"Nathalia, please don’t do this! I’m begging you, don’t do this!"

"You know I’ve never forgotten you, not once."

"This engagement… it’s all just a game to get back at you for leaving me without a word."

"You know this. You know that the second you show up, I’d leave it all behind and run away with you."

At that moment, my blood rushed through my veins like a river breaking its banks, and the pain in my chest was so intense it felt like I couldn’t draw another breath.

I had known deep down, for a long time, what the truth was.

But hearing Mathias say it so plainly, without a single pause, without a trace of hesitation. It tore me to shreds.

And yet, he didn’t even seem to notice me.

He kept pleading into the phone, his voice cracking with raw regret.

"Nathalia, please, hold on. Wait for me. I’m coming to save you!"

"I have everything now, please, don’t leave me. I can’t bear it…"

By the time his words faltered, the tears began to fall, each one heavy and relentless, like stones crashing into the depths of my heart.

I was numb, yet my legs moved on their own. I followed him out of the car, my heart pounding with each step as we neared the fiery chaos, the scene surrounded by a sea of onlookers and rescue teams.

While others scrambled to escape, Mathias was the only one pushing forward, desperate to dive into the flames.

Fear seized me, and instinct took over. I grabbed his hand and held him back with everything I had.

"Mathias, you don’t know how intense the fire is or what’s inside! Charging in like this is madness!"

"The rescue team’s already here. They’ll bring her out!"

I had lost my parents to flames; I couldn’t bear the thought of losing Mathias, too.

But without warning, he jerked my hand away, his force pushing me to the ground with an intensity I hadn’t seen since that day at the auction.

I crashed to the earth, my ankle protesting, the bandages soaked in a sickly mix of red and yellow. Yet, the pain in my body was nothing compared to the torment searing my heart.

Mathias didn’t even spare me a glance.

"I can’t lose Nathalia again."

"No one can stop me!"

And with those words, he turned and rushed straight into the fire.

In that instant, the world around me blurred, and I was back in that inferno, watching helplessly as flames devoured everything I loved.

I couldn’t let Mathias face the same tragedy.

Without a second thought, I ran after him.