Chapter 9 

Tyler put his arm around my shoulders, his eyes quickly scanning my body. Seeing I wasn’t hurt, he finally relaxed. 

He laughed coldly and looked at Jackson. 

“Mr. Gray, we’re not friends, and there’s no reason for us to meet again.” 

“My fiancée has social anxiety. She doesn’t like meeting strangers.” 

Jackson’s face remained expressionless as his gaze fell on the hand on my shoulder, his eyes like 

frost. 

“Fiancée?” 

“You’re planning to marry my wife? Did you ask for her husband’s permission?” 

As they spoke, the security guards moved closer, subtly blocking the elevator entrance. 

Even someone as slow as me would have figured it out by now. 

Tyler knew Jackson Gray. 

Brandon tried to stop me from meeting Jackson. 

Vanessa and Riley both thought I was Jackson’s dead wife. 

So Victoria Hawthorne was indeed me. I was indeed Victoria Hawthorne. 

Three years ago, when I first woke up in the hospital, Tyler often came to visit me. 

He was my high school classmate. 

We had never been in the same class, but we knew of each other. 

I was reasonably good–looking and somewhat well–known at school. Tyler was famous for consistently ranking first in our grade. 

22.25 C 

Cinder 

Chapter 9 

Later, he got into Columbia University, while I stayed in Harris City. After graduation, I worked a normal job, and our lives had no intersection. 

I had heard he joined a prestigious hospital. How did he end up in Harris City? 

I excitedly grabbed his arm. 

“Tyler, what’s going on? Isn’t this 2022? They’re all saying it’s 2025. What’s happening?” 

Tyler gently reassured me. 

“It’s okay. Don’t worry.” 

He explained that I had been in a car accident and became comatose, lying in the hospital for three full years. 

He showed me a stack of hospital bills. 

“Car accident?” 

I tried to remember, and vaguely recalled something like that. 

The nurses nearby were whispering among themselves, which made me curl up in fear. 

“Don’t come near me!” 

“Victoria, don’t be afraid. You’ve been in darkness too long. It’s normal to have some after–effects–fear of light, fear of people. These are all normal.” 

“I’ll help you through this.” 

For those three lost years, Tyler had woven a perfect lie to me. 

He made me believe I had been asleep. 

No overseas travel, no meeting Jackson Gray, no marrying into wealth, no being bullied into depression. 

No soap bubble love that burst. 

I was still me–the ordinary Victoria Hawthorne, working nine–to–five, coming home to a small 

22:25 

Chapter 9 

apartment with someone I loved, cooking together, watching a favorite movie. 

Not glamorous or dramatic, 

But real, warm, and comforting. 

Just like Tyler. 

Seeing my dazed expression, Tyler’s hands began to tremble too. 

“Victoria baby, I’ll explain everything when we get home.” 

Jackson watched us quietly. 

“Victoria, come here.” 

I didn’t move. Jackson softened his tone. 

“Sweetheart, be good.” 

“I was wrong before. I’ll change everything. Come back to me, please?” 

I shook my head. 

“No. I want to go home with Tyler.” 

I took Tyler’s hand. Jackson’s expression became unhinged. 

“Victoria, I’ve been searching for you all these years. I won’t let you go again.” 

He made a gesture, and the security guards closed in. 

At the same time, the elevator opened, and more than a dozen bodyguards stepped out. 

I calmly took out my phone. 

“Hello, 911? Officer, someone is trying to kidnap me!” 

Hanging up, I mocked Jackson. 

“Mr. Gray, this is a society of laws. Do you think we’re in some billionaire romance novel where 

22.25 

Chapter 9 

there are no consequences? Where you can just imprison people and force them to love you?” 

“Stupid donkey!” 

Jackson: … 

♡ (0)