Fifty Strikes and I'm Out

When I hear my boyfriend, Terence Bowen, is trapped in a house fire, I immediately rush back to save him.

However, after dragging him out with all my strength, I realize it's just a dummy.

Laughter erupts from the house next door.

"Ariana Brock is such a fool! She fell for it again!"

Through a half-open window, I spot Terence lounging on the couch, casually scrolling through his phone. He looks completely fine.

"That's the 47th prank we've pulled on her. Three more to go and we're done."

"Serves her right. She shouldn't have stolen Bethany Howard's scholarship. Bethany is the one Terence actually cares about. That's why he decided to fake a relationship with Ariana to get revenge 50 times over. Too bad the game will end soon."

I bend over, gasping for air.

All this time, the relationship I've worked so hard to protect is nothing but a game to them.

I stood outside the door, trembling uncontrollably.

Both of my arms were covered in burns from the fire. They hurt so badly I couldn't even lift them.

I stared at the dummy on the floor. The laughter coming from inside the room kept echoing in my ears.

"Ariana Brock is such a fool. Do you think she'll go back in for a second try? After all, she just dragged out a dummy."

"Of course she will. Remember when we told her Terence was trapped in the school? She broke into every locked room and ended up paying 80,000 dollars in damages."

"Exactly. A broke girl like her trying to play savior. What a joke."

Terence Bowen cut them off, his voice indifferent.

"That's enough. I already called the fire department. Don't let her die for real. We're not done having fun yet."

The words "Not done having fun" echoed in my ears like a curse, making my legs weak.

It wasn't until the paramedics lifted me onto a stretcher and put an oxygen mask over my face that I finally came back to my senses.

When my arms scraped against the edge of the stretcher, the sharp pain made me curl up instinctively.

An attentive medic noticed. She bent down and asked gently if I was in pain.

I felt like I'd found somewhere to finally let it all out. My eyes burned as I replied, "It hurts so much."

It wasn't just the physical pain. My heart ached too, and I couldn't take any of it.

I kept my voice even, but it felt like it took all my strength just to speak.

I closed my eyes as my consciousness gradually faded.

In my dream, I went back to the moment I first met Terence. He was like an angel who suddenly appeared in my life. He gave me love and taught me what love was.

Although he was an untouchable wealthy heir, he still felt for my past as an orphan and protected my fragile heart.

I did everything I could to keep some balance