Chapter 1

When the downtown hotel caught fire, I joined the rescue team.

In one of the guest rooms, I saw my darling.

She was wrapped only in a towel, following a man dressed the same way.

Seeing me, she was shocked and scared.

After a brief moment of stunned disbelief, I hoisted her over my shoulder and ran downstairs.

She cried out, "We're finished."

Then I immediately turned back to save her lover.

————

When I returned to rescue that man via the same route, he showered me with profuse thanks and gratitude.

I hoisted him up in the same manner as before, and as I ran towards the exit, I coldly asked him:

"What's your relationship with that woman from earlier?"

His words of gratitude paused for a moment, then he let out two sleazy chuckles.

"Bro, you've got your eye on her too, huh?"

"Can't blame you though, that chick's a real looker. Long, slender legs, and most importantly, she's wild enough."

"It's just a damn shame this fire came out of nowhere. I didn't even get a chance to properly enjoy..."

His mouth spewed filth, his tone tinged with regret.

My hand carrying him clenched into a fist. I wanted nothing more than to throw him into the flames right then and there.

But in the end, reason triumphed over emotion.

I just gritted my teeth and forced myself to say, "That's my darling you're talking about."

As soon as the words left my mouth, I couldn't help the sting in my eyes as tears began to flow.

The man on my shoulder, hearing what I said, abruptly halted his endless chatter.

After a moment of silence, he changed his previously friendly attitude and sneered.

"So you're Lanaya's good-for-nothing husband? So what if she's your darling? She used to be my girlfriend too."

"You're not gonna leave me here, are you?"

"I'm warning you, you're a firefighter!"It's you, darling, who seduced me. It has nothing to do with me."

So he was Owen, the ex-boyfriend Lanaya kept comparing me to every day.

Knowing his identity, I remembered how Lanaya had described him as if he were heaven-sent, and I couldn't help but give a bitter laugh.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

She'd rather have an affair with this kind of man than live a good life with me.

Seeing that I didn't respond to his remark, Owen awkwardly closed his mouth and said no more.

After I brought him out of the fire, Lanaya, as if she hadn't seen me at all, ran straight to Owen and wailed.

"Owen, are you alright?"

"Are you okay, Owen? Did he do anything to you?"

She ran her hands all over Owen, and only after making sure he was fine did she belatedly look at me.

"Donavan, I... I didn't mean it like that..."

I coldly stared at Lanaya, watching her naked and intimate with another man right in front of me.

I felt like all my efforts for the past five years had gone to the dogs.

Seeing that I was ignoring her, Lanaya was about to speak, but Owen coughed.

Her attention was immediately drawn away.I crouched down, concerned, and gently rubbed Owen's chest.

Seeing no improvement, she anxiously twisted her head back to yell at me.

"Donavan, are you deaf? Can't you hear how badly Owen is coughing?"

"Go call an ambulance for him, quick!"

Ambulances were limited, with many casualties being prioritized based on the severity of their injuries.

Owen had only coughed once, how could that possibly be serious enough to warrant an ambulance?

I gazed at her deeply, feeling utterly disappointed.

Lanaya ran over and grabbed me, refusing to let go.

"Donavan, are you deaf? Didn't you hear me tell you to call an ambulance?"

"I heard you."

"Well then? Don't you see all those people being loaded into ambulances?"