The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 552

He couldn't afford to panic. The fire department was at least fifteen minutes away, even at their fastest.

With a blaze this fierce, fifteen minutes was too long-Eve and Ms. Josephine wouldn't survive.

Charles didn't hesitate. He pounded on the first-floor neighbor's door.

As soon as they opened, he explained the fire upstairs, urging them to alert building management and help evacuate everyone. He borrowed their bathroom, turned on the shower, and drenched himself in cold water from head to toe.

Soaking wet, Charles tore up the stairs to Evelyn's floor.

The heat intensified with every step; by the time he reached the landing, his skin prickled with the searing burn.

If it felt this unbearable outside, what was it like for Ms. Josephine and Eve inside? His heart clenched with dread.

He grabbed the hall's emergency fire equipment, yanked out a small extinguisher, and blasted the flames at the door until the fire subsided.

The extinguisher, now empty, became his battering ram. The door, already weakened by the fire, gave way with a crash.

Charles dropped the extinguisher, shrugged off his sopping coat, and held it over his head as a shield. Without hesitation, he plunged into the inferno.

"Eve! Ms. Josephine!"

Smoke billowed, thick and choking. Flames leapt everywhere.

drenched, the heat devoured him

to the bathroom, soaked himself again, and then charged into the

was in there-her health wasn't

the door

Josephine, like Evelyn, was trapped in the

against the burning pain

her off to a property manager who had just

Jenkins, the fire department is only a few minutes

was Charles who'd convinced Maple Grove to switch management companies; everyone

back inside, the staff

The fire is out

to the hospital. Now!" Charles ordered, then

himself thoroughly-before dashing into

collapsed on the

he rushed to her side, wrapping her

her up,

afraid. I won't let

already dried the water from his body, his skin blistering

was agony, but Charles held Evelyn firmly and pushed toward the

they neared the exit, the entryway

few strides from

lifted his arm at