A Rebirth of Flames

A loud crash filled the air as a cabinet slammed onto my body. It hurt so badly that I awoke from my unconscious state.

I had no time to worry about the sharp pains all over my body. I tried hard to figure out what was happening in front of me. Yet, the dense smoke in the air choked me and left me unable to open my eyes. I could only cover my mouth while coughing aggressively.

That was when waves of pain stirred in my lower abdomen. I instinctively shielded my stomach with my arms. "My baby… Hang in there!"

Much to my dismay, my stomach was flat, even though I was due to deliver my baby soon. How did that happen?

Before I could comprehend things, I heard a panicked voice beside me.

The person shouted, "Celia? Celia! Are you alright?"

Why did that voice sound so familiar?

Then, Celia Lumley's frail voice rang out, "Save me, Raiden…"

Disbelief filled me as I looked up. I saw Raiden Seager half-kneeling beside Celia as he frantically moved a table off her body.

I could barely breathe while watching the two before me—hang on. Didn't Raiden lock me inside a medical laboratory earlier and start a fire to burn me alive moments ago? He killed me and my baby...

That thought caused me to curl up in misery, and my entire body trembled uncontrollably.

My colleague, Serena Wagner, was at the door to the medical laboratory. She screamed at the top of her lungs, saying, "Have you lost your mind, Raiden? You should rescue Winifred first! She's your girlfriend!"

The scene felt so real that I finally realized I wasn't dreaming. I had somehow been reborn! I had somehow gone back to the day I was trapped in a fire with Celia, whom most hospital staff declared was a hottie.

A creak sounded as Raiden finally moved the table off Celia. He didn't even spare me a glance. He merely picked Celia up in his arms and ran for the door.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh. Wasn't Raiden also like this in my previous life? He only had eyes for Celia, even though I was his girlfriend.

Indeed, Celia was beautiful. Not only was she regarded as a jaw-dropping goddess in the hospital, but she was also rumored to be the daughter of Lumley Medical's chairperson. It made sense that Raiden had long fallen in love with her, even if he wasn't single.

I wriggled, trying to stand, but the cabinet pinned me down. My calf was also bloody after being cut by glass. Those left me unable to move at all.

Raiden seemed to notice me only now. Even so, there wasn't a shred of concern in his eyes. There was only disgust as he frowned and said, "Celia's the daughter of Lumley Medical's chairperson! The entire hospital will go down if anything happens to her! I'm doing this for everyone's sake!

"Your wounds don't look too bad, Winifred. I'll come back for you after I get Celia out of here."

I snorted. I would have believed Raiden's excuse of doing this for "everyone's sake" if I hadn't been reborn. However, he claimed I wasn't badly injured even when I was covered in blood.

Serena didn't even think twice before charging into the fire. Luckily, another colleague behind her prevented her from going further. They yelled, "You need to calm down, Serena! There are many combustible items in the laboratory! It's too dangerous!"

That was right. From what I remember, this laboratory had roughly 15 minutes left before it would explode.

In my last life, I had urged everyone to vacate the scene after being rescued from the laboratory. That kept everyone alive. Raiden wanted to save Celia but ultimately didn't because the flames kept growing.

That was why I would never believe his promise to come back and save me in this life. I knew he wouldn't. However, I didn't want to implicate others who genuinely cared about me.

I willed every last bit of strength I had to shout from the ground where I lay. "Don't come in, Serena! This place is about to blow! You guys need to run!"

Raiden was still heading out with Celia in his arms, but he paused when he heard my words. He looked back in disbelief at me. All warmth left his eyes, as though he were looking at a stranger. "How am I now realizing you're so sly, Winifred?

"The firefighters will be here and can control the flames in half an hour! What will our colleagues think of me now that you're saying this place will blow up? Can't you be a little more considerate like Celia?"

His hypocritical words angered me so much that I scoffed. "Why didn't you say I was sly when you slept with me, then?"

Upon seeing the situation, Celia tugged at Raiden's collar and spoke feebly, "Raiden, it hurts…"

Raiden's eyes left me once he heard Celia's voice. He looked down at Celia while soothing her. "Hang in there, Celia. I won't let anything happen to you."

After saying that, he took her away without looking back at me.