Owned by a Rich Man |19+|

Chapter 51 - Fire!

It was a normal day.

As usual, Esther is at the Albrecht mansion.

When suddenly, she invited that they should have barbecue for their meal.

"Barbecue?" Anika asked curiously.

"It's grilled meat in skewers. It's delicious!" Esther convinced.

Anika's eyes brightened.

"Oh, I think we ate something like that at the beach! It really was delicious!" Anika remembered they had eaten something quite like that. She immediately became excited.

Esther smirked and hurriedly said.

"I don't know if you have things for barbecue here? I know how to grill!" She offered.

"I'll ask Steward Ben!" Anika hurriedly went to find the butler.

Steward Ben heard Anika's request and readily took the things they needed from the storage. He also ordered some of the servants to help carry the things over.

The ladies chose one of the gazebos in the garden, close to the south wing of the mansion.

Seeing the people bring things over, Esther ordered them.

"I can handle the grilling here. You can leave after placing the things," She said with a kind smile.

The workers did not doubt anything and readily placed the equipment and left right after.

Esther smiled in satisfaction with this. She then turned to Anika and clapped her hands.

"Let's bring this inside the gazebo and start grilling!" She cheerfully invited.

Anika, without sensing anything wrong, completely agreed and followed.

After they settled everything in the gazebo, Esther started the grill. She prepared the meat and sauce.

Anika only stood beside her, watching eagerly and also admirably at Esther busying herself. She wanted to help, and Esther just asked her to pass her some things. Still, Anika took the task seriously.

Next, Esther started the fire. Two gallons of liquid were placed together. Esther's eyes glinted while placing one of the galloons down.

She twisted something in the grill equipment.

Esther then turned around and faced Anika.

"I think I left something inside the mansion. I'll just grab it. You can watch the fire. If it already blazes up and I'm not back yet, remember to put out the fire," She reminded Anika. And as if in a hurry, she didn't wait for her to respond and directly left.

"Ah," Anika reached out to Esther, but the latter had already headed out.

She turned to the smoking grill a bit worriedly, but still kept watch.

Minutes passed, and Esther still did not come back. Anika was already anxious in her heart, but she continued to watch the grill seriously, almost not moving her eyes away.

Suddenly, she saw the flames rise up. Her heart beat nervously, and she remembered Esther's order to put out the flame.

She didn't know how. But she knows water should put it out. That was what she needed to do.

She hurriedly looked around for the water and saw two gallons of liquid on the ground. She only saw symbols on them, but because of the hurry, she just grabbed one of them.

But who knew the moment she poured the contents, the fire ablaze even more.

"Ah!" She screamed in fright, and the gallon slipped from her hand. She backed away as she watched the grill suddenly collapse on the floor.

The floor, which was wet with spilled gas from the gallon, immediately caught fire.

Anika ran away from the gazebo and could only watch as the large fire spread in the whole gazebo in horror.

And this time, Esther hurriedly came back. She also screamed in fear.

"Anika, what did you do?!" She can't help but exclaim.

Anika looked at her with a pale face.

"I didn't know, I didn't know.." She anxiously responded.

Esther hurriedly ran to the south wing and grabbed a hose. And with all bravery, she braced the flames and tried to put it out.

"Esther!" Anika called her worriedly.

She was trembling in fear as she watched Esther fight with the flames by herself.

"N, Nanny Rose, Steward Ben!" Until Anika ran to find people to help.

"Anika! What's wrong?!" Nanny Rose hurriedly came out of the kitchen when she heard Anika calling out when she came in.

"Fire, fire in the gazebo!" Anika pointed out with her trembling finger.

"What?!"

Nanny Rose hurriedly called Steward Ben, and they called the workers to quickly head to the south wing.

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Leon was in the car heading back to the company. He just had a brunch meeting with some executives.

When he got the call from Steward Ben, the car was on the road.

"What?!" His heavy voice exclaimed. He dropped the phone and immediately ordered the driver.

"Go back to the mansion. Fast,"

When he arrived, the firefighters were already there as well as the ambulance.

His heart dropped, and he immediately ran inside. He was going crazy thinking about what could have happened to his wife.

"Anika!"

Anika heard Leon's voice and turned to him, tears hanging in the corners of her eyes.

Leon immediately hugged her tight, and the pressure in his chest was released.

"Thank God you're safe.." He whispered, his voice trembling a bit.

"Esther.. she.." Anika was still in a daze, and her mind was only thinking of her friend.

Leon let go and looked at the woman on the stretcher.

"It's a good thing she only acquired a few burns. But she's suffering in suffocation," A medical staff announced.

"Fortunately, this woman had controlled the fire. If not, it would easily spread to the south wing and affect the whole mansion," A firefighter seconded. He then turned to Anika with strict eyes.

"Madame, what you did was serious negligence," He said to her, reprimanding.

"I, I didn't know, I'm sorry," Anika could only whisper, biting her lip.

"Anika, how could you pour gas in the flame? Que horror!" Nanny Rose exclaimed in exasperation as she held Esther by the stretcher. She felt pity and distress for what had happened.

"I didn't know.." Anika could only whisper in a small voice.

Leon held Anika in his arms as his brows furrowed. He turned to Steward Ben in question.

The old butler could only shake his head in helplessness.

With that, Leon knew the complication of the matter.

A cough sounded, and Esther strenuously opened her eyes.

"It's not... it's not Anika's fault.." Esther said between her coughs. She looked painfully but protectively at Anika.

"She doesn't know anything.. it's my fault, I shouldn't have left her.." She added weakly.

Anika looked at her, her heart clenching in pain.

Nanny also looked at Esther helplessly.

"You child. Still taking the blame," Nanny shook her head.

The people around also can't help but feel distressed for this woman. With all her words and deeds, who could possibly blame her?

"Hurry, let's rush her to the hospital!"

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