Flames Revealed Her Secret

Start Reading

On Valentine's Day, a hotel caught fire and called for emergency rescue.

I went to fight the fire, only to find my wife with another man.

Both of them were completely naked, wrapped only in a bedsheet.

The man asked Lucy:

Aren't you afraid Ethan will find out? I heard he's a firefighter.

Lucy laughed coquettishly.

"He's away for training. He won't find out. I haven't had enough fun with you yet. Let's switch hotels."

The next second, my phone received a message from Lucy:

"Honey, I'm at the salon getting a hair treatment. I'll be home later."

At that moment, I finally let her go.

As soon as I got back to the station, my wife Lucy called.

"Honey, why didn't you reply to me?"

I used to reply to Lucy's messages instantly. Now that I hadn't replied, she called directly.

Thinking about how I'd call her and she'd only answer when she felt like it, or just ignore itI'd been too much of a doormat.

"I was busy," I replied flatly.

On the other end, I could faintly hear a small voice: "Your husband doesn't suspect you, does he?"

Even though Lucy covered the phone, I could still make out her voice: "Impossible. I'm the one he trusts most."

The bed creaked and squeaked. She couldn't suppress the soft gasps escaping her lips: "Slower."

I felt disgusted. "Is there anything else?"

Lucy tried hard to steady her voice: "I made your favorite pizza. It's in the fridge. Remember to microwave it when you eat."

"Oh, and since your stomach isn't great, don't drink anything cold. I left medicine in the drawer for you..."

The assault on the other end intensified. Lucy was practically trembling as she said, "Ethan, wait for me to come home," before the phone fell to the ground.

"Aren't you afraid Ethan will find out?"

Lucy's voice turned cold: "You and I are just having fun. If you dare tell Ethan, we're done immediately!"

I had no interest in hearing about Lucy's love for me. After hanging up, I went home.

In our six years of marriage, I'd given her enough respect and love.

Looking at our wedding photo hanging prominently in the living room, I only felt mockery.

When Lucy got home, I was taking down the wedding photo.

The flush on her cheeks hadn't faded. Seeing me remove the photo, she only paused briefly.

Then she said naturally, "I've been thinking this photo looks outdated too. We should keep up with the times."

She came over and took my arm, her eyes bright: "Ryan just got me a discount package at his studio. Let's go take new photos together."

Without giving me a chance to refuse, she went straight to the kitchen to heat up food for me.

In the past, whenever I heard Ryan's name, I'd always ask questions.

But this time I said nothing, which made Lucy uncomfortable instead.

"Aren't you going to ask why he gave me a discount package?"

I paused writing my report. Without looking up, I said, "You two have known each other since college. I've helped him so muchit's normal for him to give you a discount."

This was the excuse Lucy used to brush me off before. Now that I said it, she actually thought I hadn't discovered anything and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh right, Ethan, go get your medicine from the drawer. You need to take it on time."

I had no reason to neglect my health.

Just then, her phone screen lit up on the table.

"Baby, is he satisfied with the food and medicine I prepared for him?"

My heart turned cold. So Lucy's thoughtfulness had all been an act.

Before I could look away, Lucy rushed over frantically.

"Ethan, we agreed to trust each other and not look at each other's phones!"

The pot she was holding pressed against my skin without hesitation, instantly burning it red.

I grunted. Just as I was about to turn and get some ointment, Lucy beat me to it and offered to take me to the hospital.

"I heard there's a doctor at the hospital who's really good at treating burns."

I looked at Lucy, but she avoided my eyes.

I clenched my fist, not exposing her lie: "Alright, let's go check it out."

At the hospital, Lucy stayed with me the whole time, running around getting my registration done.

Only before the medication was applied did she find an excuse to leave.

I had the nurse wait a moment, then followed her all the way to a consultation room door.

"How does it feel sneaking around with me? You just love the thrill, don't you?"

So that's why Lucy suddenly offered to bring me to the hospitalbecause Ryan was here.

I turned to leave, but Lucy's next words made my heart skip.

"The medicine I gave him doesn't have side effects, right? I want to get pregnant with your baby."

"After all, my heart belongs to him, but my body belongs to you."

"But the medicine can't hurt Ethan."

So the stomach medicine I'd been taking was actually birth control pills?

With trembling hands, I took out the pill bottle from my pocket. Only under the light could I see the switched label.

Pressing my lips together, I slowly peeled away the outer label.

The side effects written inside made my heart lurch!

I walked back to the treatment room in a daze. After a long wait, a doctor finally came to change my dressing.

When I looked up, it was Ryan!

Lucy stood beside him: "Ethan, Ryan is so skilled at changing dressings. I had such a hard time getting him to come treat you."

Really? Should I thank him?

I forced a bitter smile, unable to say anything.

Lucy pulled on Ryan's sleeve, urging him to change my dressing. Throughout the whole process, they were the ones who acted like a married couple.

Ryan's movements were rough and forceful. My perfectly fine wound was torn open.

I frowned and tried to pull my hand back, but Ryan used the opportunity to fall to the ground.

Lucy's brow furrowed. Without mercy, she struck my arm hard: "Ethan, I really thought you and Ryan had made peace."

"I didn't expect you to pull such a dirty trick!"

Then, ignoring the blood flowing down my arm, she rushed to help Ryan up.

Her eyes showed heartache. She used to only feel sorry for meI don't know when that changed to Ryan.

Watching her bustle around, practically wanting to feel the pain for him, I smiled sarcastically: "Lucy, let's get divorced."

Only then did she notice my bleeding. Her expression went blank.

"I'm sorry, honey. I was too hasty and overlooked you."

Then she said righteously, "Besides, weren't you the one who pushed Ryan?!"

I laughed in anger, pointing at the camera overhead: "Lucy, say it againdid I push him, or did he fall on his own?"

Ryan's tears welled up in his eyes, falling at just the right moment when Lucy looked at him: "Lucy, you don't need to say anything. Ethan didn't push me."

"It was... it was me who couldn't stand steady and fell."

With his crying, Lucy, who had been hesitant, instantly turned cold.

"Ethan, have you made enough of a scene?"

"I just brought you here to treat a burn. Ryan is so busy he can't even eat, yet he came to help you, and this is how you treat him? How you treat me?"

Seeing Lucy so furious, desperately wanting to clear Ryan's name and fight for his justiceso different from how she once promised to be good to me forever.

I calmly pointed at her clothes: "Lucy, do you really think I'm stupid?"

I smiled coldly: "Too busy to even eat, but had time to take off your clothes?"

I thought Lucy would feel ashamed, but instead she spoke righteously: "What's wrong with me having Ryan examine me?"

"Ethan, don't assume I'm having an affair with Ryan just because you see us together."

"There's nothing between Ryan and me. If there could be something with him, would it be your turn?!"

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have been fooled by Lucy's performance.

In the past, it was precisely because Lucy always spoke about Ryan so openly that I trusted her consistently for six years.

People who didn't know the truth were already starting to criticize me along with Lucy.

"This wife so kindly ran around getting him registered and treated, but he turned around and accused his own wife of having an affair with a nurse. What a sin."

"Yeah, how does someone like that deserve such a good wife? I say they should just divorce."

I took a deep breath, not wanting to argue with Lucy in public.

But she thought I felt guilty, and with so many people supporting her, she became smug. Yet she still had to put on a show in front of everyone: "Alright, Ethan, I know you're jealous because you still love me."

"How about thisif you just apologize to Ryan, I'll take you to another nurse to get your dressing changed. How's that?"

Lucy spoke to me as if bestowing a favor.

She always relied on my love for her, pushing my boundaries further and further.

But she didn't know my boundaries had limits too.

I used to back down, but not this time.

Even Ryan put on a magnanimous act, waving his hand at me: "That's right, Ethan, just apologize to me."

Ryan's gaze was challenging as he waved his hand, and I noticed his ring and bracelet.

The ring was identical to mine, except it was engraved with his and Lucy's initials instead.

And the bracelet...

I pointed at the bracelet on Ryan's wrist in disbelief, asking Lucy with a trembling voice, "Is that the bracelet I gave you?"

The safety bracelet was left to me by my family. It had accompanied me through several fires, keeping me safe each time.

Later, when Lucy was hospitalized and the doctor said she wouldn't make it, I emptied all my savings to save her.

I even gave her the safety bracelet, hoping it would keep her safe.

But I never imagined that one day, this bracelet would end up on Ryan's wrist.

Lucy knew what the bracelet meant to me. She had once promised me that even if the sky fell, she would never lose it.

She even said that no matter where she went or what she did, she would always wear it.

But now...

Lucy froze for a moment, then reacted quickly: "That's because Ryan is a nurse. The bracelet is more useful for him."

"You've been fine so many times without it. Giving it to someone who needs it more fulfills its purpose."

Her eyes darted away: "Ethan, you understand, don't you?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I asked her, "Where's the cloak you were wearing?"

I quietly watched her momentary panic, then pointed to her neck, her arms, her thighs.

All marks that Ryan had left on her body.

"Lucy, we're done. Let's divorce."

I dropped that sentence and turned to leave the room.

I found a new doctor to change my dressing myself, then reported to my supervisor to confirm my transfer location early.

I thought things with Lucy would end quickly, but I didn't expect her to show up at my workplace.

"Ethan, it's not my place to say, but you and Lucy have been together for so long."

"Now you're not going home just because of an argumentisn't that inappropriate?"

My supervisor held the form, saying in a tone that brooked no refusal: "Lucy was so anxious she came to the station to file a report. Here's what we'll doI'm authorizing you to go take new wedding photos with her."

When I arrived at the photography studio, Lucy had been waiting for me for a while.

"Ethan, listen to me. That day was all a misunderstanding. Those marks were from Ryan giving me therapy."

As soon as she saw me, she couldn't wait to explain.

I just nodded faintly, not even looking at her.

Like a puppet on strings, I did whatever the photographer told me to do.

Finally, the photographer couldn't help it and poked his head out: "The groom needs to lean closer to the bride. You're taking your seventh-anniversary photoswhy are you still so stiff?"

When Lucy and I took our first wedding photos, we only had eyes for each other.

But now, everything had changed.

During the break, Lucy secretly slipped me a box: "Ethan, open it and look."

I didn't need to open it to knowthis was a watch I'd once said I liked.

At the time, Lucy always made excuses about not having time to buy it for me. Eventually, I saw it on Ryan's wrist.

Now she was finally giving it to me, but I no longer liked it.

I looked away: "Lucy, after we finish shooting, let's go get divorced."

My tone was flat, but Lucy exploded.

"Ethan, when will you stop?! I even bought you your favorite watch and you're still talking about divorce!"

So she knew I loved this model.

Before I could respond, an emergency call from the station came through.

"Chemical plant explosion. Emergency assistance needed!"

I immediately stopped worrying about Lucy and prepared to leave.

Just as I was about to rush out the door, Lucy suddenly grabbed my hand.

Her grip tightened. For once, she seemed reluctant to let me go.

Seeing my impatient frown, her grip loosened.

But in the end, she held on tight: "Ethan, come back safe."

Come back safe.

This was what Lucy used to say to me every time I went on a mission.

But it had been so long since she'd said it to me.

Hearing it suddenly, I felt momentarily dazed.

But quickly, I adjusted my mindset and prepared to depart.

[Chemical plant about to explode! Will the dangerous rescue succeed?!]

The headlines on her phone grew bigger and bigger, gripping Lucy's heart tightly.

Her eyes looked somewhat vacant. She suddenly felt that letting Ethan go this time was the wrong decision.

Even Ryan's call seemed insignificant at this moment, but eventually she still answered.

"Lucy, if Ethan disappeared, would you come love me?"

Ryan was breathing heavily on the other end, as if he'd just been running.

Lucy didn't catch on immediately: "What?"

Ryan repeated: "I said, if Ethan dies, can you marry me?"

"I just set fire to the chemical plant. Ethan will definitely go rescue people, so then..."

A thunderous boom sounded in the distance. Thick black smoke billowed upward.

The blood-red light on the horizon was like an extremely dangerous signal, shining into her eyes and gripping her heart hard.

She suddenly let out a terrible scream, tears quickly flooding her eyes: "Ethan!"