Chapter 14 Fire at the Orphanage " They say it happened in the summer three years ago ." James glanced at the man in the back seat through the rearview mirror . Marcus's eyes find her . " 37 Finished lifted slightly . " We should start with her last client . Might be the fastest way to " Got it , Mr. Collins ." Back at Windrise Tower , Natalie sent a message to Gabriel , letting him know she wanted the divorce and that it was her decision alone . She asked him not to make things difficult for his father and son . She wasn't trying to defend them - she just wanted Jackson to sign the papers quickly so she could finally walk away . Half an hour later , Gabriel replied with just one short sentence : " Grandpa only has one wish now - he hopes you all live well . " Natalie stared blankly at her phone , eyes fixed on those few words . Live well . She had once wanted that too . But ever since that father - and - son duo threw her in jail , there was no way things could ever be " well " between them again . The warm yellow light above her head cast a glow on those words , making them sting even more . A knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts . She got up to open it and found Lucy standing outside . " This girl Lily is unbelievably hard to track down . Probably has to do with her messy background ." Lucy handed her a file and walked inside . Natalie followed her in and opened the folder . Inside were all of Lily's biological father's IOUS . Gambling debts , credit tabs at convenience stores , unpaid bills at small restaurants ... 1/5 19:33 Fri , Sep 19 Chapter 14 Fire at the Orphanage 37 Finished " So you're saying her dad owed a ton of money and has been dragging her around ever since ? " " Exactly . The guy's scum . Not only does he owe money everywhere , I heard he beats the kid too . That's why we need to find her fast ... " Lucy poured herself a glass of water , then looked up at Natalie seriously . " But I just have this feeling the kid's not with him . Is it possible that after he took her , he dumped her in an orphanage ? " " It's definitely possible . A gambling addict's not the type to take responsibility . Dragging a child around ? Not realistic ." Natalie's expression darkened . " Where was their last known address ? " " Hang on . " Lucy pulled out her phone and swiped quickly , then looked up . " Gold Road . " " What's the nearest orphanage to that address ? Have you checked it out ? " " You said this afternoon the dad took the kid , so I focused on tracking him . Didn't dig into any orphanages . " Natalie gave a small nod . " I'll look into it tonight . If there's one nearby , I'll head over tomorrow . " " Sounds good ." After a pause , Lucy glanced up at her . " When are you going back to work ? " " You mean the jade carving ? " " Yeah . " Lucy grinned . " A bunch of old clients came to me hoping to get their broken jade fixed . I've already turned down six jobs . " " Jade work is expensive . I don't have the funds right now . Planning to open a clinic first . Once that's running , I'll think about taking on jade commissions again . " " That's amazing ! You're finally getting back to your career . Seeing that ambitious spark in you again - honestly , it lifts my whole mood . This is the Natalie I know . " Natalie glanced up at her , a smile slowly spreading across her face , The next afternoon . Using the address Lucy gave her , Natalie checked the map - and sure enough , there was an 2/5 Chapter 14 Fire at the Orphanage orphanage nearby . She took a cab over . Several sleek black cars were parked at the gate . After explaining her reason to the security guards , they let her in . Natalie sat waiting in the director's office . According to the staff , the president of a philanthropic organization was visiting today to discuss improvements to the orphanage's facilities . The director was meeting with him personally and would see Natalie once he left . She waited . And waited . Nearly thirty minutes passed , but the director still hadn't come . Just as she stood up to stretch her legs , a sharp , acrid smell hit her . It smelled like burning wood ... Voices rang out just beyond the door . Finished " Lucy , the second - floor storage room's on fire ! Might be an electrical short - three kids are trapped inside , the flames are spreading fast ... " " Cut the power and call emergency services ! I'll get the security team to help ! " Natalie , a mother herself , felt her instincts surge as soon as she heard children were trapped . Most of the orphans she'd seen earlier were only five or six years old - far too young to escape on their own . She yanked the door open and rushed out . Thick smoke was already curling down the hallway . Following the smell , she headed toward the orphanage's main corridor . Smoke was pouring from the stairwell at the far end . Without hesitation , she took off toward it . At the orphanage's front entrance ... 3/5 19:33 Fri , Sep 19 Chapter 14 Fire at the Orphanage " Mr. Collins , thank you again for coming today . Let me treat you to a meal next time ." The female director smiled warmly and extended her hand . Marcus was just reaching to shake it when a piercing voice rang out behind them : " Fire ! The storage room on the second floor is on fire ! Someone help - get water ! " Marcus turned sharply and looked toward the building . Smoke was billowing from the right side of the second floor . And then he saw a figure racing down the corridor . 37 Finished A woman in a white dress , hair flying as she ran , her profile flashing past one white column after another as she sprinted up the stairs like the wind . Even from this distance , Marcus never forgot a face he'd seen up close . Especially not hers . But ... Why is she here ? By the time Natalie reached the fire , it was already raging . Several female staff stood frozen at the doorway - none dared to go in . " Help ! Somebody help us ! " " The fire's so big , I'm scared ! " Children's panicked cries echoed from inside , full of fear and despair . Natalie clenched her jaw and ran in without thinking . Two kids were trapped under a large table , not far from the door . She hurried to them , got them out , and led them to safety - but even as she stepped outside , she could still hear crying inside . " Ma'am ! There's still one more kid in there ! " One of the children she'd saved pointed toward the inferno , sobbing even harder . 4/5 19:33 Fri , Sep 19 Chapter 14 Fire at the Orphanage " You can't go back in ! It's suicide ! " " Yeah ! It's way too dangerous ! " : " But if no one goes , who's gonna save that child ?! " Voices argued in a panic around her , the scene descending into chaos . Natalie didn't hesitate . She ran back into the flames . 337 Finished To avoid inhaling too much smoke , she held her breath for as long as she could . Her face turned red before she finally gasped for air . What she breathed in was all thick , choking smoke . The child must've been farther inside . Their voice sounded distant . Natalie pushed forward , trying to follow the cries , feeling her way through the smoke . Suddenly , a loud crack echoed from above . She instinctively froze and looked up . The massive round chandelier , its wooden ceiling mount weakened by fire , broke loose and came crashing down - right above her . Natalie's smoke - reddened eyes widened . She hadn't gotten her revenge yet . She hadn't made the ones who wronged her pay . Is this really how it ends ? No. I don't want to die . Send Gifts