Nick's expression shifted, but Maisie was quicker. She blurted out in a rush, "Mister, don't misunderstand! My friend is just cooking in there!

"She loves excitement—keeps talking about a car kitchen. She insisted on showing off for us. But the fire got out of hand.

"Don't worry, this car is fireproof. She's perfectly safe inside!"

"Cooking?" The man stared, baffled.

Nick immediately chimed in, "Yes, my girlfriend just likes to mess around. Sorry for the misunderstanding. We'll take her home now."

The motorcyclist looked from me to them, suspicion clouding his eyes. In the end, he shook his head, muttered, "Young people these days really know how to play," and revved his engine, driving away.

Inside, the oxygen thinned to nothing. A piercing system alarm blared: [Danger! Carbon monoxide levels critical. Oxygen below 8%. Evacuate immediately! Evacuate immediately!]

The flames surged higher, and the window glass groaned and warped under the heat.

Then I remembered—my brother, always cautious, had hidden an emergency dry-powder fire extinguisher beneath the passenger seat.

With the last of my strength, I dragged it out. But when I tried to pull the safety pin, it wouldn't budge.

Looking closer, horror gripped me—the pin had been glued down tight with industrial adhesive.

Worse still, the extinguisher was empty.

Maisie spotted it and burst out laughing. "Ah, Katie! I told Nick I'd never used a fire extinguisher before and wanted to try. He's the sweetest. He taught me how to use it himself. We must've emptied it by accident."

She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "But since you drive so steadily, I figured you'd never need it. So I just put it back without replenishing it!"

Behind her, Nick didn't look the least bit guilty. Instead, he fondly ruffled her hair. "You and your mischief."

Then his gaze snapped to me, his face dark with irritation. "Katie, enough! What's next in this performance of yours? You even brought the fire extinguisher out to keep up with your act? If you keep this up, you'll really kill yourself!"

I didn't answer. I only fixed my eyes on him.

And then, under their stunned gazes, I heaved the extinguisher high above my head.

"Katie! What are you doing? You're insane!" For the first time, fear cracked Nick's voice.

I ignored him and smashed the extinguisher down with all my might.

Bang!

The glass shattered into pieces.

Saved!

I didn't care that shards ripped into my skin; clawing and scrambling, I tried to drag myself through the opening.

But a large hand shot in from outside, seizing my hair and yanking me back with brutal force.

It was Nick.

In the instant the window broke, he had wrenched the door open from outside.

"Bitch! I knew you were faking it! Still strong enough to smash my car?" he roared, shoving my near-lifeless body back into the driver's seat.

He grabbed the roll of tape and bound me savagely to the chair.

I thrashed weakly, powerless against his strength.

Then, horror of horrors—he tore off a strip of tape and sealed it tight across my mouth and nose.

"Mmmph! Mmmph—"

Agonizing suffocation stormed my brain.

Watching me convulse, Nick bent close, his breath scorching my ear. "Katie, you're too spoiled. Today, I'll teach you a real lesson."

The car's interior burned to its limit. I could hear the metal groaning. It was close to detonation.

My consciousness blurred, and darkness closed in.

And just before I lost it completely, a furious roar tore through the air nearby, "Get your hands off Katie, you son-of-a-bitch!"