Chapter 338
Chapter 338:
Kailey stumbled and scraped her knee against the ground, but she didn’t stop. She pushed herself back up and kept running. Tears rushed into her eyes without warning. She didn’t understand why she was crying. She didn’t want to believe the fire was coming from her house, yet fear crashed through her chest and made her whole body shake.
At last, she reached the front gate.
The iron gate was locked tight. The dog inside barked without stopping.
“Mom —” Kailey froze for a heartbeat before charging forward. She slammed her small fists against the gate again and again. “Mom! Come out p>
The smoke burned her nose and throat. Hands grabbed her from behind — neighbors pulling her back, their voices blending together until she couldn’t tell who was speaking. One thought stayed with her and refused to let go: her mother was still inside.
She fought against the hands holding her, sobs mixing with the overwhelming noise all around her.
T𝗿𝘦𝗇d𝘪ո𝘨 𝘯𝗈𝘷𝖾𝘭ѕ 𝗈𝘯 ѕ.𝖼о𝗺
Without warning, something cool pressed gently over her eyes.
A boy spoke beside her, his voice steady and calm. “Don’t look. It’s okay. You don’t need to be scared p>
Movement continued all around them — footsteps rushing past, voices rising and falling without pause. The cool touch against her face eased some of the chaos in her head, though the smoke had already burned her eyes. Everything stayed blurry. She couldn’t see the boy’s face. Her voice shook when she spoke. “My mom — is she going to be alright p>
“People are trying to save her. Everyone is doing what they can. But she wouldn’t want you getting hurt. So stay here, okay p>
Kailey stopped struggling and stayed where she was, just like he told her to.
Kailey never saw the boy’s face in her dream, but as she opened her eyes, the worried face before her was undeniably handsome, his hand tightly clutching hers.
“Did you have a nightmare?” Relief loosened Kyson’s shoulders as he lifted her hand to his lips and brushed a soft kiss across her knuckles. “You scared me just now. I was really worried p>
Kailey studied him without blinking, as if she were afraid he might disappear.
A second slipped by, then another.
Unease flickered across Kyson’s gaze, and he leaned closer to press the back of his hand lightly to her forehead. “Are you alright p>
“Kyson.” Roughness scraped through her hoarse whisper.
He met her eyes and gave a small nod, quietly urging her to go on.
Instead of answering, she lifted both arms toward him. “Hold me p>
A playful glint flashed in Kyson’s eyes before a grin spread across his face. Bending closer, he slipped one arm beneath her neck and effortlessly gathered her against his chest. “Seems like you got scared and came looking for a little comfort p>
Kailey’s mouth curved into a gentle smile. Moisture shimmered at the corner of her lashes, a single tear sliding free.
After a long while, the two of them finally made their way downstairs, where the aroma of breakfast already filled the air.
The moment Irene’s eyes landed on Kyson, surprise flickered across her face. “I noticed the car outside at dawn and thought my vision was playing tricks on me. When did you come back p>