Chapter 4
Somehow, I survived.
As I fell, several kind neighbors reached out to break my fall, keeping
me from splattering on the pavement.
Even so, being pregnant, the impact was severe.
Blood flowed uncontrollably between my legs. When Derek finally rallied a few off–duty colleagues to come, this was the scene that greeted them-]
Me surrounded by neighbors, deathly pale, covered in burns, my white dress soaked with blood–a horrifying sight.
“Ember… oh God…” Derek pushed through the crowd, visibly shaken.
“How is this possible? Axel swore you were faking it!
The pain in my abdomen had drained all my strength. Breathing heavily, I gave him an icy stare.[]
“Does your entire fire department just blindly follow whatever Axel says?”
“Is his word gospel to all of you?”
The neighbors joined in, unleashing their anger.
“What kind of emergency service are you running? Completely negligent! We waited nearly an hour before you showed up!”
“That fire was massivel What if someone had burned to death? Could you live with that? She’s pregnant, for crying out
loud! And now look at her condition…”
Derek was speechless under the barrage of accusations. He knew they were right and hung his head, unable to even look at me.]
When the ambulance arrived, he voluntarily accompanied me to the hospital.
The entire ride, he kept apologizing.
Horry.
“I’m so sorry, Ember. I had no idea this would happen.”
“It’s my fault. I trusted Axel too much…“]
A nurse cut off his rambling: “Stop disturbing the patient. She’s in critical condition. Are you family?”
Derek shook his head, prompting the nurse to add: “Then contact her family immediately. What if we need consent forms signed?”
This spurred Derek to frantically call Axel
The call connected quickly.]
“Hey Derek, what’s up?”
Derek put the phone on speaker so I can hear.
me!!
Hearing Axel’s voice sent an involuntary shudder through me.
There was noise in the background–it sounded like a woman crying.]]
petek d
didn’t notice and directly informed Axel about my accident.
“Axel, there really was a fire at your home. Ember jumped from the apartment. We’re taking her to the hospital now. You need to get here–they might need your signature.”
He wasn’t prepared for Axel’s response–a contemptuous snort, as if he had seen through some grand deception.[]
“Derek. how much did Ember pay you to help her with this bullshit?”
“Even if it’s real, my apartment’s only on the fifth floor. She couldn’t possibly be seriously hurt.“[]
As Axel spoke, a fragile female voice came through in the background
“Axel, is something wrong with Ember? Maybe you should go to her. I’ll be fine here, really.“[]
“Don’t worry, I won’t try to jump again…I am just… so exhausting!”
It was unmistakably Layla’s voice.
Without even ending our call, Axel rushed to comfort her: “Ember’s Just putting on an act. Nothing’s wrong with her.”
“Layla, don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay right here with you, okay?
1
His tune was tender, like someone soothing a frightened child.
That makes me sick.
He always believed whatever Layla said without question.
While everything I did was just an act.
Such blatant double standards–how could he possibly claim their relationship was Innocent?
Even Derek couldn’t stomach It.]
“Axel, we’re talking about your husbande and unborn child! You’re rushing off to stop your first love from killing herself while completely disregarding whether your own family lives or dies?”
“Have you completely lost your mind?”
Probably afraid Layla would overhear, Axel seemed to move somewhere else to continue the call
Being criticized by his subordinate clearly infuriated him.
“Derek, who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that?
||
“She’s not my wife–we’re not even married yet. If you’re so concerned, why don’t you date her yourself?
Hearing this. Derek looked like he wanted to reach through the phone and throttle Axel
“Axel, you’re an absolute asshole! I should never have trusted your
Axel let out a cold laugh.
“So what? She’s too much of a coward to actually die.“]
“I just want her to suffer a bit, teach her to stop being such a pain in my ass!”
“Tm hanging up. Don’t bother me again–I need to get back to Layla.
Derek wanted to say more, but Axel quickly disconnected, nearly causing Derek to smash his phone in rage.[]
Everyone in the ambulance had heard Axel’s heartless words and looked at me with p
pity.
I took a deep breath.]
Even though I had already recognized how cruel Axel was, I couldn’t help feeling a stab of pain.]]
my
Those were five real years of my life.]
I had genuinely loved him and had prepared myself to start a family with him.[]
I gently touched my stomach.
Perhaps due to the connection between mother and child, the intense pain from earlier seemed to have subsided
somewhat.
But the faces of the medical staff were growing increasingly pale.
“Patient’s blood pressure is dropping! Quick, prepare for emergency treatment!!
