Chapter 1848

“Of course, it’s true!”
Karina’s gaze was sincere, her voice steady despite her racing heartbeat.
“I don’t want to see anyone get hurt, especially you. Let’s talk this out calmly. I’ll do whatever it takes to fix this.”
The girl fixed her eyes on Karina, searching for any hint of deceit on her face.
After a tense moment, she bit her lip and finally said, “Fine, then tell me. How are we going to talk? But if you try any tricks, I’ll light this fire immediately.”
She waved the lighter in her hand, the small flame flickering as a silent threat.
Wilfred’s anxiety grew, and he was about to step in when Karina subtly signaled him to hold back.
Karina took a deep breath and cautiously stepped forward, moving slowly and gently as if approaching a frightened animal.
“Let’s put the lighter down first. It’s too dangerous. If it accidentally ignites, with so many shops and homes around, the consequences would be unimaginable. Let’s go somewhere safe to talk, okay?”
The girl hesitated, her gaze darting around. She noticed the frightened faces of people peeking out from shop windows and the terrified children hiding behind their parents. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face.
Karina caught this moment of hesitation and pressed on. “Look, everyone’s scared. We don’t want to drag innocent people into this, do we?
“How about over there, at the corner by the streetlight? It’s bright, quiet, and we can talk without anyone interrupting. You can share all your grievances and frustrations.”
Karina’s eyes remained fixed on the lighter, which trembled slightly in the girl’s unsteady hand. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she maintained a calm demeanor, her voice as gentle as possible.
“We’ve come this far. Please don’t
make things worse. Think about it. If that flame ignites, this entire street could become a sea of fire. What about the innocent people here? The shopkeepers, the families-they all have lives and loved ones.
Everything could be destroyed in an
instant.
“And even if you hurt me, Wilfred won’t love you because of it. All you’ll get is endless regret and a life spent behind bars. Is that the outcome you really want?”
The girl bit her lip hard, drawing blood as she tried to anchor herself to the faint remnants of her rationality.
Wilfred, seeing her inner turmoil, spoke up, his voice steady and compassionate.
“I know your heart is full of hatred right now, but that anger shouldn’t be aimed at Karina. If anyone is to blame, it’me-for not realizing your feelings sooner and handling this properly. If you want to direct your anger at someone, direct it at me.
“But setting fires and hurting people is a dead end. If you put down the lighter now, we’ll let the past go. We’ll help you start over and move beyond this.”
The girl’s body trembled as Wilfred’s words seemed to strike a chord deep within her. Her grip on the lighter loosened slightly, her hand shaking.
However, a moment later, she screamed hoarsely, her voice raw with pain and despair. “Start over? Easy for you to say! I’ve given so much doved so humbly, and you want me to just let it go like it’s nothing?”
Before Karina or Wilfred could react, the girl’s face twisted with anguish and fury. With a surge of emotion, she hurled the lighter directly at Karina, her voice filled with rage and heartbreak. The lighter arced through the air, trailing danger as it carried all of the girl’s resentment and desperation.
Karina’s heart clenched. On instinct, she sidestepped just in time, narrowly avoiding the incoming projectile.