I Protected Him for 200 Years, He Killed Me in 1 Day

Buried deep in the Aster estate was the Heartwood—ancient, sacred, mine.

Told my husband, Julian Aster—back when he actually listened—that if it ever fell, I'd die with it.

At first, he freaked out. Flew in glacier water, hired a whole squad of plant experts to nurture it 24/7.

Then one day, just because his childhood friend—Isabella Duvall—got a scratch from the bark, Julian had the Heartwood ripped out.

The second it crashed, I choked on glowing blood—ichor. My power? Gone.

Barely standing, I grabbed his arm. "You knew. If the Heartwood dies, I—"

He laughed. Straight-up mocked me. "Sera, come on. That fairy tale? Only Grandma still believes that crap. Is that mayo on your mouth? Relax—it's a tree. I'll buy you a forest if you want."

Overnight, my hair turned gray. Skin cracked. Eyes dulled.

Still, I dragged myself to his grandmother, Henrietta.

"I kept your family safe for two hundred years. That's why the Asters thrived. But the Heartwood's gone. Debt's paid. Three days left. Whatever happens next? Not my problem."

Henrietta leaned on her cane, tears slipping down her wrinkled cheeks.

"We spoiled Julian rotten!"

Voice trembling. Eyes darting to me like she needed forgiveness.

"Sera, he didn't mean it. He and Isabella... they were always close. I told him—over and over—you and the Heartwood are one. You're our guardian."

All I had left was a bitter smile. I couldn't even nod.

Julian didn't forget. He knew.

He just picked Isabella's scratch over my life.

While I begged, he grabbed the axe himself—slicing through the Heartwood like it was nothing.

I hit the floor, curled up, glowing blood spilling from my mouth.

Julian? Blowing on Isabella's finger like she'd taken a bullet.

The only thing he said to me?

"Sera, you'd better pray Isabella doesn't scar. If she does, you're done. And save those sob stories for Grandma—see if she still buys it."

Flashback shattered—Henrietta clutching my hand, desperate.

"I'll send someone. We'll replant the Heartwood. We can fix this."

I shook my head. "Too late."

Julian used to obsess over protecting the Heartwood.

So yeah, he knew exactly how to kill it.

Stripped the bark. Hacked the roots.

Even now, I could feel it—like my skin was being peeled off. My life was leaking out, slow and steady.

I knew I was on borrowed time.

Henrietta started to speak—

Door slammed open.

Julian's assistant strolled in, stone-faced.

Didn't pause. Just marched over like I was some busted appliance.

"Mrs. Aster, Mr. Aster says Ms. Duvall's staying the night. He'd like you to bring her a change of underwear. Said you're always eager to do his laundry, so you should know exactly where it's kept."

The hit landed so hard, all I could do was close my eyes.

Henrietta slammed her cane down, shaking with fury.

"Disgraceful! Absolutely disgraceful!"

She barked at the assistant to leave.

Then—this woman who ran the Asters like a queen for fifty years—bowed. Deep.

"Sera, I know I don't deserve to face