Chapter 4

The corridor descended into chaos.

The sound of an ambulance siren came from downstairs.

Police officers and medical staff frantically carried the unconscious Hank down.

The fire investigation expert gave his final orders before leaving.

"The scene needs to be sealed off for further evidence collection. No one is allowed to enter."

As soon as Lucy heard that, she threw herself onto the floor and started throwing a tantrum.

"No! You can't! My baby is inside! I want to go in and be with her!"

She hugged the doorframe with both hands, refusing to let go no matter how hard the two police officers pulled her.

"This is police brutality! You're bullying a civilian!"

While struggling, she shouted at the fans holding up their phones nearby, "Quick, film this and post it online! Let everyone see how they're driving me to my death!"

That night, the public were in an uproar and voiced their strong opinions online.

Lucy's team had released an edited video.

The video only showed me giving her a cold look and the police forcibly dragging her away from her apartment.

The title was shocking: "Cold-Blooded Firefighter Drives Weak Woman's Beloved Dog to Death, and Public Authorities Collude to Oppress Her!"

The comment section was completely overrun by angry citizens.

Extreme animal rights activists and misinformed netizens tore into me like mad dogs.

"Chris West must die!"

"Dox him! Find his parents' address!"

"If the fire department doesn't give the public a proper explanation, we'll smash their main gate!"

Watching the constant stream of malicious comments on my phone, my chest tightened.

Memories of being cyberbullied to death in my previous life flooded my mind.

That suffocating feeling of being unable to defend myself almost choked me.

The department's notice came quickly.

To quell public opinion, I was officially suspended.

I handed over my uniform and sat on the cold bunk bed in my dorm.

Lucy's fans had organized a protest at the fire station entrance, bringing flowers to "comfort" Lucy. I could see them from the window.

They used megaphones to stir up trouble.

"Chris West, come out!"

"Get on your knees and apologize! Beg the dog for forgiveness!"

I remained calm. I saved screenshots of those spreading malicious rumors about me online and recorded the fans causing trouble outside.

At 10 PM, there was a knock on my door.

My best friend John Jackson, who was also my former roommate, pushed the door open and walked in.

He looked at me and sighed.

"Chris, why are you being so stubborn?"

He sat on the edge of the bed and offered me a cigarette.

"The department is under immense pressure right now. The higher-ups' phones are blowing up. Just swallow your pride, go outside and apologize for your bad attitude at the time.

"If the department's reputation is damaged, everyone's annual performance reviews will be ruined.

"Even if you won't do it for yourself, do it for your brothers."

I looked at the cigarette he offered but didn't take it.

"Reputation isn't earned by apologizing to scoundrels."

My voice was cold and hard.

"If I apologize today, tomorrow they'll force us to pay with our lives for the deaths of cats and dogs."

John grew anxious.

"Why are you so stubborn?! The station is surrounded! Lucy's here too. She said, as long as you admit your mistake, she'll issue a statement forgiving you."

No sooner had he spoken than a noisy flurry of footsteps suddenly echoed in the corridor.

The security guards at the main gate couldn't stop them.

Lucy, leading a group of fans livestreaming on their phones, rushed directly to my dorm.

The door was violently pushed open.

Lucy was dressed in black with a white flower on her head and holding a black urn.

She charged right up to me and shoved the urn in my face.

"Get on your knees, Chris!"

Her eyes were filled with malice.

"You must apologize to my baby right now or I'll make sure you'll never be able to hold your head high for the rest of your life!"

The urn almost hit my nose.

Out of self-defense, I raised my hand and pushed her wrist away.

Lucy stumbled backward using the momentum.

CRACK!

The urn she was holding fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.

Grayish-white ashes scattered everywhere.

Lucy fell to the floor, screaming and pointing at her scratched finger.

"The firefighter hit me! Not only did he let my baby die, he wouldn't even spare my baby's ashes! Is he even human?!"

The fans outside the room instantly flew into a rage, their phone cameras practically shoved into my face.

All sorts of vile insults rained down on me.

John stomped his feet in panic, blaming me.

"Chris, why do you have to lay a hand on her?! Now, everything's ruined!"

I looked at Lucy, who was rolling on the floor, and at her frenzied fans.

I let out a cold chuckle.

I dipped a finger into a bit of the "ashes" on the floor and brought it to my nose, sniffing it.

Then, I said coldly, "Lucy, is this really your dog's ashes?"