The fire consuming the villa raged more violently by the second. Rescue teams stood helpless as flames licked through the building's wiring, spreading rapidly to the nearby food stalls made of flammable wood. Mina had cried until her eyes were swollen shut, until her knees buckled beneath her, hitting the hard ground. Dust and ash clung to her face, yet none of it could diminish her beauty. She stared blankly at the inferno, desperately scanning for any glimpse of Duyen. But all she could see was smoke and fire.
Inside the burning structure, Duyen had already made her way in. The smoke was draining every ounce of oxygen from the air, making her dizzy, lightheaded. Her mind reeled, but she pressed on. With reckless determination, she leapt over burning planks, moving swiftly, never staying in one place too long. The roof above could collapse at any moment.
Suddenly, a soft sob pierced through the roar of the fire. Duyen slid to her knees and peeked under a bed—there, curled up tightly, was Naomi. Duyen's eyes lit up. Naomi, on the verge of losing consciousness, lit up too when she saw Duyen. Her throat was clogged with smoke—she couldn't speak.
Duyen smiled gently. "Don't worry, I've got you! Do you know where Dao is?"
Naomi tried to speak but couldn't. Trembling, she simply pointed to the third floor—the heart of the blaze.
Duyen followed her gaze. Damn it. That area was nearly impossible to reach.
Without hesitation, she scooped Naomi up in her arms like a princess. The strength in her body was shocking—Naomi's face turned crimson with confusion and awe. Duyen dashed through the flames and kicked the villa door open again, delivering Naomi into the arms of the rescue team.
Mina saw her and nearly shouted with joy—but Duyen didn't stop. She turned and ran back in.
Even the firefighters couldn't stop her.
"Wait! DUYEN! STOP!"
Please... don't go back in…
Mina's tears had run dry. Her heart pounded so violently it felt like it would burst from her chest. All she could do now was pray.
God… please don't let anything happen to her…
The thought of Duyen dying nearly suffocated her.
---
Elsewhere in the park, red-haired Shana had somehow wandered off into a cotton candy stall, all for a stupid matcha latte. In her hands were two cotton candies—one for herself, the other obviously for Duyen.
And the rest of them bitches? They could go to hell.
As she skipped along, contemplating how to tease Duyen back later, she suddenly smelled burning. A strong, acrid stench filled the air. Rescue sirens blared. Chaos erupted around Everland Park as people screamed and livestreamed the scene.
"Did you hear? There's some tomboy chick risking her life in the burning haunted house!"
Wait… Tomboy?
They're talking about my Duyen!?
Shana listened closely to a pair of chatty aunties near a noodle stall.
"She's not gonna make it. Fire's too big—even the pros won't go in there. Poor thing, still so young…"
Shana's pupils dilated, turning a fierce blue.
Oh no... that idiot…
"DUYEN!" she screamed, dropping her food and sprinting toward the burning house. Her speed was so insane, the aunties swore a tornado had just passed.
---
Duyen staggered, kicking aside a burning wooden board blocking the stairs to the third floor. She was close to collapsing, barely breathing. Her vision was blurry—she saw doubles. But she wouldn't stop. She had to find Dao.
Room by room, she searched. Her hand accidentally brushed a doorknob—she screamed in pain. It was searing hot.
"Shit!"
She shoulder-slammed the door open.
There she was.
Dao, lying on the floor, coughing violently. She looked toward the door but could barely see anything. For a moment, she hallucinated—a chubby, younger Duyen from four years ago stood in the doorway.
"You... piggy…"
Dao mumbled with a delirious smile.
Duyen rushed to her, wrapping her water-soaked jacket over Dao's face and lifting her.
"Don't worry. I'm getting you out of here."
As she helped Dao down the stairs, the roof behind them started to collapse. She turned to find another route—flames were everywhere.
"Shit!"
She found a hole in the floor and helped Dao down to the second story. Outside the window, rescue workers had set up a mattress.
"Dao! Jump!"
"What about you—?!"
Before Dao could finish, part of the ceiling gave way. Duyen shoved her out the window just in time. Dao landed safely.
But Duyen—Duyen fell backward.
"AARGH!"
She felt the weight of debris slam onto her back. Her legs went numb.
That's it… That's the end…
Her spine… It had to be broken.
She tried to lift her head. All she heard was Mina's voice echoing in the distance.
"Duyen! Duyen's still inside!...DUYEN!..."
Is that… is that real?
No way Mina would be calling my name.
This is it… This is really the end.
They were right. I'm nothing. No matter how hard I tried… I could never be good enough for her…
Mina.
Her beautiful image filled Duyen's fading mind. But even as she held onto that one last thought, her consciousness began to fade.
Don't cry, Mina. Don't cry for someone like me…
Footsteps echoed faintly. Or maybe her ears were just ringing.
A woman appeared—red hair flowing like fire, parting the smoke as if the flames dared not touch her. She looked divine. Too divine for someone about to die.
Duyen couldn't see clearly anymore.
"Mina…?"
At that, the red-haired beauty—Shana—frowned. Annoyed.
Still, she gently tossed the debris aside as if it weighed nothing and lifted Duyen onto her lap. Stroking her singed face, Duyen, in a fever dream, reached up and caressed Shana's cheek with a badly burned hand.
She remembered.
That woman in the red wedding dress she once dreamed of…
It was her.
It was—
Duyen blacked out from lack of oxygen.
Shana chuckled softly, brushing Duyen's hair.
"You poor child…"
She leaned down, lifting her veil of red hair—and kissed Duyen deeply.
This kiss… wasn't like before.
This time, it would change Duyen's life forever.
"And from now on… you belong to me."
---
Outside, Mina nearly leapt with joy when she saw someone emerge from the burning house—only to freeze in her tracks.
It wasn't Duyen walking.
It was Shana.
Carrying Duyen in her arms like a fallen knight.
Mina's breath caught when she saw Duyen's condition—arms and legs twisted unnaturally, her body broken.
She tried to rush forward—
But Shana stopped her, glaring with her icy blue eyes, cold and furious. The sheer force of her aura nearly knocked Mina back, but she didn't flinch. She met Shana's glare.
"WHAT IS THIS!? WHAT DO YOU WANT!?"
"You still don't get it, do you?" Shana hissed. "You think you deserve her?"
What?
Mina blinked, confused.
Shana's rage exploded.
"THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IF YOU HAD JUST TOLD THE TRUTH!"
Mina froze.
"You knew what was happening, Mina! You knew what people said about her. And what did you do? NOTHING. You let it happen, you coward BITCH!"
No… no, she doesn't understand…
"I even considered letting her go to you," Shana growled. "But you… You're nothing but a spoiled, weak coward. Your promises to protect her? They meant NOTHING."
She turned to walk away—
But Mina grabbed her shoulder.
"You… what did you say…? WHAT DID YOU SAY!?"
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ME!?"
Mina screamed, trying to shove her.
"You think I don't care!? You think I didn't— I didn't…"
Wait…
What did I do for Duyen?
All I ever brought her was pain.
I never said anything… I never…
Shana smirked, disgusted.
"You're pathetic, Mina."
"SHUT UP!" Mina cried, sobbing. "Shut up… I had my reasons, I—"
Shana slapped her hand away—hard. Mina collapsed to the ground.
"You know what? I don't give a damn about your reasons. No one does. All they care about are the rumors—and you let them spread. You let them break her. Maybe that's what you wanted."
She dusted off her shoulder.
"Keep making excuses. Lie to yourself all you want. But from now on, Duyen is mine. And you can't stop me."
She turned with elegance and walked to the stretcher, where Duyen lay.
Mina sat there in the dirt, frozen. Empty. Shattered.
Nearby, Dao—still on oxygen—had heard everything.
With a weak breath, she whispered,
"Mina… is that true? You and Duyen…?"
But Mina only covered her face—
And sobbed.