Chapter 4

That night, Seraphina came to my room.

"What exactly do you want?" she asked, her voice choked with tears.

I looked up, realizing her eyes were red and swollen from crying, making her look utterly vulnerable.

"Close the door."

Seraphina paused, probably not expecting that reaction.

She sniffled but obediently closed the door.

"Alexandria, please, I beg you, don't take Julian from me, okay?"

She began to sob.

"He's the only one I have... I never had a mother, and while Father cares for me, he cares more about family interests. Only Julian is kind to me..."

I felt a pang of exasperation, first closing my laptop which still contained classified information.

"I don't go for weaklings."

Seraphina looked bewildered for a moment, not understanding my words.

I quirked a corner of my mouth, offering a smile that was far from friendly.

"Seraphina, what exactly is going on in your head?"

"A man like Julian Maxwell? I could knock out a dozen of his type with one punch. Marry him? Am I insane?"

Seraphina recoiled, shocked by my words.

"Your language is so crude! And girls aren't supposed to be that strong... Don't you understand anything?!"

The image of a true vs. fake heiress in her mind involved fighting to the death over a man, not me directly expressing utter disdain for him based on his physical prowess.

I stood up, taking deliberate steps toward her.

I was half a head taller than her, and the aura from years of intense training made her feel uncontrollably afraid.

"You think you're pitiful for being dependent and having no one to rely on, but your most pitiful aspect isn't your lack of support."

My voice was cold, each word distinct.

"It's that you've made fragility your only weapon, and you attempt to survive on the pity of others."

"Do you really think everyone falls for that?"

Her face turned ashen, her lips trembling uncontrollably.

Yet, she still tried to retort, her chin jutted out defiantly.

"What do you know! Men like delicate girls! No one will ever like someone who's all about fighting like you!"

A surge of irritation rose within me, and I was about to simply throw her out.

But then, the piercing fire alarm blared through the entire mansion without warning.

My expression changed. After a split second of shock, I instantly calmed.

Professional instinct drove me straight to the door. I yanked it open.

A wave of scorching heat, mixed with thick smoke, slammed into my face!

The hallway outside was already engulfed in raging flames!

Dense smoke was rapidly spreading upwards from downstairs, reducing visibility to almost zero.

My brain kicked into overdrive, running calculations in 0.1 seconds, plotting the optimal escape route.

Seraphina, seeing the inferno, let out a piercing shriek.

"Shut up!"

I roared at Seraphina, who was still screaming.

She flinched at my intensity, instantly falling silent, leaving only her trembling body.

"If you want to live, follow me!"

My brain had already analyzed the situation.

The fire originated downstairs and was spreading upwards. The smoke was toxic; we had to evacuate immediately via the emergency exit in the opposite direction.

Without a moment's hesitation, I spun to the window and tore down the heavy velvet curtains.

I rushed into the bathroom and thoroughly soaked the curtains in the bathtub.

"Cover your nose and mouth!" I threw a wet piece of cloth at her.

Seraphina was still trembling, but the instinct for survival made her catch the wet cloth and hastily press it to her face.

I draped a larger wet cloth over myself, ready to pull her along.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the delicate lace stockings on her feet.

"Take them off!" I commanded sharply.

"You... why are you so mean..." she whimpered, frightened, but her body obediently started to shiveringly pull off her stockings.

Nylon and synthetic fibers melt rapidly under high heat, adhering to the skin and causing severe burns.

This was basic survival knowledge.

Unfortunately, she didn't know it.

I grabbed her hand, crouching low, and rushed toward what I remembered as the emergency exit.

The hallway was filled with rolling smoke, and the temperature was terrifyingly high.

Seraphina, in her exquisite silk nightgown and soft slippers, ran less than twenty feet before she started panting, her strength failing.

"I... I can't run anymore..."

Her legs gave out. Low blood sugar combined with extreme shock made her collapse to the ground, almost fainting.

"Do they starve you in this 'elite' family?"

I muttered under my breath. Time was critical; no time for pointless talk.

Without hesitation, I bent down and hoisted her onto my shoulder.

She was incredibly light, probably weighing less than ninety pounds.

To me, it was no different than carrying a field ration pack.

"Ahhh, Sister... are you even a woman?!"

Seraphina shrieked, utterly shocked.

"If you don't want to die, shut up!"

I held her tight, my steps steady as I pushed through the inferno.

It was like a simple weighted cross-country run on the training ground.

The seldom-used back door was long piled high with clutter.

I swiftly kicked aside the debris and slammed my body against the locked back door.

In just three or four impacts, the lock was completely violently destroyed.

I kicked open the tightly shut back door, and a rush of fresh, cold air flooded in.

"Alright, we're safe."

I set Seraphina down outside the mansion, frowning as I looked back at the smoke-billowing house.

I wondered if there were any other victims who hadn't escaped.

With that thought, I was about to rush back into the fire to save people, but Seraphina grabbed the hem of my shirt first.

"Alex, don't leave me alone..."