After the CEO Divorced Me, He Wants Me Back by Riverflow

"Lucas..." Aveline murmured his name as she dialed his number.

Zachary watched her, shaking his head with a sigh.

Maybe she didn't even realize it herself, but her resistance to Lucas had softened.

After all, she wasn't heartless. How could anyone remain unmoved in the face of sincere apologies and requests for forgiveness? The busy signal droned in her ear, and as the dull beeping continued, Aveline's expression turned sour.

Why wasn't he picking up? Where had he gone?

In the end, the call disconnected automatically.

"He won't take my call... then I don't need him," Aveline muttered, wobbling slightly as she stood up and headed toward the door. Zachary quickly stepped in to steady her, preventing a fall.

But Aveline pushed him away. "I... I'm fine. I can manage on my own."

He stayed close, ready to catch her if needed.

Given how much she had drunk, her unsteady gait was no surprise.

Thankfully, despite her zigzagging path, she managed to avoid falling.

Back in her room, Zachary said, "Get some rest. I'll leave now but call me if you need anything."

Aveline nodded, her voice

one last look at her-she was lying on the bed with her eyes closed,

soft sigh, he shut the

her head hit the pillow,

began to notice a sharp,

Smoke?

it smell like smoke in

jolting her fully awake. She opened her eyes and saw thick

she sat up and looked around,

haze of alcohol cleared from her

Fire!

rushed to the bathroom. She soaked the coat thoroughly with water, then draped it over herself before

flames leaped inside! The fire in the hallway was even fiercer than she'd imagined. Amidst the chaos, Aveline could just make out the cries

the door shut, her

did a fire break out so

to call the fire department, but there was no signal. She couldn't

accident. Someone

meant to burn them alive.

Zachary's muffled