Chapter 3

Chapter 3

When Caleb got home, I had already hidden the invitation with Sienna's name on it.

Seeing me sitting blankly on the sofa, a flash of guilt crossed his eyes. He walked over and tried to hug me, leaning in for a kiss.

I caught the scent of her sweet, cloying rose perfume mixed with the hospital smell. I thought of them kissing in that room and felt a wave of nausea. I pushed him away.

Caleb's expression turned cold immediately. "What's your problem now?"

"Summer, I just got back from the hospital. I'm exhausted. Can you stop throwing a tantrum?"

My heart felt like it was stuffed with lead.

My eyes burned.

Caleb sighed and didn't say another word.

He stayed in his study for a long time. I didn't make him a late-night snack like I usually did. Instead, I curled up on the bed.

The next morning, Caleb brought me a glass of water. His tone was back to normal. "If you're really against it, then forget it. Drink some water and wake up."

I was a bit surprised.

The invitations were already printed with her name, yet he was acting like he gave up on the idea?

A flicker of hope ignited in my chest.

But that hope vanished the moment I drank the water and felt an unnatural drowsiness take over.

Caleb had drugged me.

Before I lost consciousness completely, I felt him pick me up and tuck me into bed.

He saw the tears on my face and gently wiped them away. He pressed a soft kiss to my lips and sighed. "Summer, you'll understand eventually. Later… I'll make it up to you."

But that tiny spark of hope was gone the second I realized he'd betrayed my trust so fundamentally.

I plummeted into darkness.

I only woke up because of a sharp, acrid smell of smoke.

Flames were already spreading through the kitchen. I tried to push myself up, but my body felt like lead. I soaked a blanket in the bathroom, wrapped it around myself, and stumbled toward the bedroom door.

I grabbed the handle.

It wouldn't budge.

The handle was searing hot because of the fire.

My heart turned to ice. Despair and agony crashed through me.

Caleb had locked the door from the outside.

A sharp pain radiated from my chest, eventually turning into a hollow silence.

The fire was massive. My head was spinning from the drugs and the smoke. I collapsed on the floor. The sirens, the shouting, the screams―everything was swallowed by the roar of the flames.