Patrick had arrived at the critical moment. His bodyguards chased the men away, and to Ashley, he looked like the person who had saved her.

He later proposed that she marry him, explaining that it would silence his family's constant pressure for him to settle down.

Having no memories and no one else to rely on, Ashley treated Patrick as her only lifeline. She eventually fell for him and accepted his proposal without a second thought.

From then onward, she molded herself into the wife she thought he wanted-quiet, obedient, and easy to please, taking care of his household more like a servant than an equal.

Ashley staggered out of the house and straight into the downpour.

The icy rain washed away the final remnants of her confusion. For the first time in years, she could finally see her life clearly.

She refused to become that exhausted housewife again, wasting her days serving Patrick and waiting for him. She was Ashley Edwards, and she was finally going to take her life back.

Ashley entered a number that had been buried with the memories she lost in the accident.

The instant the call went through, a woman's emotional voice came over the line. "Ashley? Is that really you? Where have you been all this time? I've looked everywhere for you."

Guilt washed over Ashley. Holding back her tears, she murmured, "Mom, I'll tell you everything once I get there. For now, I just want to go home."

Eileen Edwards could barely hide how much she had cried. "Of course, sweetheart. I'll have someone come for you immediately."

Ashley had finally recovered all her memories.

Ashley's true identity was far greater than simply being an Edwards. She was Starlight, the famous painter who had kept her real name hidden from the world.

She was finally returning to take back the life that had been stolen from her.

Eileen's driver reached her shortly afterward.

By the time Ashley arrived at the Edwards family's residence, her parents had already hurried outside to receive her.

"Ashley, you're really back," Eileen cried, tears streaming down her face. "We've missed you terribly."

Steven Edwards had always been a tough and resolute businessman, yet seeing his daughter again left even him unable to hide his tears.

Ashley pulled both of them into a tight embrace. "Mom, Dad, I'm so sorry."

For five years, she had remained in the same city as her family. She had paid no attention to the outside world. Instead, she had stayed home, looking after Patrick and his parents. That was why her parents had failed to track her down despite their years of efforts to search for her.

She couldn't help feeling that she was partly responsible for all those wasted years.

She was preparing to explain the truth when another voice suddenly broke into the emotional reunion. "Mom, Dad, is that my sister?"

Ashley's head jerked toward the speaker.

Not far away stood a young woman who looked delicate and harmless. Her neatly styled hair framed her shoulders, while her gentle features made her seem like someone who had been carefully sheltered from the world.

The girl tilted her head curiously. "You're Ashley?"

Ashley couldn't understand why a stranger was standing so naturally in her home.

The young woman introduced herself through her actions before Eileen could say anything, stepping closer and affectionately taking Eileen's arm.

Eileen gently patted Leanne's hand before explaining, "Ash, this is Leanne, your younger sister. When you disappeared five years ago, your father and I were completely broken. We couldn't accept that you were gone, so we adopted her. She's been a wonderful daughter and has stayed by our side all these years."

For several seconds, Ashley could do nothing but stare at them in disbelief.

While she had been struggling through life without even knowing her own identity, her parents had filled the empty space she left behind with another daughter.

Steven shifted awkwardly before speaking. "We honestly believed you would never return. Leanne helped us through the years when we had almost nothing left to hope for."

Ashley's heart ached. His explanation stirred that old, bitter feeling of being replaced.

A flash of resentment crossed Leanne Edwards' face, but she quickly covered it with a pleasant smile. "I'm really happy that you've come home. There's just a little problem. Mom and Dad gave your old bedroom to me, so you'll probably need to use a guest room. But if having your old room matters that much to you, I can move out and return it to you."

Eileen's face brightened. She was clearly pleased by what she saw as Leanne's willingness to give way.

Ashley's lips curved into a humorless smile. "Keep it. I've never been interested in anything that's already been handed down to someone else."

Rather than getting angry, Leanne remained perfectly composed. She picked up a glass, filled it with water, and held it out to Ashley with the same innocent smile. "You must be exhausted after traveling this far. Here, have something to drink."

Then, without warning, the glass tilted in Leanne's fingers.

"Oh!" She cried out in surprise as the water splashed over Ashley, soaking part of her clothes.

"I'm sorry, Ashley. The glass slipped from my hand," Leanne said carefully, as if she were afraid Ashley might punish her.

After all she had endured, Ashley could see through the act immediately.

"It's okay." She stepped toward the table, grabbed the pitcher of water, and poured the entire thing over Leanne's head. "Don't worry, Leanne. We're even now."

Leanne let out a sharp scream.

Water drenched her completely, leaving her looking much more miserable than Ashley, whose clothes were only wet in one spot.

Tears instantly filled Leanne's eyes as she rushed into Eileen's arms. "Mom, I was truly happy that Ashley came home. Why would she treat me like that?"

Standing between her two daughters, Eileen was at a loss. But after five years of raising Leanne, her instincts naturally made her take her side. "Ashley, don't be so hard on Leanne. She simply lost her hold on the glass. She meant well."

Steven also spoke up. "Leanne didn't mean to do it."

Seeing both of her parents immediately defend Leanne hurt Ashley deeply.

She had spent five years wasting her life on a man who was never worthy of her, while her parents had given the love that should have been hers to the daughter they had brought home in her absence.

The hurt was nearly unbearable.

She had only just returned and had no desire to quarrel with her parents, so she simply responded, "I'm tired. I'll go get some rest."

A hint of triumph flashed through Leanne's eyes, but she quickly covered it with a hurt expression. "Does Ashley despise me? Is that why she's upset with you too? This is all because of me. I shouldn't have taken her place."

Eileen's heart immediately softened. "Sweetheart, this isn't your fault. Ashley lost her memory and spent years living on her own. She must have gone through a lot, so it's normal for her to be more sensitive now. Once you spend more time together, she'll come to care about you."

Leanne obediently nodded. "I'll try my best to make Ashley like me."

Eileen reached out and gently stroked her hair.

Ashley said nothing else and walked into the guest room. By then, the pain inside her had turned into numbness. She pulled out her phone and called her closest friend, Mina Webb. "Mina, is your offer to open a gallery together still available?"

Mina's voice immediately brightened. "Ash, you finally agreed! I have passes for an auction at Diadem Auction House. We can go together and see if there's anything that would suit the gallery."

"Okay," Ashley said softly.

The following morning, Ashley was getting ready to leave for Diadem Auction House to meet Mina when Leanne called out to her.

"Ashley."

Ashley looked at her coldly. "What?"

Leanne smiled sweetly. "You probably feel like a stranger in this house now. But you should understand that, in Mom's and Dad's eyes, I'm the Edwards heiress. You were gone for years, and they've already come to regard me as their daughter. So don't think you can ever rival me."

Eileen and Steven had gone out early that morning to handle some matters at Edwards Group. With no one else present, Leanne no longer bothered pretending to be innocent.

Ashley was just about to answer when a man's cold voice came from outside. "Why would she have to rival you?"

Ashley turned around and saw a remarkably handsome man walking toward them. He wore a black suit and gold-rimmed glasses, and the calm authority he carried made him seem intimidating.

It was Colton Harrison, her fiancé and the boy who had been her greatest rival while they were growing up.

Why was he standing up for her?

Leanne's face lit up the moment she saw him. "Colton, what brings you here?"

She quickly walked over, slipped her arm around his, and looked back at Ashley with a proud smile. "You probably don't know this yet. After you disappeared, Mom and Dad agreed that I would marry Colton instead. I'm his fiancée now."

Ashley kept her expression calm, but Leanne's words still struck somewhere deep inside her.

Had Leanne taken everything that was supposed to be hers?

To Ashley's surprise, Colton withdrew his arm from Leanne's hold. His deep, lazy voice turned cold. "When did I ever agree to marry you, Leanne? Ashley is the woman I intend to marry."