Chapter 1876

“Does this look strange on me?” Karina asked hesitantly, glancing at her reflection in the mirror.
Wilfred stepped forward, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. His gaze was steady and full of admiration.
“Strange? Not at all. You look absolutely stunning, like this dress was made just for you. When the photos are done, everyone will be blown away.”
The photographer chimed in enthusiastically, “Don’t worry, miss. This outfit brings out all the elegance. Just follow my directions later, and you’ll have magazine-worthy shots in no time!”
Reassured, Karina finally relaxed and gracefully walked to the photo setup.
Wilfred, now dressed in a vintage suit, exuded a polished elegance that perfectly complemented her look.
After capturing a series of vintage-style portraits, they switched to a casual modern shoot. Dressed in their newly purchased matching outfits, they posed playfully-making silly faces, leaning into each other, and laughing freely. The camera’s shutter clicked repeatedly, freezing each moment filled with love and joy.
As they stepped out of the photography studio, the warm glow of the setting sun stretched their shadows across the street. Karina scrolled through the photos on her camera, her smile unstoppable.
Wilfred glanced at her, his expression soft and filled with affection. He placed an arm around her shoulders and said, “These photos are beautiful, but they still don’t compare to the real you. If you ever miss me, just look at them, okay?”
Karina gave him a light punch on the shoulder, teasing, “Who says I’ll miss you?”
Despite her words, she hugged the camera tightly against her chest.
Back at the hotel, Karina was still basking in the glow of their photoshoot. She eagerly hung up her new clothes one by one and kept flipping through the pictures, her smile unwavering.
Watching her, Wilfred shook his head with a soft laugh. He tidied up their belongings before walking over to her, casually wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“You’ve had a long day. How about a hot shower to relax?” he suggested, his voice low and gentle, his breath brushing against her ear.
Karina’s ears turned slightly pink, and she nodded. “Alright.”
Gathering her toiletries, she entered the bathroom.
As the hot water cascaded down, steam filled the space, providing her a moment of peace. She closed her eyes, savoring the warmth, completely unaware of the looming danger.
Meanwhile, Wilfred sat on the edge
of the bed, reviewing a set of emails
from the hospital about
arrangements. He was lost in thought, mapping out the work ahead, when a sharp, acrid smell pierced the air.
His expression darkened. He stood quickly, moving to the window and pulling back the curtain.
Below, flames roared, and thick black smoke billowed upward, accompanied by panicked screams from the street.
“Karina!” Wilfred’s chest tightened as he rushed to the bathroom, pounding on the door. “Come out now! The hotel is on fire!”
Karina flinched at the urgency in his voice and the suffocating smell of smoke Startled, she quickly turned off the shower, wrapped herself in a towel, and dashed out, her face pale with fear.
“What’s going on? How did a fire start so suddenly?” she stammered.
Wilfred pulled her close, shielding her behind him. Grabbing a jacket from the bed, he draped it over her shoulders and spoke quickly, “Don’t panic. Stay with me-we need to get out of here now.”
Holding her hand firmly, he led her toward the door.
As soon as it opened, a surge of thick smoke rushed in, making them cough violently.
Wilfred covered his nose and mouth, guiding Karina as they crouched low and followed the illuminated emergency exit signs. The hallway was chaos-alarms blared, lights flickered, and terrified guests shoved past each other in a frantic bid to escape. Suddenly, a wall of flames erupted ahead, fueled by the draft from the stairwell. The fire roared and crackled, blocking their path. Karina froze, her wide eyes filled with fear. Her body trembled as she clutched Wilfred’s arm tightly. “What do we do now? We can’t get through…”