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Her smirk vanished. Panic flickered in her eyes as another car pulled in behind his. Henry was already on the phone, calling the police.
Sawyer jumped out of his car, and sprinted toward the burning house. Before he could rush inside, Kelly grabbed his arm.
"Sawyer, what are you doing?" she cried, feigning panic. "I—I don’t know what happened! I just got here, and saw the house on fire!"
Sawyer’s eyes darkened. “Ellie is inside, isn’t she?” His voice was deadly calm.
Kelly flinched. He knew. He knew everything.
Her mask cracked. Her expression turned cold in an instant, her grip loosening. Then, she smirked. “Yes.” She turned to the fire, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "And no one’s coming out of there alive."
He shoved her aside, sending her crashing to the ground, before bolting into the inferno.
“Mr. Stark, wait!” Henry shouted, but Sawyer was already gone.
Inside, the fire raged. Smoke thickened the air, making it hard to see. Sawyer pushed forward, his pulse hammering. Then, through the haze, he spotted them—Ellie, Jack, and Jessica.
Jessica had thrown herself over Ellie’s unconscious body, shielding her as flames crackled around them. Jack struggled against a massive burning beam that had fallen, blocking their escape.
"I’m here, Mr. Whitlock!" Sawyer shouted, covering his mouth with his arm. "Step back!"
Jack did as told, and Sawyer lunged at the fallen beam, kicking it with everything he had. Pain seared through his leg as flames licked at his skin, but the beam toppled, creating a narrow escape.
“Let’s go!” he barked, grabbing Ellie in his arms as Jack and Jessica followed.
Just as they stumbled out, the blaring sirens of fire trucks and ambulances filled the air. Paramedics rushed to take Ellie, placing her on a stretcher.
Jessica gripped Ellie’s limp hand, tears streaming down her face. “Ellie, Mom is so, so sorry. I hurt you for that fake.” Her voice cracked as she whispered, “I’ll never let anyone take you from me again.”
***
The white hospital walls gleamed under the fluorescent lights, sterile and quiet. The room was empty except for a neatly made hospital bed in the center. The silence unsettled Ellie as she limped out of the washroom, her steps uneven.
Just then, footsteps sounded at the door—familiar ones.
Ellie's heart jumped. Without thinking, she rushed to the bed, wincing from the pain but making it just in time before the door opened.
Sawyer stepped inside, his sharp eyes immediately locking onto her. Behind him, Jeremy followed, his usual flirtatious smirk in place. Sawyer shot him an irritated glare, but Jeremy remained unfazed, strolling confidently toward Ellie.
"Ellie, how are you feeling now?" Jeremy asked, his voice smooth.
Ellie blinked as if just waking up. Her gaze swept the room, and then she saw Jessica and Jack walking in, both hiding their smiles at the sight of Sawyer in the room.
Sawyer set down the bouquet of flowers he had brought, placing it carefully beside her bed. Then he sat down next to her, took her hand in his, and looked at her with the saddest, most desperate puppy-dog eyes.
"Do you remember me now?" His voice was hopeful, pleading. "Any memories coming back?"
Ellie stared at him, then at their joined hands. In an instant, she yanked her hand back. Sitting up straight, she frowned.
"Hey! I already told you, I don’t know you. Why do you keep asking me that?"
Sawyer's already tense expression tightened even further. "It’s been three days. Why don’t you remember me? You even remembered your mom and dad."
Ellie shrugged casually. "Maybe because you weren’t good to me?"
Sawyer’s expression turned wounded. "I was good to you! I even gave you everything—my property, my money—just so you’d marry me."
"I don’t remember a thing," Ellie replied nonchalantly.