Chapter 3

Inside the hospital, the mix of disinfectant and burn cream created an oppressive, suffocating atmosphere.

Jax was rushed to the ICU upon arrival, with over 90% third-degree burns. Doctors had issued multiple critical condition notices; his life hung by a thread.

Chloe survived, but her face, neck, and hands were severely burned. For a woman who valued her appearance more than her life, this was worse than death.

I had just reached the door of Chloe’s hospital room when I heard heart-wrenching screams from inside.

“It’s all Caleb! All him!” Chloe shrieked, her voice hoarse and venomous.

“He did it on purpose, he yelled at Jax like a mad dog just to provoke him, to humiliate him. He wanted to drive Jax to his death!”

Twisting the truth, confusing facts.

What a masterstroke of playing the victim.

But what she said next chilled me to the bone.

“And… he threatened me!” Chloe’s crying took on a hint of fear.

“Before the explosion, he sent me a SnapChat message, saying… saying he’d always hated Jax and wished he would die! I have screenshots, I have proof!”

The hospital room door was yanked open from the inside. Jax’s mother, her hair disheveled and her eyes bloodshot like a banshee, saw me immediately.

“You! You murderer!” Chloe shrieked, her nails frantically clawing towards my face.

“Give me back my son! You despicable monster, why did you plot to kill him!”

Then, a middle-aged man with an imposing air of authority, Chloe’s father, stormed out.

He pulled Jax’s mother away, his face livid, and pointed a finger at my nose. “Caleb, you animal! My Chloe was so good to you, and you ruined her face! You just wait, I’m telling you, this isn’t over! I’ll make sure you rot in jail!”

Patients and family members around us pointed and whispered.

“Is that him? He looks decent, but his heart is so twisted?”

“These young people nowadays, hurting others over a little relationship drama, it’s terrifying.”

A middle-aged woman even spat on the floor near my feet, her face full of disdain. “And you’re wearing that uniform! Firefighters are supposed to save people, but you, you specialize in harming them! Do you even deserve to be a firefighter?”

“Exactly! How did such a psychopath get into the fire department? He didn’t learn how to save lives, but he’s got a whole playbook on how to harm people! Take off that uniform and get out! Don’t you dare tarnish the word ‘hero’!”

“Is our taxpayer money going to feed a scumbag in a uniform like you?!”

Insults and murmurs buzzed around my ears like a swarm of flies.

Yet, Chloe seemed to think it wasn’t enough. Her body began to tremble violently, her bandaged fingers pointing at me erratically:

“Ah—! Don’t come near me! Stay away! Murderer!”

“Dad! Mom! Make him leave! I’m scared! He hurt Jax! He’s trying to hurt me too!”

She recoiled into the corner of the bed as if she had been severely traumatized, crying and shrinking away, her performance full of emotion.

Jax’s mother, seeing her son’s beloved woman so terrified, was consumed by rage.

“You monster, you’re still trying to scare her! I’ll fight you!”

Chloe’s father was also trembling with anger. He turned to the surrounding crowd and shouted, “Everyone, look! This is your so-called hero! Today, I’m going to get justice for my daughter, and for Jax, who is still fighting for his life in the ICU!”

The crowd’s emotions were fully ignited; the insults and accusations grew fiercer.

Watching this farce, clearly orchestrated to destroy me, I understood instantly.

Chloe wanted to pin all the blame on me, to utterly destroy my reputation.

Fine.

Chloe, you’re ruthless.

My last shred of affection for her vanished completely.

“Chloe,” I locked my gaze on her twisted face on the hospital bed, “this act has gone on long enough. It’s time for a curtain call.”

The noisy hallway fell into an eerie silence for a moment. I saw panic flicker in Chloe's eyes.

The next second, I pulled out the recorder from my chest pocket.

“Funny thing, I also… have something here that I’d like everyone to hear.”

The moment I was about to pull out the recorder, my phone rang, and everyone’s eyes zeroed in on me.

Before I could react, Chloe’s father roared and lunged at me.

“He’s trying to run! That’s his accomplice calling! Trying to help him get awa