Chapter 72 Save Me
Chapter 72 Save Me
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Camelia said, “Rosalie, I’m sorry! It’s all my fault!”
Her eyes were brimming with tears as she grabbed Lucian’s arm. “Don’t be mad. We’ll leave right now…”
She set the gift box down and took the cake from Lucian, placing it on the table. “We’ll leave right away. Just… remember to eat the cake. Happy birthday.”
With that, she tugged at the still-stiff Lucian and hurried out of the office.
Rosalie suddenly raised her hand and slammed the cake and gift box from the table onto the floor. The crash echoed loudly. Cream, fruit, and the velvet box were scattered across the floor in a chaotic mess.
She collapsed into her chair, drained of all energy, while tears streamed uncontrollably, refusing to stop.
That slap had shattered every bit of armor she had built since her rebirth. She no longer felt sadness over Lucian’s choice in love. But she felt wronged, and she burned with hatred.
The overwhelming flood of resentment and grief nearly drowned her.
For over 20 years, no one had ever laid a finger on her.
She couldn’t understand why he was doing this to her. The man who had once treated her with such care, who hadn’t even dared to speak a harsh word, was now humiliating her so mercilessly. It was a pain sharper than death.
Amid her daze, a sharp, acrid smell hit her. It grew stronger, overwhelming the sweet scent of cream in the air.
Rosalie opened her eyes, still stinging from tears, and saw thick, black smoke pouring frantically from the ceiling vents.
Her chest tightened with panic as she jumped to her feet and ran toward the exit. But her foot hit the mess of smashed cake on the floor, and she slipped violently, crashing to the ground.
“Ah!”
A searing pain shot through her ankle. Outside the office came terrified screams, echoing down the hall.
“Fire! Fire! Run!” someone shouted.
A co-worker yanked open the frosted glass door and shouted, “Ms. Ashford! It’s on fire…”
Before he even finished speaking, he saw the flames leaping outside, screamed in shock, and bolted. The heavy autornatic doors slid slowly shut right in front of her.
Rosalie covered her mouth, struck by the shocking familiarity of history repeating itself.
When she had been reborn, she had twisted her ankle in a bar and ended up trapped in a fire just like this.
Chapter 72 Save Me
Now, she struggled to stand, grabbed a bottle of water, and poured it over her clothes, pressing it firmly against her mouth and nose to block the smoke.
Ignoring the sharp pain in her ankle, she limped toward the door, pushing with all her strength, only to realize it had been locked from the outside.
Thick smoke poured in through the crack beneath the door, and the raging flames outside reflected against the glass. Her chest tightened with a deadly panic, and a surge of overwhelming fear gripped her.
She nearly collapsed, retreating to her desk and fumbling for her phone. Relying on muscle memory, she dialed Julian’s number.
The thick smoke burned her lungs, each breath searing, and her consciousness grew increasingly foggy.
She didn’t know if the call connected, but she pressed the phone to her ear and whispered with her last ounce of strength, “Julian… Save me…”
Outside, Lucian and Camelia had just stepped out of the office building and paused before getting into the car. A sharp, acrid smell of smoke burst from the main entrance.
“It’s on fire!” Camelia shouted, panic in her voice. “It looks like it’s coming up from the underground garage!”
Lucian’s eyes widened sharply. Rosalie was still inside. His heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively turned to rush in.
Camelia grabbed his arm, pulling him back. “Lucian! Don’t be reckless!”
She pointed toward the crowd streaming out of the emergency exit and said urgently, “Look, so many people are getting out! Rosalie’s on the third floor-she can get out, too!
“The fire’s spreading too fast. If you go in now, what if you’re trapped? Let’s call the fire department first!”
Lucian stared at the growing flames, his eyes filled with conflict and hesitation. But in the end, he pulled out his phone.
But the moment he dialed the emergency number, the piercing wail of sirens erupted, racing toward them from afar.
“How are they here so fast?” Lucian muttered in shock.