Chapter 3

The moment the explosion rang out, every trace of Robert's fake politeness vanished.

He stepped forward, snatched a stainless steel thermos from the service counter, and swung it viciously at my shoulder.

The impact landed with a dull thud.

My entire body lurched sideways. It felt as though someone had slammed a sledgehammer into my shoulder, and my whole arm went numb instantly.

The thermos bounced off the floor and rolled twice.

Its lid popped open, splashing hot water onto my pant leg. I flinched from the burn.

"Don't push your luck!" Robert pointed at me and yelled, "You're fixing it today whether you like it or not! If this entire building burns down, do you think that million dollars will be enough to cover the losses? You couldn't even pay for it with your life!"

The merchants who had been pretending to plead with me moments ago changed their tune in an instant. Their eyes bloodshot, they closed in around me like a pack of animals ready to devour their prey.

"How can you stand by and let people die? What kind of human being are you?"

Someone shoved me hard from behind. I stumbled forward, my chest slamming into the edge of the checkout counter. A dull ache shot through my ribs.

Someone else took advantage of the chaos to kick me. My leg buckled, and I dropped to one knee.

"If all our merchandise burns up, you're not getting off easy! If we have to, we'll all die here together!"

A hand reached out from the crowd, grabbed me by the collar, and hauled me to my feet before letting go.

I crashed to the floor beside a pillar. Blood streamed down my forehead and covered my right eye, turning everything I saw red.

The crowd continued pressing toward me.

I braced one hand against the pillar. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth, and my right shoulder hung limp, completely useless.

I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stay upright.

Just then, a small figure wearing a pink backpack squeezed through the crowd.

My daughter, Harper, spread her arms and stood in front of me. "Don't you dare hit my dad!"

Panicked, I shouted at her so sharply that my voice cracked. "Harper! Who told you to come here? Get out of here! Go!"

The merchants' expressions changed.

Robert rushed forward, clamped a hand over Harper's mouth, and dragged her toward the electrical room. "Are you going to fix it or not?"

Harper kicked and struggled desperately, her pink backpack bouncing on her back as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Let me go! Don't you dare hurt my dad!"

Kendra shrieked, "If you won't fix it, we'll throw your daughter inside! Our merchandise is worth over a hundred million dollars combined! Her life is a small price to pay in comparison!"

My eyes instantly turned bloodshot.

Ever since my wife died, Harper was the only family I had left. I'd promised my wife that I would protect our daughter for the rest of my life.

And now, right before my eyes, someone was covering Harper's mouth and dragging her toward the flames.

I charged forward like a madman.

But my right shoulder was useless. I'd barely taken two steps when three or four merchants lunged at me from both sides and slammed me to the floor.

My face smashed against the tiles. My teeth cracked, and blood mixed with saliva, spilling across the floor.

I struggled with all my might, digging my fingers into the gaps between the tiles until my fingernails split and my fingertips scraped raw.

I was hopelessly outnumbered. No matter how desperately I fought, they held me down.

All I could do was watch helplessly as Harper struggled near the fire.

"Daddy, save me!"

Robert grabbed Harper by the arm and dragged her toward the smoke-billowing door of the electrical room. One of the straps on her pink backpack snapped.

Robert raised his hand, preparing to shove her into the flames.

My mind went blank. I couldn't think about anything else.

"I'll fix it! I'll fix it! Just don't touch my daughter! I'll do whatever you want!" I opened my mouth, about to shout the words aloud.

Suddenly, several stern voices erupted behind me.

"Stop! All of you, let the hell go of him!"