Chapter 1 The Unfaithful Wife

On a scorching summer day, a man in a tank top was working hard and sweating profusely. The temperature at the construction site had reached a staggering 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Darius Fane's skin was turning red from the heat. His hands and neck were already peeling from sunburn. In his hazy memories, he recalled a brutal escape over twenty years ago, which had brought him to Wreka. After his grandfather passed away, his origins became a complete mystery. His company faced bankruptcy three years ago due to sabotage. That incident forced him to take on back-breaking labor at the construction site to support his family. He had been searching for the one who framed him ever since, dreaming of a comeback. However, no bank was willing to lend him a dime. All he faced was endless mockery and rejection. Darius was blacklisted from credit. Three years of exposure to the elements had made him dark and sturdy. He'd lost count of how many layers of skin had peeled off his body. For the sake of his beautiful wife, Norma Berry, and their adorable five-year-old daughter, Carrie Fane, he silently endured it all. Ring! He took out his phone, revealing a cracked screen. The caller ID displayed a picture of his daughter. His expression softened, and he answered in a soft voice, "What's up, sweetheart? Do you miss Daddy?" His daughter's trembling voice came through. She asked in terror, "Daddy, where are you?" Darius asked, "What's wrong, sweetheart? Did Mummy spank you again?" Since his company's collapse, Norma's temper has grown increasingly grumpy. She often vented her frustration at him and Carrie. Darius had argued with her countless times. Every confrontation ended with her overpowering him and continuing her ways. This time, Carrie's response gave him a lethal blow. "It's not that, Daddy. A man took Mummy into the bedroom to fight. I'm scared. You can hear it—Mummy is crying." The familiar sounds of his wife's moans came through the phone. Darius's head buzzed, and his mind went blank. Fighting? No, she's cheating on me! How can she do that at our home? Instaneously, rage consumed him. His faith crumbled instantly. He forced the foreman to grant him half a day off, then jumped on his motorcycle and sped home. " You b*tch! Shame on you!" He roared into the wind, cursing vehemently and venting his rage. From dating to marriage, he had never once mistreated Norma. Even after his bankruptcy, he still tried his best to meet her material needs. But what was she doing? How could she humiliate him like this, cheating in their own home?! At that moment, all he wanted was to kill the two *ssholes and ease his pain. When he was less than two miles from home, his phone rang again. "Daddy, the house is on fire! "Cough, cough. There's a big fire. I'm dying! "Daddy, you have to come quickly and save me! I'm so scared!" With a click, the call ended. Darius had lost contact with his daughter. He ran as fast as he could. His mind was filled with Carrie's cries. Darius's mind kept imagining the little girl being engulfed in flames. "Why?! Why?!" He bellowed like a madman, racing toward home at full speed. He had no time to wonder why the house was on fire or why Norma and her lover hadn't saved their daughter. All he could think about was rescuing Carrie as quickly as possible. When he reached the apartment complex, he could see thick smoke billowing from their windows. He didn't hesitate, and he dashed up the stairs. "Sir, there's a fire inside. You can't go in." Two firefighters intervened and desperately held him back. Darius yelled, "Get out of my way! My daughter's in there! Let me go!" He grabbed a helmet and fire mask from one of the firefighters and sprinted up to the twelfth floor. Soaked in sweat, his legs trembling uncontrollably, Darius ignored everything and fiercely kicked the door open. Boom! The door burst open with a kick, and flames surged out, instantly scorching half of his eyebrows and hair. He put on the helmet and mask and charged inside. The house was filled with smoke; visibility was almost zero. "Cari! Where are you, Cari? "Daddy's here to save you! Say something!" But there was no response—only the crackling of the fire. He searched every inch of the apartment, ignoring the danger to himself. No sign in the living room, bedroom, or bathroom ... Darius's heart sank. Had Carrie already perished in the fire? Despite his charred clothes sticking to his skin and causing severe burns, he continued his desperate search for his little girl. "Daddy! Daddy!" A weak voice sounded from the corner. To Darius, it was like hearing an angel. He dashed toward the corner with all his might. It was a large glass fish tank, now serving as Cari's last refuge. However, he arrived too late, as half of Carrie's face had already burned. She looked terrifyingly disfigured. "Don't be scared, Cari. Daddy's here to save you. It's okay. Everything will be okay. Don't cry." Darius took off all of his gear and put it on his daughter, then carried her towards the door. Crash! Bang! The ceiling light suddenly fell, tearing into Darius's back. He almost passed out from the pain. "Cari isn't safe yet. I can't fall now!" He gritted his teeth and ran downstairs. Darius shouted to the crowd, "Call an ambulance, quick!" At the edge of the crowd, a beautiful woman whispered anxiously to the man beside her. She asked, "What do we do? They're not dead." The man sneered in disdain; he asked, "So what? Dead or alive, it's all good for us. Just wait and count the money." The woman was none other than Norma, and the man was her lover. Darius carried his daughter in his arms and ran towards the complex's exit. Just as he stepped outside, a speeding car came roaring towards them. Bang! With a deafening crash, Darius and Cari were thrown into the air. They landed like ragdolls on the ground. Norma watched from a distance and overcame it with a twisted sense of satisfaction. "Please save my daughter!" Darius whispered weakly, his eyes never leaving Carrie. Suddenly, two long legs appeared in his vision. After that, he blacked out.