Chapter 5

I stood there in a daze, well aware that I wasn't worthy. I wasn't going to be able to stop the proposal that night. I thought back to the reason that made me approach Charles in the first place, and I felt a wave of sadness in my heart. "Oh, no! Fire!" Things took a sudden turn right then. Flames erupted across the hotel. There was a strong gust that winter night which only fanned the flames and made them spread faster. Thankfully, the guests were all already outside to witness the proposal. The person in charge hurriedly did a head count, only to realize they were short one person. More horrifyingly, the person missing was Charles. The person in charge's face turned ashened in an instant. "Where's Mr. Bowman?" Shock colored everyone's faces when they heard this. Charles wasn't out there with them? If he wasn't, then where could he be? The worst possible outcome popped into everyone's minds. "Charles said he was going back upstairs to get the ring," someone mumbled. Those words sent a chill down everyone's spine as it confirmed their worst fear. The fire was still spreading, and it had already formed a sea of flames at the entrance of the hotel. Even from afar, one could feel the fiery heat. If someone were to run in and try to save him now, the chances of dying inside were much more likely than pulling off a successful rescue. And who didn't fear death? Lilith was completely terrified. The smug expression she had just been wearing a few moments ago had turned into one of stark horror. "How could this happen…" "Ms. Moore, Charles went in to get the ring for you." Horace's words had everyone suddenly turn to look at Lilith. "It's because of you that Charles is trapped inside the fire. Are you not going to save him?" The suggestion horrified Lilith so much that she started crying. Her lips trembled as she inched backward unsteadily. "Horace! Are you insane, or do you think I'm insane? The fire's too big, and Charles has a heart condition! How am I supposed to save him? If I went in now, I would only die alongside him!" "So, you're not willing to die alongside Charles?" Horace scoffed. Everyone else fell silent, not daring to breathe a word. They were also considering the possibility of the Bowman family blaming them and taking their fury out on them should Charles die in the fire tonight. "What about you, Shayla? Aren't you always insisting that you love Charles?" Horace asked yet again. Now, everyone's gazes became fixated on me instead, and the emotional blackmail started. "That's right. Shayla has been so devoted to Charles for the past three years. She has always behaved like she can't live without him, so why is she not reacting at all right now?" "I had believed she was sincere about Charles and had even found her a tad pitiful, but I guess that was all an act. She was just in it for Charles' status only." Horace sighed and continued to look at me. "It's no wonder Charles always said that you're a gold digger. He's inside right now, likely to be burned alive any second, and you're just standing there doing nothing? I guess your love for him isn't all that, after all, Shayla." The blazing fire lit up everyone's expressions, showing their true colors. I closed my eyes and, at that moment, I made a decision. "Charles will be scared if he's alone." Tears fell out of the corners of my eyes while I stared at the fire. "If he's going to die, then I'll die alongside him," I said earnestly. My words shocked everyone. They exchanged glances with each other, clearly believing that I had lost my mind. Horace was the first to come back to his senses. With a cigarette between his lips and disdain etched all over his face, he said, "Shayla, it's easy enough to say that you'll die alongside Charles, but there's no way you'd—" He hadn't even finished his sentence when I—amid the shocked gasps of everyone—took a deep breath and ran headfirst into the blazing hotel. "Damn it! Has she lost her mind?" Horace yelled, his cigarette falling out of his mouth. "Shayla, come back out! Charles…"