When She Rose From the Ashes

Chapter 450 Mom's Guilt Hits Harder

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Ruby thought bitterly. It’s my fault. | was blind-blind enough to treat the one who switched my baby all those

years ago as a savion keeping her by my side for more than twenty years. It’s my fault | fell into depression,

making everyone worry about me, my fault | missed the signs that my real daughter was still alive. I'll never be

able to make it up to Natalie in this lifetime.

She didn’t dare cry aloud, afraid Waylon or Flynn might hear-but her heart hurt so much she could barely

breathe.

Natalie was the daughter she had carried for ten long, months; the baby she had once wanted to cradle in her

palms and give the whole world to. Yet she had let that sdaughter suffer for more than twenty years-years

that had been worse than death.

The mental torment inflicted by the Summers family had been far crueler than any physical pain.

The fact that Natalie hadn't fallen into depression or developed psychological issues was proof of her strength.

And what about me? Ruby thought. What kind of mother am 1-crumbling at the smallest setback?

When Rachel's true identity had cto light, Ruby’s spirit had collapsed all over again.

If it hadn't been for the antidepressants she kept nearby, she didn’t know what state she’d be in

now,

Even after Waylon brought her home, when Natalie still hadn't returned and Ruby saw the two innocent children,

she had actually felt a flicker of resentment toward them. Now that she knew what kind of life Natalie had

endured, Ruby couldn’t bear the thought.

She cried soundlessly, her body trembling; she clawed at her hair, slapped her own face over and over-like a

madwoman punishing herself-because only physical pain seemed capable of dulling the suffocating agony in her

chest.

But she couldn't let anyone see her like this-especially not Natalic.

After a while, completely drained, Ruby collapsed onto the floor.

Images of Natalic as a newborn filled her mind-so tiny, so soft, so perfect.

Ruby suddenly laughed; the laugh twisted into sobs.

She couldn't bear it anymore and fainted, her hand still clutching a longevity locket-the one

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18:23 Tue, Oct 14

Chapter 450 Mom's Guilt Hits Harder

she had made herself when Natalie was born.

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That locket had once been Ruby's source of comfort; now it felt like a double-edged blade, cutting so deep it left

her bleeding inside and out. Natalie, I'm sorry...

The words slipped from Ruby's lips as she lost consciousness, tears sliding silently into her

hair.

When Natalie cout of the bathroom, she still felt a little embarrassed.

She had completely broken down just moments ago-a first for her.

Waylon and Flynn, though, found this side of her endearing; for the first time, she truly felt like their daughter

and sister.

“Natalie,” Flynn said, “I bought sfruit. See which one you like?”

He placed the tray in front of her.

Natalie smiled softly at the simple gesture of brotherly love.

“Thanks, Flynn. | like them all.”

“Then they're all yours.”

Flynn pushed the entire tray toward her.

Natalie picked up an apple and took a bite—it was sweet and crisp; the taste seemed to seep straight into her

heart, warm and bright.

Watching her, Waylon and Flynn both felt something ease inside them.

Natalie looked around and, not seeing Ruby, asked, “Dad, maybe | should go check on Mom. She hasn't been

doing well, has she? Was it because of my disappearance?”

Waylon let out a weary sigh. “Yeah.

When you disappeared, your mom

blamed herself so deeply she could

barely function. And when Anna

finally admitted that Rachel had been

behind everything... it completely.

ey feel RAdw hw fragile

she’s\been ever since you went

missing. Rachel wasn't just a friend

to her—she was her savior. Your

mom truly believed that woman had

rescued her. Then to find out that the

person she'd trusted for over twenty

years, the one she thought saved her,

had been manipulating her all

along—and might've even had a hand

in the baby switch—it broke

something inside her. And now, after

what Rachel and Anna

did—kidnapping you, trying to kill

you—she just couldn't take it

anymore.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

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18:23 Tue, Oct 14

Chapter 450 Mom's Guilt Hits Harder

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Waylon's voice softened, his eyes

filled with quiet pity as he spoke

about his wife. “Sweetheart, don't

hold it against your To Sheyhasn't

been " for ecadss: nything that

hs tb o with you... it just unravels

her. | sent her to a recovery clinic for

a few days, but it didn't help much.

When you cback, | brought her

home, but | can see she’s slipping

again. Even the sound of the kids

laughing seems to get under her

skin.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Seeing the flicker of hurt in Natalie's

eyes, Waylon rushed to explain. “It's

not that she doesn't love them. It's

just... when you were gone and there

was no news, sheid\ne@y ther m

7

lqoghindlike Wothing had

happened-—it tore her apart. She

knows it's not their fault; they're just

kids. But she couldn't control the

grief or anger, so she shut herself

away in her room to keep from

lashing out. Flynn and | tried, but

there wasn't much we could do. Now

I'm afraid she might do something

reckless again.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

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