New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 227 The Fire

The chaos at the venue reached its peak when the firefighters burst through the door, a whirlwind of urgency and flashing lights. They immediately went to work, guiding Alex, Claire, and Lisa out of the smoky, debris-strewn space. Claire's face remained a stoic mask, but her mind was racing.

Lisa, unconscious and cradled in the arms of a firefighter, was quickly loaded into an ambulance. Claire's eyes followed her, but she remained impassive, her usual composure not slipping even in the midst of the commotion.

As the paramedics worked on Lisa, one of the firefighters noticed Claire standing off to the side, her attention seemingly elsewhere. He approached her, tapping her gently on the shoulder.

"Hey, Miss!" he said, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Are you okay?"

Claire turned, her gaze meeting his. "I'm fine," she replied with a cool, detached tone.

The firefighter's eyes narrowed slightly as he took in her appearance. "You're bleeding," he said, pointing at her arm.

Claire looked down and saw a long scratch running along her forearm, red and angry. Her legs were dusty, with a few scratches peeking through the grime. She winced slightly, realizing that the scratch was probably from when Lisa had pushed her out of the way of the falling debris.

"It's nothing," Claire said, trying to brush it off.

The firefighter didn't seem convinced. "You need to go to the hospital. That could get infected."

Claire's sharp eyes met his. "I'm fine," she insisted.

The firefighter was persistent, though. "You need to get checked out, just to be safe."

Claire sighed, her frustration evident. "Alright, alright. I'll go. But I'm not happy about it."

With that, she climbed into the ambulance, her movements a bit more brisk than usual. As the doors shut behind her, she glanced out to see Alex being attended to by another firefighter.

The firefighter turned to Alex. "Are you okay?"

Alex nodded, though his face was pale, and he coughed slightly. "Yeah, just a bit shaken."

an oxygen mask, which he took gratefully and began to breathe in deeply. The oxygen

did you take the unconscious woman to?" Alex asked,

City Hospital. The other woman's going

mingling with worry. "Thanks. I'll

continued to manage the scene, Alex made his way to his car, his steps quick and purposeful. The street was now filled with police and firefighters, the air thick with the remnants of smoke. The fire had died down significantly, but the upper floors of the building were still ablaze. The firefighters

to the City Hospital. His mind was a jumble of thoughts

into the hospital, his suit stained with soot and his face smudged with dust from the fire earlier. The moment he walked in, people turned to look at him, their eyes filled with curiosity and concern. But Alex couldn't care less.

hesitated. Should he go see Lisa or not? The thought gnawed at him, the memories of their complicated past swirling in his mind. Recently, when Lisa was in jail, he'd been harsh-maybe

saved Claire from the falling debris. That had thrown him off completely. Maybe, just maybe, Lisa

doctor told Claire it was the right thing to do to come beforehand

mumbled a quick

sighed and leaned back in bed, her thoughts drifting back to the chaos of earlier The fire, the debris,

it all together, feeling a

in thought, a voice she knew all too well broke through her

she saw Alex standing in front of her. "What are you

Alex said, his eyes scanning her from head to

trying to keep her

to the bandages on her arm. "You're far from fine," he said,

"It's nothing. How did you I

his throat as he shoved his hands inside his

firefighters and the nurse that you were here. I wanted to

silence filled the room, and Alex broke it by

went

taken aback. "So, shouldn't you thank her?

not going to

you, Claire. The least you

want to thank her, go ahead.