Chapter 7: The Lie He Told Everyone
The video changed everything.
Within days, rumors spread through the fire department.
Alex wasn't suspended.
He hadn't broken any official rules.
But people knew.
Firefighters knew.
The one thing they respected most was loyalty.
And Alex had failed where it mattered.
When I returned home, I found him waiting.
"You watched the video."
I stopped.
"How did you know?"
"Mark told me."
I laughed softly.
"Of course."
Alex looked exhausted.
"Lucy, I can explain."
"Explain what?"
He stepped closer.
"Why I went to Valerie."
"Why?"
He was silent.
That was the answer.
"I thought she was worse."
"No."
I shook my head.
"You thought she was yours to save."
His face changed.
"That's not true."
"Then why didn't you come back?"
Silence.
"Why didn't you ask about me?"
His eyes filled.
"I was overwhelmed."
"No."
I looked at him.
"You were relieved."
That hurt him.
Because it was true.
"You saw Valerie safe."
I touched my stomach.
"And you assumed I would survive."
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The worst part was...
he didn't deny it.
