Chapter 4

Holly's POV

I lay sprawled on the balcony as tears spilled from the corners of my eyes.

The cold breeze that billowed past made my heart feel extremely cold. I didn't know how much time had passed.

I couldn't feel my fingertips anymore. The only sensation that was left was the stinging pain that spread through my limbs. My head spun from excessive blood loss. Just then, I smelled something burning.

My chest tightened as I struggled to look toward the smell. A bright flame burned in the kitchen, and it was visibly growing.

I frantically thrashed around on the floor. The rough rope rubbed my hands raw as I struggled against it. I accidentally dislocated my right hand when I exerted too much force, but it gave me a chance to untie the ropes and free myself from my bindings.

I ripped off the tape and screamed for help. But no one answered my cries for help.

The balcony door was bolted shut. The fire had already spread to the living room. In my panic, I grabbed my phone and called Mom.

The call rang for a long time, but no one picked up. I tried calling Oliver next, and he answered. His background was filled with boisterous laughter.

Doing my best to ignore the thick smoke that was threatening to choke me, I begged him for help. "Save me, Oliver! The house is on fire! I can't escape because I'm locked out on the balcony!"

Oliver stayed silent for two seconds before scoffing. "I can't believe that you would come up with such a ridiculous lie just to take revenge on Lydia, Holly. You're being completely unreasonable."

"I'm not lying!" I shouted, tears spilling down my cheeks. "The fire is getting closer, Oliver. I won't be able to hold on for much longer—"

Oliver hung up on me before I could finish.

A few seconds later, I received a series of messages from Carrie.

"I'll let you in on the truth, Holly. Oliver and Lydia got together a long time ago. Oliver was the one who gave her your design during the finals of the International Design Competition. He didn't expect you to have proof that the design was yours.

"He never visited you even once whenever you were sick and had to undergo surgery in the last few years. But after Lydia became depressed, he became too scared to sleep with the door closed.

"Also, about the marital house he bought on the top floor of the apartment with the river view. Everyone can see that he didn't buy it for you. But you kept clinging to him like a fool.

"Lydia's depression is going to be cured soon. She'll also be awarded the prize that should have been hers. You should know your place and leave him of your own accord, Holly."

Carrie had also sent a video along with the messages.

Dazzling lights illuminated the private room. The atmosphere was lively but gentle.

Oliver stood behind Lydia with his arms wrapped around her waist. Their fingers were intertwined as they held the knife and slowly cut the cake together.

Lydia turned her head and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth, prompting him to cradle the back of her head and kiss her back with enthusiasm.

The camera swept across the room. Elias clapped and cheered, while Mom and Dad wore relieved looks.

I stared at the screen, rooted to the spot for a long time and unable to snap back to my senses. A sea of fire blazed behind me, but I felt as if my entire body had been plunged into freezing water. The biting chill burrowed into my very bones.

It turned out Oliver had already turned his attention to someone else while I was sprinting toward our future without hesitation.

I only snapped back to my senses when the appliances in the living room exploded from the intense heat. I walked over to the window and looked down.

My head spun, and my heart hammered wildly against my chest. I turned to look behind me. The flames had already engulfed half of the living room. Thin cracks began to form in the balcony glass.

I closed my eyes, spread my arms, and leaped out of the window.

…

Third-Person POV

Lydia's birthday party ended three hours later.

Oliver and the others made their way back home. They spotted the sea of flames that were licking up toward the sky and the thick smoke when they got out of the car.

A property management staff member rushed over to them when he noticed them. "Your house caught on fire, Mr. Alden. Was there anyone else at home?"

The color drained from their faces in an instant when they thought about Holly, who had been tied up on the balcony.