When Love Turns to Ashes (Beatrice and Caden) novel Chapter 1

Before committing suicide while holding her daughter's body, Beatrice Lindsey did three things.

First, she sent the autopsy report of her daughter, who died from an infection after kidney donation, to Caden Baldwin. He was at a birthday party for the son of his first love at that time.

Second, Beatrice calmly arranged all the funeral affairs for her daughter. Then, she held her daughter's ashes and slept in the cemetery for a whole night.

Third, Beatrice softly sang "Happy Birthday" and threw the ignited divorce agreement in her hand towards the curtain.

At the same time, in the magnificent hall, Caden Baldwin's phone rang.

"Third Master, the villa is on fire."

The wine glass Caden was holding fell to the ground with a crash, and he turned and left.

He didn't know how he stepped on the gas pedal and rushed to the villa.

Looking at the house engulfed in fierce flames, it felt as if something had pierced his heart.

The curtain fell, revealing Beatrice Lindsey sitting in front of the birthday cake and the urn of her daughter's ashes in her arms.

She smiled at him as if they were meeting for the first time.

"Goodbye. I hate you. If everything could start over..."

In a drunken stupor, Beatrice Lindsey had a wild night with Caden Baldwin, her step—uncle.

Then, she deliberately switched her morning—after pill with folic acid, trying to get pregnant and marry Caden.

He ranted at her for being shameless and using dirty tricks to climb the social ladder.

After they tied the knot, he began to retaliate against her like crazy, not even showing mercy on their daughter.

When Beatrice opened her eyes again, she found herself reborn to the day after their one—night stand happened.

The first thing she did was burn the 100 love letters she had written for Caden.

Next, she told him that the woman he slept with was Madelynn Bradford, his fiancée.

Finally, she took lots of morning—after pills, making sure she wouldn't carry his baby.

In the previous life, Beatrice greedily admitted that they had slept, which resulted in eight years of loveless marriage.

Caden had been waiting for Madelynn and hadn't slept with any woman before that, so he hated Beatrice's guts and mistreated her.

But Beatrice just wouldn't give up on this marriage no matter what.

Eight years later, their daughter Stella died on the operating table.

Meanwhile, Caden was celebrating the successful transplant of Stella's kidney to Madelynn's son.

After Stella was cremated, Beatrice set herself on fire with Stella's urn in her arms.

Before she died, she finally realized that she shouldn't hold on to what didn't belong to her.

If there could be a chance to start over again, Beatrice wouldn't want anything to do with Caden.

Under the scorching afternoon sun, the coffee cup fell to the ground, and the shards cut through Beatrice's skin, making her sober right away.

Beatrice opened her eyes, only to find herself kneeling in the center of the hall.

She looked around with confusion, finally realizing that she had been reborn!

Ignoring the astonished gazes of the crowd, she pinched herself in the arm.

Pain swept through her body, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

"Why are you crying? You're the one who crossed the line!"

A solemn voice came from the main seat.

Beatrice snapped back to reality and met the displeased gaze of Xander Baldwin.

She immediately lowered her head, appearing as humble as ever, but her body couldn't stop trembling with excitement.

There were light sneers and constant whispers from the crowd.

"So young but so scheming! How dare she drugged Caden and slept with him! Now everyone knows about it. Apparently, she wanted to force Caden to marry her, but now she doesn't dare to admit it. How shameless!"

"She's so brazen. We Baldwins wouldn't stoop so low. Her love diary about her secret crush on Caden is all over the Internet now! Our family paid her university tuition, but look at what she has learned!"

"I told you not to bring just anyone home. This is clearly inviting trouble. I don't know if it's learned or ... inherited."

With that, a few people cast a sideway glance at Beatrice's mother Monica Garrett, who stood at the end.

Monica paled at their sarcasm. After glancing at Beatrice, she immediately lowered her head. Although she felt humiliated, she dared not talk back.

It was because Beatrice's identity was too special.

Monica remarried someone after giving birth to Beatrice. And Beatrice's stepfather was Caden's second elder brother, Ryan Baldwin.

So, strictly, Caden was Beatrice's uncle, but she had never called him "Uncle Caden," for she wasn't qualified.

In her previous life, Beatrice apologized in a panic in the face of these people's accusations, so everyone assumed that she was the one who drugged Caden.

Later, Caden had to marry Beatrice because she was carrying his baby.