On the other end, Mom's anxious voice came through again.

"Sonya, the doctors have all said you require treatment abroad for your heart condition. You barely survived, so why are you insisting on staying in the country doing rescue work?

"You're still so young, yet you're throwing your life away! If this continues, what will happen to Callie? Is Austin really so great that you'd go to such lengths for him?"

Indeed, was Austin so great?

At Mom's words, tears rolled down my cheeks once more.

I had always been the strongest member of my rescue team. Climbing mountains, wading through water, braving the wind and rain—I shattered every stereotype that women couldn't do rescue work.

No matter how tough or exhausting it got, I never shed a single tear.

But today, I truly lost count of how many times I had cried.

I steadied my voice. "Mom, I'll do what you say. I'll go abroad for treatment. But I need you to do me a favor."

Mom immediately relaxed, her voice softening. "Of course, of course! I'll help you with anything."

After hanging up, I wandered aimlessly down the street.

"Sonya, where the hell have you been?" A furious shout, followed by the crisp scent of mint.

Austin grabbed me from behind and pulled me into a crushing embrace. I struggled, kicking and pushing to break free. But he locked me in place, almost as if he wanted to press me into his very bones.

His breathing was ragged, each exhale sending goosebumps down my neck.

"Why didn't you answer my calls? Why did you run away from the hospital?"

His voice trembled slightly, laced with urgency and unease. His arms tightened around me until I could barely breathe.

His expression was filled with turbulent emotions, his gaze reflecting pure panic. His eyes especially—fierce, proud, and heartbroken—spoke volumes. Yet, they were trapped within this gentle exterior.

For a moment, it almost made me believe Austin still loved me. But the marks on his neck from Dion's kisses in the hospital room were still fresh.

I took a subtle step back, my tone indifferent. "I just needed some air."

Austin's hand froze mid-air, his gaze instantly dimming.

When I turned to leave, he suddenly swept me up again. Ignoring my protests, he shoved me into his luxury car.

"You're going to the rehabilitation center now. We'll talk about everything else later."

I bit my lip and stayed silent.

As the car stopped at the entrance of the private rehabilitation center, he moved to help me out, only to be interrupted by a small but furious voice shouting from a distance.

"You meanie! Let go of my mommy!"

The next second, Callie charged over and punched Austin in the leg as hard as she could.

Austin froze, his gaze landing on Callie's face—one that was so strikingly similar to his own. In that instant, his expression turned to stone.

I hadn't expected that the rehabilitation center Austin brought me to was the same one where Callie received her treatments.

I immediately pulled Callie behind me to shield her.

But Austin kept staring at her, his gaze whirling with disbelief. He grabbed my wrist and, in a low and shaking voice, asked, "Sonya, is she min—"

He couldn't even finish the sentence.

I avoided his burning gaze and said nothing. The calmer I was, the more frantic he became. He tightened his grip on my wrist to the point of pain, as if he wanted to crush my bones.

"How old is she? Why did you really leave me back then? We loved each other so much. What the hell were you hiding from me?"

Five years ago, we were college sweethearts. Everyone thought we were destined to walk down the aisle together. But that winter, while Austin was away on a business trip for his startup, I suddenly collapsed.

And from that moment on, our fates were forever changed.

I had vanished from Austin's world without warning. It was a cliché, to say the least.

The memory cut off abruptly, and I felt a sharp pain stabbing my chest.

After taking a deep breath, I raised my eyes to the red mark on Austin's neck and forced a bleak smile.

"Austin, do you still love me?" I asked.

His expression froze, then a tangle of emotions flashed across his eyes.

Before he could answer, the rehabilitation center's door swung open. A nurse stepped out, smiling warmly as she took my arm.

"Ah, so you're the patient. You've finally come. Mr. Miller was so worried while you were gone. Come, let me take you inside for your rehabilitation session."

I turned and crouched down to hug Callie.

"Callie, I need to go for my treatment now. You go back for your check-up, okay?" I murmured softly.

Callie looked up at me timidly, then nodded obediently.

I took a deep breath and walked into the rehabilitation room.

The nurse strapped me onto the cold examination bed and pulled the curtain shut, blocking my view. Machines hummed and whirred around me.

A few familiar voices drifted in from behind the curtain. They belonged to Austin's friends. Their tones were laced with mockery.

"She thinks she's someone special. What was she trying to achieve by playing the vanishing act?"

"Hey, I heard rehab can be really painful. Is that true?"

"Oh, it's true. Rehab hurts so bad that it'll make you wish you were dead. Some people even piss themselves from the pain."

A burst of raucous laughter followed.

"Dion, go ahead and push the button. Have a little fun."

The next second, a surge of electric current shot through my bones without warning. A violent pain, sharp as needles, pierced through my entire body in an instant.

I clenched my teeth and trembled uncontrollably. Cold sweat started beading on my forehead, but I refused to make a sound. Soon, the taste of blood filled my mouth.

Seeing how stubbornly silent I was, Austin's friends—still behind the curtains—urged excitedly for Dion to turn up the intensity.

The pain was like fire scorching my nerves, like blades slicing through my bones. My breathing turned ragged, my mind grew hazy, and my vision darkened.

Just as my consciousness teetered on the edge of collapse, the door slammed open.

Austin's furious roar shook the room. "What the hell are you guys doing? Why did you knock her out?"

My awareness flickered in and out. Dimly, I sensed Austin's rage and heard him throw the equipment to the ground with brutal force.

"Who gave you the permission to do this? I brought her here to heal, not for you to torture her!"

His friends burst into mocking laughter.

"Dude, why are you so angry? Don't tell us you've actually fallen for Sonya?"

"Dion's going to be heartbroken."

Dion covered her face, sobbing dramatically. "Austin, have you fallen for Sonya again?" she asked pitifully.

Austin frowned and said through gritted teeth, "That's impossible! I just don't want you idiots going too far and killing someone."

The moment the words left his mouth, he grabbed Dion by the waist and kissed her deeply on the lips.

Whistles and cheers erupted around them.

Austin's kiss was fierce, deliberate—as if proving something to his friends, or maybe to himself. But his gaze was hollow, his mind elsewhere.

He asked himself, who was it that he truly wanted to kiss? Had Dion's perfume always been this strong? And was that little girl really his daughter?

Austin absentmindedly ended the kiss, and the people around them laughed loudly as they left.

The ward once again fell into silence.

…

My eyes remained closed, and my back was soaked with sweat. I couldn't move or open my eyes.

Austin gently approached the edge of my bed and crouched down. With the utmost tenderness and slowness, he placed a kiss on the wounded top of my foot.

"Sonya, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. This time, it really wasn't my intention."

Austin's voice was soft and hoarse, as if he truly was filled with regret.

But once the kiss ended, he stood up, and the necklace around his neck slipped out of his shirt. The cold silver chain held a dazzling engagement ring, its brilliance shining brightly in the room.

…

A week later, Callie and I went to the amusement park.

The peace felt surreal—like it was a lifetime ago—until a sudden phone call shattered it.

Austin's name flashed on the screen. But when I answered, I was greeted with Dion's tearful, saccharine voice.

"Sonya, bad news! Austin's in trouble again. He's trapped in an abandoned factory. It's dangerous there, and the firefighters are taking too long!"

My heart tightened. It was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened.

I brought Callie with me to the scene.

Thick black smoke billowed into the sky, the scorching heat so intense I felt like my skin was going to melt off.

"The firefighters still aren't here?"

"There's no time! Mr. Miller is still inside! Someone, please save him!"

I crouched down and cupped Callie's face in my hands. Then, I asked softly but firmly, "Callie, remember what we practiced?"

She nodded hard, her little face tense and her eyes filled with a stubbornness far beyond her years.

"Mommy, I remember everything. I won't be scared."

"Good girl." I kissed her forehead lightly. Then, I took a deep breath and turned to sprint into the inferno.

Behind me, Austin's so-called friends burst into laughter.

"Sonya actually came! I thought the electroshock fried her brain last time!"

"Dion, you can relax now, right?"

"I gotta hand it to Austin. Sonya is so stupid! She never learns no matter how many times she's fooled."

Flames and smoke twisted around me—it felt like I was in hell.

Outside, Austin arrived in a panic. He hadn't even had time to join in mocking me when his gaze locked onto Callie, who stood alone at the edge of the chaos.

His breath suddenly caught, and he rushed over like a maniac, wanting to scoop her up.

"Callie, what are you doing here alone?" he asked.

Austin must have been thinking I was insane to bring a child to a place this dangerous.

Callie's eyes reddened. She glared up at him with pure hatred burning in her small face. "You're the reason Mommy's dead! I hate you!"

She kicked Austin hard with all her strength, then struggled free and ran toward the flames.

"Mommy! I want my mommy!" she screamed and sobbed.

"Callie!" Austin roared hoarsely.

His gaze was filled with despair and terror as he desperately rushed toward the fire. But his friends forcibly held him back.

"Austin, relax. It's all special effects. Just wait a little lo—"

A deafening explosion cut them off.

The factory collapsed, and the entrance was reduced to rubble.

The raging flames devoured everything, including the path Callie and I had taken.

"Sonya?" Austin stood frozen, whispering my name like a prayer.

He received no reply.

Only the roar of the fire filled the air.

He stood there, motionless, for a long time.

Callie and I never came back out.

We were gone. The treasure he had just gotten back—gone again.

The fire burned brighter, hotter, and terror finally seized Austin.

"Sonya!" Austin suddenly shouted fiercely.

His hesitation, anger, and frustration—along with the arrogance of his high status—all shattered in that single moment.