Chapter 1

As I burned to death, my lungs filled with despair.

The extreme temperature made red lumps and blisters form across my body, which was curled up towards the end as if I had transformed into a lump of coal.

With the gentlest touch, my skin flaked away to expose the lumps of flesh underneath.

The state of my body was so horrific that even the firefighters and doctors who arrived at the scene did not dare to approach.

They all covered their mouths and noses before beginning to throw up.

Even in my death, I was so repulsive to all of them.

After that, I followed them as my body was taken to the hospital.

As soon as we entered the hospital, I heard a familiar voice calling out.

"Reya, tell the doctor if you’re in pain. Don’t exert yourself!" Luther held Reya’s hand tightly as he gestured at the firefighter uniform he was wearing. "I am a firefighter. If anyone knows about the harmful effects of a fire, it’s me! Doctor, you have to conduct a full body examination for her!"

He stayed by the bed and refused to leave her side.

Standing by the door, his colleagues were trying to get his attention to no avail because he would cut them off each time.

"Don't bother the doctor! It doesn’t matter how urgent it is. Everything can wait until after Reya’s full body examination! Nothing is more important than her well-being!"

His colleagues exchanged conflicted looks. They wanted to tell him that his wife was dead.

However, the only thing on his mind was Reya’s well-being.

After what seemed like forever, the doctor concluded the screening process and announced that Reya's condition was stable. Luther heaved a sigh of relief upon receiving the news.

That was when he finally noticed his group of colleagues, who were still hesitant to speak.

"What are you all doing standing over there? Shouldn’t you be working on the report?"

One of them stammered, "Captain, I wanted to… about your wife…"

The sheer mention of the word ‘wife’ was enough for him to curl his brows into a stark frown.

"Don't you ever tell me about that nasty woman! Our divorce will be finalized soon, and I will have nothing to do with her anymore!"

They were stunned by the comment and had no choice but to nod meekly.

I felt a teardrop sliding down my cheek toward the corner of my lips. I never knew even souls could feel such a gut-wrenching feeling.

Then, the doctor approached Luther. "You should sort out the paperwork to have your lover admitted. It’d be wise to have her admitted for two days for further observation."

The doctor seemed to have misinterpreted their relationship. Anyone who witnessed their interaction would be misled into thinking that they were lovers.

Little did Luther know, his lover had already passed away in another ward. Her death was so gruesome that everyone was struck with fear at the sheer sight of it.

I remember kneeling at his feet and pleading inside the raging furnace back there. "Please, please save me, too. I’m going to die here if you don’t save me, I beg you…"

I was wounded, and my feet were still oozing fresh blood.

To my horror, the man I had loved for the last decade jabbed a merciless kick at me. "You are evil through and through, Amaranth. Are you not going to give Reya a chance to live at least? I will never forgive you for starting this fire to kill her!"

I refused to give up at the time. I tried to crawl to the cabinet to look for the ultrasound report. I wanted to tell him that, regardless of how much he hated me, he must realize that this was his child’s life at stake as well.

However, he had picked Reya up and walked away defiantly.

The moment he turned around, a large beam fell overhead and slammed against my legs. My harrowing scream was drowned out by the raging crackling of fire.

Even my tears evaporated inside the intense heat. All I could do was curl up from the pain and protect my torso.

'I’m sorry for doing this to you, my baby. If your father had not resented me so much, perhaps you would have lived. Unfortunately, your father hates me down to his bones even in my final moments.'