Chapter 4
I lay on the balcony floor, staring through the glass at the empty apartment.
The winter wind cut through my clothes. My fingers gradually went numb, and a dull ache settled into my wrists where the ropes rubbed against my skin.
I didn't know how long I stayed there.
Eventually, the pain in my head made it difficult to think clearly.
Then I smelled smoke.
At first, it was faint, barely noticeable beneath the cold air.
I turned toward the kitchen.
An orange glow flickered behind the doorway.
A fire.
For one frozen second, I couldn't process what I was seeing.
Then the flames rose higher.
I started dragging myself across the floor, twisting my wrists against the rope. The more I struggled, the tighter it seemed to bite into my skin.
I pulled until something in my right arm gave with a jolt of pain.
I nearly blacked out.
But the rope finally loosened enough for me to wrench one hand free.
I tore at the tape covering my mouth and screamed.
"Help! Somebody, please!"
No one answered.
The fire alarm began to shriek inside the apartment. Smoke spread across the ceiling, and the living room started disappearing behind a thick gray haze.
I rushed toward the glass door, only to find the lock still engaged.
I yanked at the handle.
Nothing.
The flames were spreading fast.
I fumbled for my phone and called my mother.
It rang and rang.
No answer.
I called Julian.
He picked up on the third ring.
Music and laughter blared in the background.
"Julian!" I gasped. "Please, you have to help me! The apartment's on fire. I'm locked out on the balcony!"
For two seconds, he said nothing.
Then he laughed bitterly.
"Harper, are you seriously making up a fire to get back at Chloe? This is insane, even for you."
"I'm not lying!" I screamed. "Julian, I can see the flames! Please, I'm running out of time!"
"Enough. Chloe's birthday is already stressful without you pulling another stunt."
"Julian, please—"
He hung up.
I stared at the screen, unable to believe what had just happened.
The man who'd once promised never to let me fall had just left me to burn.
My phone vibrated again.
A message from Ava appeared.
[You should know the truth before you go back to playing the victim.]
Then came another.
[Julian has been with Chloe for a long time. The design she submitted six months ago? He gave it to her.]
A video followed.
I tapped it.
The screen filled with the warm glow of a private party room.
Julian stood behind Chloe, his arms wrapped around her waist. Their fingers were intertwined around a cake knife as they cut into a birthday cake together.
Chloe turned and kissed the corner of his mouth.
He pulled her closer and kissed her properly.
The camera panned across the room.
Mason was cheering. My parents were smiling. Ava was clapping.
They looked so happy.
My family.
My fiancé.
The woman they'd all chosen over me.
Behind me, the fire roared.
Another message appeared.
[Chloe is finally getting the award she deserves. Take the hint, Harper. It's time to get out of the way.]
I let the phone fall against my lap.
For seven years, I'd thought I was building a life with Julian. For six months, I'd endured his cruelty because I believed he was helping me become stronger.
All that time, he'd been laughing at me.
And my family had known.
They'd all known.
A loud bang from inside the apartment jolted me back to reality. Something had burst in the heat, and smoke was rapidly filling the living room.
I stumbled toward the far end of the balcony.
The glass panels had begun to crack under the heat. Beyond them, the building's exterior fire escape ran down the side of the apartment block, several feet away.
I looked down.
The drop made my vision swim. My knees threatened to give way.
I'd spent my entire life afraid of heights.
But the fire was coming closer, and the balcony door wouldn't open.
My hands shook as I gripped the window frame.
I thought about the little girl who'd once believed her family would always protect her.
I thought about the woman who'd spent seven years trusting Julian with her future.
I thought about every time I'd begged them to stop hurting me, only to be told I was too sensitive, too dramatic, too selfish.
For the first time, I understood that waiting for them to save me was no longer an option.
I had to save myself.
The balcony door shuddered behind me. Heat pressed against my back, and a fresh crack spread across the glass.
The fire escape was still several feet away.
I reached for it, but my fingers closed on nothing.
My knees shook so badly that I could barely stand.
I had never been this high up without someone holding my hand.
Now there was no one.
I gripped the window frame one last time, took a breath, and forced myself to move.
The flames surged behind me.
I jumped.
Three hours later, Chloe's birthday party came to an end.
The group returned to my parents' apartment building, still chatting as they got out of their cars.
Then they saw the flames.
The entire building was lit by the glow of the fire, and thick smoke poured into the night sky.
A building manager hurried toward them.
"Mr. Bennett! Your apartment's on fire. Is anyone still inside?"
The smiles vanished from their faces.
