Chapter 3
705 Words
Vanessa zoomed in on the image with trembling fingers, and her heart sank.
That was not a toy gun. It was a real firearm with lethal force.
The location in the photo was clearly the very site where Adrian was handling a case today.
And that blurry side profile in the frame.
She had seen it in the case files. It belonged to a fugitive already sentenced to death.
She tried calling him, but his phone would not go through. Selena's phone was unanswered as well.
The divorce agreement had not yet been signed. And after all, they had once been husband and wife. Not to mention that so many colleagues' lives were at stake.
She immediately hailed a taxi and rushed toward the western district.
When she arrived, she anxiously found Adrian and thrust her phone in front of him. "I just saw a resident's post. Someone here is carrying a gun and planted explosives. That side profile matches the death row fugitive in the files."
Adrian looked at her with scrutiny in his eyes. Beside him, Selena suddenly let out a soft laugh. "Vanessa, you're being overly nervous. Don't worry. We've conducted a thorough inspection for this operation. It's very safe."
"I'm telling the truth." Vanessa's voice trembled with urgency. "Adrian, don't you believe me either?"
"You've been by my side for so long. How can you still believe every rumor you hear? Do you really think my professional judgment is inferior to online speculation?"
Vanessa stood frozen, at a loss.
Selena gently smoothed things over. "If you ask me, Vanessa is just worried I might take you away, so she found an excuse to follow you here. You're really fortunate, Adrian, to have a wife who cares about you so much."
"That's not what this is." Vanessa hurriedly tried to explain.
"Enough." Adrian's expression darkened. "I thought you were just jealous. I didn't expect you to be so unable to distinguish what matters. Go back immediately."
Seeing that he refused to believe her, Vanessa turned to warn the other colleagues, but Selena stopped her. "Please don't disrupt everyone's work. I promise I won't take Adrian away."
"Why do you insist on slandering me like this?" Vanessa finally snapped.
Adrian did not even look at her. He simply tilted his head and gave a cold instruction. "Take her away. She is interfering with official duties."
Two staff members stepped forward at once and escorted her away, one on each side.
They had barely taken a few steps when a deafening explosion erupted behind them.
A thunderous blast shook the ground. Flames shot into the sky, and the scorching shockwave hurled her to the ground.
She turned back in horror and saw the entire building collapse amid the roaring noise.
"Adrian!"
She screamed his name and struggled to her feet, rushing back desperately, only to be blocked by fallen beams.
Thick smoke billowed toward her, choking her until she could barely breathe.
Through her blurred vision, she saw Adrian shielding his colleagues as he led them out.
"Adrian. I'm here. Save me." She shouted with all her strength.
Hearing her voice, Adrian turned and saw her anxious figure through the flames. He was about to rush toward her when, not far away, Selena's tearful cry rang out. "Adrian. Save me!"
His steps halted abruptly. His gaze lingered on Vanessa's face for a brief moment.
"Vanessa, hold on. I'll be right back."
Then he turned without hesitation and ran toward Selena.
Vanessa watched helplessly as his figure disappeared into the smoke, her heart sinking to the bottom.
After struggling to bring Selena to safety, Adrian immediately prepared to return.
But Selena gripped his arm tightly. "Adrian, don't go. It's too dangerous."
"I just saw Vanessa being rescued by other colleagues," she said softly. "You're injured too. The first rule of saving others is to ensure your own safety. The rescue team will be here soon. They will handle the rest."
Only then did Adrian feel the searing pain from his wounds.
He looked at the growing flames and finally nodded. "All right. We'll go to the hospital first."
At the moment he turned away, the last trace of light in Vanessa's eyes went out completely.
- Writer
