Maybe

Chapter 14 Still Burning

_Nina_

"Where am I going to sleep tonight? Since I have to stay with you," Ethan exclaimed with a mischievous grin, bouncing onto the bed. I shot him a skeptical look. "What do you mean?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He smirked and patted the empty space beside him. "Come on, Nina, roomies share everything," he teased, trying to coax me onto the bed. I folded my arms defiantly. "Absolutely not. I'm not sharing a bed with you," I insisted firmly, but he countered with a playful pout and those irresistible puppy-dog eyes.

Oh, how cute! No, Nina, don't fall for that! Ichided myself.

"Nice try, Ethan" scolded silently.

"I'm sleeping on the couch," I declared, starting to walk towards the living room. Suddenly, he was right behind me, catching my hand and gently turning me to face him. "We should at least be in the same room," he suggested with a hint of stubbornness.

"Never," I shot back, trying to maintain my resolve. Concerned for his comfort, I added, "I'll sleep on the floor; you take the bed."

"Then let's sleep together?" he teased, and I playfully withdrew my hand, giving him a mock glare before heading towards the living room. He caught up to me, laughter in his voice. "I was just kidding. You'll catch a cold out here. Take the bed," he reassured me, guiding me gently into the room.

I placed his bedroll carefully on the floor and settled onto the bed, feeling the softness beneath me. After a few moments of quiet, I turned to him and asked, with genuine concern in my voice, "Are you comfortable? Is there anything you need?"

"Yeah, I want you in my arms," he teased once more, his playful remark causing a rush of warmth to color my cheeks. "Shut up," I murmured, though I couldn't help but smile, knowing he could hear the amusement in my voice.

As the night wore on, I drifted off to sleep, and I don't remember much else that happened afterwards; I was already lost in dreams.

_Third Person_

A man standing near the door caught sight of Ethan and quickly dashed away to avoid being seen by him. Ethan remained unaware of the man's presence as he carefully scrutinized the door. Satisfied, he pressed the doorbell and waited.

After a brief pause, the door opened, and they entered. "This is proceeding exactly as planned," the man muttered to himself, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. He took out his phone and dialed a number, making a call.

"Your daughter is quite frightened, but sending Ethan was a mistake," he remarked over the phone.

A woman on the other end responded anxiously, "If she gets hurt—"

"Oh, I was just planning to scare her. Don't worry. I'll wait a few more days to savor the moment," he interrupted callously.

"Don't you dare do anything like that again! I'll sue you," she warned firmly, her voice filled with determination.

"Oh, I love to have fun," he began, his tone dripping with disdain. "But let's not forget about her father. Remember what he did? When the fire was raging through the entire house, and his friend warned him not to enter, but he went in anyway to save her."

His voice trembled with remembered tragedy. "What a scene it was. Your damned husband is burning, and her father is just standing there, helpless. I never knew he had a daughter who could be even more beautiful, his one and only child," he sneered.

"Let's see what's so important about her that everyone was willing to risk everything to save her," he added, his eyes narrowing with malice.

In a cherished memory from the past:

"You really did an excellent job! I was so proud of you, my friend," Nina's father praised warmly.

"Really, Dad?" 6-year-old Nina responded with wide-eyed innocence.

At that moment, someone entered the room with a playful tease, "Oops, I barged in without permission!" Nina giggled at his clumsiness.

"Go play outside with Chris and Aiden," her father instructed her, and Nina eagerly joined her friends.

The man who had entered sat down beside Nina's father and remarked with concern, "Mr. Michael, you really should keep your daughter safe. Being a girl, everyone's eyes are on her."

Nina's father nodded thoughtfully, his protective instincts stirred by the reminder of the world's gaze on his beloved daughter.

           Nina's father glanced at him and chuckled, "I know you, Mr. Harry; no need for all the formality." Harry grinned in response, "Oh, come on, that's my friend!" They shared a laugh.

Later, Michael stepped outside to check on the children. He noticed Nina darting inside and asked her, saying, "Careful, sweetheart. Where are you rushing off to?" Nina replied with a mischievous smile, "I'm thirsty, Dad," before disappearing inside. "She's such a playful one," Michael thought fondly.

He joined Aiden and Chris in playing, and when Chris ran home to grab some toys (since they lived on the same street), everything seemed peaceful. But soon, an unmistakable scent reached Michael's nose.

Fire? Nina? Harry!?

"After the incident, the scent of smoke still lingers in my memories, a poignant reminder of that tragic day. I remember vividly how my father warned us not to enter the house, yet it burned down completely. Why did Nina's father go in to save both of them, only to leave Harry behind? Why? What could possibly be more important than saving everyone?"

"He named Chris, of all people, as the one to inherit all the money and documents!" the man exclaimed angrily. "I can't wait to make you all pay for this!"

"Aiden! He's your—" the woman began, her voice filled with desperation and concern.

"I had really hoped Harry and Michael would meet their end together, but damn, my dad was too overprotective! Nina was—and still is—my goal. None of my plans worked out, but now they will. I'll bring all the birds into the same cage."

"I'm ashamed to be your mother! You destroyed happiness for money! Let me go! When I get out of here, I'll sue you!" The woman's voice trembled with anger as she spoke.

"You had a wonderful time at your daughter's wedding without even inviting me, her own brother. Why does no one know about me? Well, I'm back now, and I intend to make my presence felt. Guess who's next on the list? It seems Hannah is my next target. Ha-ha-ha!"

With a sharp click, he ended the call and strode purposefully towards a sleek black sedan parked nearby. Sliding into the driver's seat, he muttered under his breath, "Did you manage to locate Nina's parents?" A voice from the back seat responded solemnly, "No, as soon as she caught wind of our approach, she fled the country."

"She's a coward, abandoning her own daughter like that," he remarked bitterly.

"But I have a feeling she's planning something," the voice countered. "Those CCTV cameras in front of her house—they weren't there before."

"What!? Oh no, we need to get out of here. Damn it! How did I not see this coming?"

"Harry, hold onto me. We can get through this together!" Harry forcefully pushed Michael and Nina towards the door, his last words echoing in Michael's ears: "Keep them safe for me."

Michael cradled the unconscious Nina in his arms, a mysterious box lying nearby, as they hurriedly fled the scene.