Chapter 21+
The morning of Samantha’s wedding bloomed like the petals of her favorite lavender roses–slow, soft, and bathed in light.”
The flower shop buzzed with laughter and excitement. Bouquets were lined up in neat rows, ivory petals kissed with blush, baby’s breath tucked gently between leaves. Everything was perfect.”
Samantha stood in front of the full–length mirror at the hotel, her fingers gently smoothing the lace of her dress.
Her mother had just zipped her up before rushing off to the venue with Inigo, promising to finalize the last details.
She stayed behind to have her makeup done and take a quiet moment to breathe.
Her heart was calm. The kind of calm that came after storms.
“I can’t believe it’s really happening,” she whispered to her reflection, eyes misty with happiness. Her lips curled into a soft smile. “I’m marrying the man who made me believe in love again.“\
Behind her, the stylist finished pinning the last pearl in her hair.
Outside, the sun glinted through the hotel windows, casting a golden glow on everything she touched. Samantha twirled once, the hem of her dress brushing the floor.
The flower shop had closed early today. The staff had even made a bouquet just for her–white tulips, lavender, and eucalyptus, a reflection of both purity and healing.
She thought about the life she had built: a new business, laughter with her mother again, mornings spent with Inigo sipping tea on the veranda. She was free. Finally.
Éverything felt… safe. But across the city, danger was breathing down her neck like smoke.}
Literally. Because she didn’t know that on the floor below, a fire had broken out in the hotel’s kitchen. Flames had caught on linens, quickly spreading through the back halls. The alarms, silenced by someone before the staff could even respond, didn’t
scream their warnings.
Not yet. Samantha was alone.<
Fixing the final pin in her hair, she paused. Was that… smoke?
She walked to the door, opened it, and immediately choked on thick, black fog.
“What the-?“}
Panic rose. The hallway was filling fast. She slammed the door shut and ran to the window–but they were sealed shut. The hotel hadn’t upgraded them yet. She grabbed her phone and dialed the emergency number.
Her fingers shook. She called her mother. No answer. Then Inigo. Voicemail.
Her chest tightened.
“Inigo,” she whispered, coughing. “Mom…”
She screamed. “HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!”
But her voice was drowned by the roar of growing flames.\
Smoke seeped under the door. She collapsed to the ground, trying to stay low, but her limbs were heavy. Her eyes blurred. “Please…” she whimpered.
Outside, across the street, Candice stood with a coffee in hand and sunglasses shading her cold stare.
The fire reflected in her eyes like a wicked promise.”
“She thought she could be happy,” she muttered, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “Not without consequence.“N
But she wasn’t alone.”
A figure stepped beside her, shoulders stiff. Jackson.
“What the hell is this?” he growled.
Candice turned, startled. “Jackson-”
He pushed past her and saw the flames curling from the windows. “She’s in there, isn’t she?“”
Candice smirked. “Maybe.”
Without a word, he shoved her toward the fire.W
She screamed. “What are you doing?!”
“You wanted her to burn?” he snarled. “Then burn with her!“#
“No! No! Jackson, stop!” she screeched, clawing at him.
He dragged her toward the hotel entrance, where fire crews were still blocked by barricaded service doors.!
“You wanted her to suffer?” he snapped. “You wanted her gone so badly? Let’s make it fair.“8
Candice thrashed in his grip, but Jackson was stronger, angrier.
“You ruined everything!” he shouted
11:03 AM
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*
“You ruined everything!” he shouted.\
He slammed her against the wall, her head hitting the brick.”
Then he turned and rushed into the burning hotel. She screamed after him, but no one helped her.”
Inside, smoke and fire coiled like serpents. Jackson covered his nose and pushed through the thick air, calling her name.”
“SAMANTHA!“}
He kicked open the door to her room and found her collapsed by the mirror, veil half–burned, eyes fluttering shut.
“No, no, no,” he muttered, scooping her into his arms.
She didn’t move.
The flames hissed inches away.
He stumbled down the hallway, coughing violently, shielding her with his jacket as the fire curled behind them.!
Outside, sirens screamed.\
Moments later, he burst through the emergency exit, falling onto the pavement with Samantha limp in his arms.
“She’s not breathing!” he yelled.”
Paramedics ran over. Jackson cradled her head until they pulled her away. His hands trembled. His eyes were wide, “Please… save her,” he whispered.
When Samantha awoke, the world was white.
The hospital room was filled with soft beeping, sunlight filtered through curtains, and a cool breeze from the window stirred the flower bouquet beside her.
Inigo was asleep at her bedside, head resting against the mattress./
Her mother sat near the foot of the bed, eyes swollen from crying.”
“Mom…” she croaked.
Sasha looked up and rushed over, brushing her hair gently. “You’re okay,” she whispered. “Oh, sweetheart… You’re okay.“”
Samantha blinked slowly. “What happened?“\
Inigo stirred, immediately reaching for her hand. “You were in a fire. At the hotel.”
Her memory came rushing back.
“The door… the smoke…”
“You’re safe now,” he said. “Jackson saved you.“}
Her eyes widened. “Jackson?“”
Sasha nodded. “He found you. Got you out. You were unconscious.“”
Samantha lay back against the pillows, silent. A strange mix of emotions swirled inside her–gratitude, confusion, fear.
Outside her room, a nurse walked by… pushing a cart past a closed door.”
Screaming erupted from within.Z
High–pitched. Angry. Painful.”
Candice.
Sasha glanced at Samantha. “They said she’ll live… but her face was burned. Badly. She won’t be the same.“}
