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.

heat devoured him as soon as

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

was in there-her health wasn't

the door

trapped in the corner, half-conscious from

gritting against

a property manager who had

department is only

Grove to switch management companies; everyone here

risk his life to go back inside, the staff tried

too dangerous! The fire

hospital. Now!" Charles ordered, then

the process-soaking himself thoroughly-before

was already collapsed on the floor, barely

Charles's heart jolted as he rushed to her side, wrapping her in his

scooped her up, holding her

be afraid. I won't let anything happen to

fire had already dried the water from his body, his

was agony, but Charles held

exit, the entryway cabinet

strides from

his arm at