Chapter 2

The air in the underground archives was as thick and hot as boiling asphalt.

An electrical fire had sparked an explosion. Within minutes, the narrow aisles between the bookshelves became a sea of flames.

Choking black smoke clawed at my throat, making it impossible to breathe.

I was pinned to the concrete floor by a row of collapsed heavy steel bookshelves.

Hundreds of pounds of metal crushed my chest. Every single breath sent a sharp, agonizing pain through my broken ribs.

The intense heat blistered my skin, and I could smell the sickening scent of my own hair burning.

Less than ten feet away, through the shimmering waves of heat, I saw Alfred.

For him, I had worked three jobs at once just to pay for his master’s degree.

I had stayed up countless nights drawing blueprints to pave his career path, single-handedly turning him into a rising star in the architecture world.

But right now, he didn’t even look at me.

His entire attention was focused on the woman clinging tightly to his neck.

Vivian, the new intern at our firm.

She was the type who always wore innocent white dresses and spoke in a sweet, helpless voice.

"Alfred... I’m so scared. The fire is too big. My ankle hurts so bad..."

Vivian buried her face in Alfred’s chest, crying like a helpless victim.

I could see her ankle. The one she claimed was "sprained" didn't even have a scratch on it.

But her tears completely wiped out any logic Alfred had left.

"Don't worry, Vivian. I’m here. I’ll get you out of here right now."

Alfred’s voice carried a tone of panic and tenderness I had never heard before.

He swept Vivian up in his arms, cradling her like she was some priceless treasure.

"Alfred..." I squeezed a broken, raspy plea out of my throat with the last of my strength.

I reached out with a hand covered in black ash and blood, blindly searching the hot floor.

I needed leverage. If I could just prop the shelf up by a few inches, I could crawl out.

My fingers brushed against a cold, cylindrical object—a dry chemical fire extinguisher that had fallen off the wall.

This was my only lifeline.

I grit my teeth, ignoring the blinding pain, and slowly dragged the heavy red canister toward the edge of the shelf.

"Alfred... help me..."

I coughed up a mouthful of bloody phlegm, looking desperately at his back.

Alfred heard me. He turned his head.

For a split second, I thought he finally saw me. I thought he would put Vivian down and rush over to lift this damn shelf off my chest.

But he only frowned. His eyes were filled with pure, unadulterated annoyance.

Vivian followed his gaze, saw me, and suddenly let out an exaggerated, dramatic shriek.

"Oh my God! Alfred! That red thing is blocking the way! I'm scared it'll trip us!"

Alfred looked down at the fire extinguisher I was desperately clutching—the tool that was supposed to save my life.

He didn't see a dying partner who had sacrificed everything for him. He only saw an obstacle that might trip the delicate little bird in his arms.

Without a single second of hesitation, he raised his foot. He was wearing the custom leather shoes I had spent three months of my salary to buy him.

Thud!

Alfred kicked the fire extinguisher with full force.

The red canister slipped from my fingers, rolling heavily across the concrete floor before disappearing into the deep flames.

"It’s just a stupid metal can. Don't let it trip Vivian. Useless trash."

Alfred threw those cold words over his shoulder, tightened his grip on Vivian, and stormed toward the emergency exit.

He didn't look back. Not even once.

The fire extinguisher was gone. My leverage was gone. My only lifeline was cut off by the man I had loved for three years.

The flames greedily licked the paper files around me, making a terrifying crackling sound.

My vision began to blur. The oxygen in my lungs was completely gone.

Right before I lost consciousness, I didn't cry.

I just stared blankly at the direction where Alfred had disappeared, carving his cold, heartless face deep into my soul.

Alfred, if I, Valerie Padilla, survive today... I will make sure you taste what real hell feels like.