Chapter 2

But I couldn't accept it.

I refused to accept it.

All because of their laughable obsession with avoiding the suspicion of favoritism, I was going to be burned alive.

The agony made my entire body convulse uncontrollably.

I bit down hard on my lower lip and tremblingly pulled out my phone.

All I needed was a video, even one that lasted just a few seconds, and it would prove I wasn't lying.

However, I never imagined that my own mother would cut off my last chance of survival.

“Tamara, the command center isn't a tool for you to throw tantrums with.

“To stop you from acting so irresponsibly again, I've remotely disabled your phone. Stay in the safe zone like a good girl. When it's time to rescue you, we'll come.”

My breath caught in an instant.

“Tammy, how are you? Are you okay?”

Outside the door, Austin still hadn't given up.

I hurriedly opened my mouth to answer, but my throat was so badly burned that I couldn't make a sound.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to stay calm.

No. I couldn't give up yet.

With great difficulty, I picked up a piece of rubble beside me and struck the scorching floor with it, again and again.

I was sending a distress signal.

Three short taps. Three long. Three more short taps.

My left leg was broken.

I'd lost all feeling in it.

My oxygen was running out.

My consciousness was fading.

Austin had clearly understood.

After a moment of silence, he gritted his teeth and made a firm decision.

“Tammy, don't worry! No matter what happens, I'll get you out of there!”

It didn't take long for me to understand what he meant.

Soon afterward, my older brother, Henry Smyth, and my husband, James Stokes, charged upstairs with the rescue team and grabbed Austin by the collar.

“Austin, have you lost your mind?”

“What the hell has Tamara done to you to make you forget your place and report over everyone's heads? Do you have any idea how serious the consequences will be if this gets investigated?”

“Consequences?”

Austin was absolutely furious.

“Henry Smyth, are you even human?

“The fire inside is about to get out of control! Your own sister is trapped in there, and no one knows whether she's dead or alive. Shouldn't you at least go in and check on her before making your damn judgment?”

Henry froze and instinctively glanced toward the door.

Just then, a weak, pitiful voice came through the radio. It was Amelia Thorn.

“Henry, how is Tamara doing? Why don't you... Why don't you stop worrying about Bruno for now?

“If something really does happen to Bruno, then I guess it was just meant to be. Boohoo.”

Sure enough, Henry couldn't stand hearing her say things like that.

He stopped in his tracks, immediately regaining his usual cold, self-assured arrogance.

“Tamara, stop pretending.

“Mom taught you all kinds of emergency procedures for surviving a fire when you were little. What could possibly happen to you in there? No matter what, Bruno is a living creature, too. You're an adult. There's a limit to how childish you can be!”

James looked equally disappointed.

“Tamara, you've really gone too far.

“Trying to force us to give in by deliberately misleading the rescue workers.”

The flames continued to roar.

An overwhelming sense of absurdity washed over me.

So, in their eyes, I wasn’t even worth as much as Amelia’s dog.

Suddenly, a deep cracking sound came from overhead.

My eyes widened.

The ceiling beam came crashing down.

Austin's expression changed drastically. He lunged toward the door and screamed in desperation.

“Tammy, are you okay? Answer me! Did it hit you?”

I wanted to answer him. I wanted to tell him to save my baby.

But all I could do was shake my head frantically.

My mouth opened and closed.

Not a single sound came out.

Bright red blood kept spilling from my mouth.

The instant the beam came crashing down, I'd dragged my broken leg and desperately crawled forward.

I'd managed to protect my head, but the beam had struck my abdomen.

James, however, let out a scornful laugh.

“Tamara, stop the act. Every construction material used in this house is top-grade, fire-resistant, and heat-resistant.

“Even if you're trying to compete for attention and make everyone focus on you, don't resort to such cheap, pathetic tricks. Besides, Amelia herself told us there's absolutely nothing wrong with you.”