The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 140

"Thank you."

Her tone was perfectly polite, yet completely detached.

"I need some time to think it over."

Yves seemed to pick up on her defenses.

He didn't push any further, just gave a light shrug and pulled a business card from his pocket, handing it to her.

"No problem, take all the time you need. If you make a decision, or if you have any questions at all, you can reach me at this number."

Annelise took the business card.

It had a premium, textured feel, printed on thick, eco-friendly cardstock.

It contained only the most basic information.

His name: "Yves Judd."

His profession: "Architect."

A phone number and an email address.

Right next to his name was a tiny, hand-drawn logo.

It was a simple sketch of an old house, and hovering right above the roof was a tiny, fluffy cloud that looked like cotton candy.

The overall design matched the very first impression he had given her.

Clean, warm, and carrying just a touch of perfectly placed, childlike whimsy.

After leaving the shop, Annelise didn't head straight back to the apartment.

She walked up and down that street two more times.

Deep down, she knew that the shop checked almost every single box she had for her future floral studio.

The natural light, the location, the surrounding atmosphere, and even the designer landlord himself were utterly flawless.

Yet, she still hesitated.

She wasn't hesitating over the shop.

She was hesitating over Yves.

An enthusiastic, kind-hearted foreign man who had simply appeared out of thin air.

Her instincts screamed at her to stay on guard.

She knew she couldn't live the rest of her life flinching at shadows just because she had been bitten once.

She couldn't let Hackett and Clarissa's betrayals force her to reject every ounce of genuine sincerity and kindness that still existed in the world.

If she did that, how was she any different from a patient locking themselves inside a sterile hospital room forever?

She had escaped the physical prison of the Lehman Estate; she refused to lock herself inside a new, invisible cage forged from fear and suspicion.

She needed to be vigilant.

But more than that, she needed to be courageous.

Courageous enough to trust, courageous enough to try, and courageous enough to start a brand-new life entirely undefined by her past.

Annelise picked up her pen and drew a small circle right in the dead center of the line.

Then, she snapped the notebook shut.

She grabbed her phone, found Alyssa's contact, and dialed the number.

The moment the call connected, she spoke with a firm, crystal-clear conviction she had never possessed before.

"Alyssa, set up a meeting with the landlord for me. I want to sign the lease."