Chapter 4

I will never forget that fire.

That day, I was already in my second trimester, waddling around looking for a job with my pregnant belly.

I had forgotten some data in the lab, and when I went back to retrieve it, I encountered a lab explosion.

The gas pipelines in the lab had ruptured, and flames engulfed everything.

I had only one thought in my mind—Zoran was inside!

Zoran had chlorine gas poisoning, lying unconscious under the operating table, his face pale and unresponsive.

I sprinted over, trying to drag him up while tearing off the hem of my skirt, soaking it in the nearby culture medium to make a makeshift breathing mask for him.

I forcibly hoisted him onto my shoulders, with the heat waves scorching my back.

Can't stop, almost there—almost at the exit.

Just as I used all my strength to drag Zoran towards the exit, a deafening crash came from above.

A metal pipe came crashing down from above, and I had no time to react, instinctively using my body to protect Zoran's head.

The entire patch of skin on my right cheek stuck to the scorching hot metal pipe.

After finally bringing Zoran to the safe zone, I also lost consciousness.

When I woke up, I was in the hospital.

Mist had become Zoran's savior.

As for me, due to multiple skin grafts, I became the money-grubbing plastic surgery girl in their eyes.

Clearly, the topic of fire piqued Mist's interest. She tugged on Zoran's sleeve:

"Hey, isn't your company doing clinical trials for that new skin regeneration gel? Don't you need volunteers? Why not let Vivienne do it?"

Zoran snorted coldly: "This technology is meant to save burn injury victims. Is she even worthy?"

He looked me up and down, then, as if suddenly struck by an idea, he grabbed my hair and shoved my face towards the flaming ice cream.

The flames of the ice cream burned right before my eyes, almost searing into my eyeballs.

"...Let, let go of me!" I finally couldn't help but scream.

Zoran had no intention of letting go. My face got closer and closer to the fire, and my whole body trembled uncontrollably.

He just watched me struggle in front of the flames.

"To be honest, I do need test subjects."

"Vivienne, you should know this technology best. We researched it together back then."

"But the problem is, the technology isn't mature yet. I'm worried it might harm the volunteers."

"Don't mind if you become the little lab rat this time? Let's collaborate once more, how about it?"

"No... please... no..." I struggled and wept helplessly in front of the flames.

Finally, the alcohol on the ice cream's surface burned out, and the fire extinguished.

Zoran at last released his grip on my hair with a flick.

I gasped for air, my head spinning. I lost my balance and fell straight into the bowl of ice cream.

The entire ballroom erupted in raucous laughter.

"Bitch!"

At that moment, Elias's voice suddenly rang out in the ballroom.

Elias walked straight towards me and yanked me out of the ice cream bowl.

My face was covered in cream, mixed with blood scabs, looking even more pathetically disgusting.

Elias grabbed my hair with one hand and pointed at Zoran with the other: "Well, well. So you got together with me just to keep him out of trouble? You two were using me as a pawn?"

As he spoke, he grabbed a nearby wine glass and poured a glass of red wine over my head.

I immediately started coughing uncontrollably.

Just as Elias reached for another glass of wine, his wrist was firmly gripped.

It was Zoran.

Then, Zoran applied a bit of force, slamming Elias to the ground. He stepped forward, planting his foot on Elias's chest. "Did I give you permission to touch her?"

Mist hurried to pull him back. "Zoran, don't listen to their nonsense..."

Zoran shoved Mist away. "You shut up too."