Chapter 33
She had thought, maybe this was for the best. If she died, there would be no more pain. And even if there was, someone would finally care.
She could be with her parents again.
Then the crash of a door being kicked in shattered the silence. Instinct forced her eyes open. Through the thick smoke, she saw a pair of dark eyes, beautiful and impossible to look away from.
Chris dragged her out of the haze.
On her first day at the Xander house, he had barely acknowledged her.
And yet, he had saved her.
She later heard that he had carried her out of the burning building that afternoon and made it clear to everyone
present.
“She belongs to the Xanders. Touch her again and see what happens p>
After that, no one ever bullied her again.
That was when he planted the first seed in her young heart. By the time she was old enough to understand her feelings, they had already taken root beyond control.
Now, staring at the man before her, his figure overlapping with the boy from her memories, Winter tightened her grip on the microphone. Her knuckles turned white.
The one who had saved her was Chris.
The one who had hurt her the most was also Chris.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” His voice was low, rough against the chaos.
“Mr. Xander, please put on a respirator immediately. There’s something wrong with the smoke p>
Gavin rushed over, handing him a mask.
Winter’s eyes flickered.
The respirator she was wearing had been his.
Chris took the mask and secured it over his face. He shot her a look, then grabbed her wrist. “Get back p>
Winter drew in a steady breath. She reminded herself not to give him another chance to hurt her.
She pulled her hand free. “I’m working. If you want to discuss the divorce, we can do that later.” Without waiting for a response, she turned and hurried to check on her crew. The firefighters had already distributed protective masks. Her cameraman was safe.
The respirators were equipped with built–in microphones and communication ports, which allowed her to continue reporting.
She stood before the sea of flames, her hair whipped loose by the wind. Thick smoke spread around her like a net. Her slender frame looked as though it could be swallowed by the fire at any moment.
Yet she showed no panic. She reported steadily and clearly on the unfolding disaster.
Chris stood by his car not far away, his gaze dark as he watched her thin figure in the firelight.
+25 Bonus
Sirens blared around them. Fire trucks kept arriving. Not only firefighters but also security personnel dispatched by the Xander family joined the response. The situation was brought under control as quickly as possible.
Winter climbed into Chris’s car. Gavin was about to start the engine when she spoke.
“I’ll drop this off and then I’ll leave p>
Her voice was hoarse from the smoke, stripped of its usual clear tone.
Chris tapped his fingers lightly against the armrest.
Winter reached into her bag and pulled out the divorce agreement. She found a pen, flipped to the signature page, and signed her name in one clean stroke.
“I’ve signed it. Once you do, have someone contact me p>
He didn’t move.
She gripped her bag tighter, bitterness rising in her chest.
“Chris, I only have one condition. It’s nothing to you, and it gives you your freedom. You’re a businessman. You understand that if we both sign cleanly, we both win p>
He looked at the divorce agreement she was holding out to him, then at her fresh, decisive signature.
A low, unreadable laugh escaped him.
The car fell silent. Time seemed to slow inside the enclosed space.
Finally, he reached out, his fingers brushing slowly over the document.
Winter didn’t expect what came next. The only warning was the sharp rip of paper tearing through the quiet.
In one swift motion, he tore the divorce agreement cleanly in half.
D
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Florence
A passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.