Chapter 240:
Glancing toward the smoke-engulfed building, Gerard turned to his boss and remarked, “It looks like the fire is directly below Ms. Briggs’ home.”
Without another word, Kristian pushed the door open and got out of the car.
The alcohol clung to him, making his head feel a bit light and unsteady. Without the alcohol clouding his judgment, he wouldn’t have bothered coming.
“Think anyone’s actually in those apartments upstairs? One of the doors stayed shut when we knocked.”
“If no one came to the door, maybe there’s no one there, right?”
“With smoke this thick, they should definitely know something’s up.”
As murmurs from the onlookers swirled around him, Kristian pulled out his phone with a sense of urgency, thumbing through his contacts to call Freya. Despite his repeated attempts, all went straight to her voicemail.
“Mr. Shaw,” Gerard ventured cautiously, drawing near.
Without a word, Kristian snatched Gerard’s phone from his hand and dialed Freya’s number once more, his brow furrowed in frustration.
A nagging thought gnawed at him—perhaps Freya was still harboring resentment over their earlier disagreements and was deliberately ignoring his calls.
Regardless of whose phone he used, the result was the same. After numerous tries, there was still no answer from Freya.
Kristian’s heart sank, a sudden wave of panic washing over him.
His concern for her safety overshadowed any thoughts about her relationship with Trent. Fueled by worry, he called Trent, pressing him to get in touch with Freya.
However, the outcome only intensified his anxiety.
Trent did indeed make the call, but there was no answer from Freya’s phone.
The rest on gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝑜ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⩺𝒸𝗈𝗺
“Try not to worry excessively,” Gerard attempted to console him, his voice calm. “Perhaps she is outdoors and didn’t hear her phone.”
“No, she’s inside.”
Kristian’s voice was rough, strained as he stared at the house now shrouded in smoke.
When he had spoken to Trent, Trent had managed to check the location of Freya’s phone; it was still connected to the Wi-Fi at her home.
A dreadful realization dawned on him almost immediately.
Freya’s phone must be on silent, and she could be asleep, unaware of the danger encroaching upon her.
“What are you doing?” Gerard’s voice cracked as he reached out, attempting to restrain Kristian, who was already pushing his way toward the growing crowd.
“Let go!” Kristian’s voice was a fierce growl as he shrugged off Gerard’s grasp and marched determinedly toward the engulfed building. “Freya is still in there,” he declared, a mixture of resolve and dread lacing his words.
The thought of her with Trent stung, but watching her lose her life was something he refused to accept.
The wail of sirens filled the air as the fire truck screeched to a halt.
Thick, choking smoke was already seeping from the cracks of Freya’s apartment windows. Kristian’s heart hammered with the terrifying thought of her, unaware and suffocating, her breaths possibly growing fainter with each passing moment.
The image of discovering Freya lifeless was unbearable, sending a sharp pang of agony through his chest.
Gerard, still hesitant, reached out again in a futile attempt to pull Kristian back.
But it was clear now; Kristian’s determination gave him an unstoppable strength, his long strides barely hindered.
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