Chapter 234: Don’t Sleep

Dave wanted to go after her, but as soon as he tried to move closer, a warning instinct kicked in, making him freeze.
He remembered how his father had rushed to the car without caring about the danger. The painful memory of his father dying in an explosion played in his mind, hurting his heart. He felt like his feet were stuck in place, unable to move forward.
At that moment, a figure rushed past Dave and ran into the burning building.
Dave was shocked to realize it was Blake who had just dashed inside.
Just like his father had done before, Blake had bravely gone into the flames to save his mother. Meanwhile, Dave stood frozen in place, filled with fear.
It felt like a heavy weight had struck his heart. He watched the fire grow larger and larger. The man who usually stayed calm and strong was now facing a huge struggle within himself that he couldn’t overcome.
The memory of the car explosion cast a dark shadow over his mind, leaving him overwhelmed with fear.
Time seemed to stand still for Dave. He was surrounded by chaos-people running around, fire trucks blaring, and firefighters everywhere.
Inside the building, Bianca didn’t waste a moment. She ripped a piece of cloth to cover her face and rushed into the room where her mother was trapped.
Madison lay on the bed, appearing as if she were in a deep sleep.
Before the flames could reach the bedroom, thick smoke had already filled the room.
With every step, Bianca struggled to breathe, but her courage to reach her mother kept her moving forward.
She pressed her lips together and reached out to her mother.
“Mom…” Bianca’s voice was hoarse. As soon as she spoke, thick smoke poured in, making her cough and struggling to breathe.
“Mom… Wake up! Don’t sleep!”
Inside, Bianca’s heart raced with panic. She used all her strength to pull her mother closer, but her vision started to fade, and she felt herself getting weaker.
Exhausted, Bianca couldn’t lift her mother from the bed. She collapsed onto the edge, tears pouring down her face in despair.
In her moment of hopelessness, a familiar figure appeared beside her. He helped Madison sit up from the bed.
Bianca initially thought it was Dave, but her eyes met Blake’s when she looked up.
“Blake, what are you doing here? It’s too dangerous!” Bianca shouted, her voice filled with worry.
The fire was already blocking the doorway, and everyone knew going in was risky, like stepping into a trap.
Bianca wanted to save her mother, and that made sense, but she couldn’t understand why Blake had come here, risking his life.
Blake, carrying Madison on his back, handed a wet cloth to Bianca and motioned for her to cover her mouth and nose.
Bianca took the cloth, her eyes wide with confusion as she looked at Blake.
Blake, glancing at the bedroom door, said urgently, “The fire’s spreading fast. Stay close to me. We need to leave now!”
Bianca didn’t have time for questions. She nodded quickly and held the cloth tightly over her mouth and nose.
She felt dizzy from the lack of oxygen, realizing she couldn’t hold on much longer.
“Blake,” Bianca whispered, “Promise me, if I collapse, you’ll keep going and not look back. You have to save my mother.”
Blake looked into Bianca’s eyes.
He nodded, whispering, “I won’t leave you behind.”
Then, he flung open the bedroom door and shouted, “Go, now!”
They rushed out together, the intense heat surrounding them. Bianca’s vision blurred as the flames continued to blaze.
As they neared the apartment door, Bianca’s strength gave out, and she fell.
“Bianca!” Blake shouted in panic, but his voice couldn’t reach her.
He had promised to get Madison out safely, and he was determined to keep that promise. Gritting his teeth, he moved forward with Madison on his back, silently urging Bianca to hang on.
Luckily, firefighters arrived just in time to help Blake at the stairs.
Once Madison was in their care, Blake didn’t hesitate. He turned back and rushed toward Bianca, ignoring the risks.
Behind him, the firefighters shouted and quickly followed to help.
Dave, seeing Madison being carried out by firefighters and placed in an ambulance, snapped back to reality. He hurried over, grabbed a firefighter’s arm, and asked urgently, “Where’s Bianca? Why hasn’t she come out yet?”
“Sir, we’re still conducting the rescue. We’re doing everything we can to save everyone,” the firefighter said.
Dave shook with fear at the firefighter’s words. He stared at the blaze, knowing Bianca was still trapped inside.
Everyone was working hard to rescue her. Blake had rushed into the fire without a second thought while Dave stood frozen, unable to move.
He felt utterly foolish. He had promised to protect Bianca from any danger, but now, faced with a real threat, he hesitated.
He began to question whether he really had the right to say he loved her.
Dave clenched his fists, struggling with two conflicting voices in his head.
One voice warned that going into the fire was a death sentence, pushing him toward self-preservation. Love wasn’t worth risking his life! Was he going to repeat his parents’ mistakes?
The other voice argued, “Don’t you care about her? True love means facing any danger for her. Her safety should come before your own. Otherwise, how can you say you love her?”
Dave’s mind was in turmoil. He tapped his head, trying to find some peace amidst the chaos.
Just then, he saw a figure out of the corner of his eye. Looking up, he saw Blake appearing from the building, covered in soot and with charred clothes but holding Bianca safely in his arms.
The sight was painful for Dave. He had never felt so weak and powerless as he did at that moment.
Blake caught sight of Dave standing nearby.
His gaze fell on Dave, filled with a mix of mockery and disdain.
Dave wanted to rush over and check on Bianca himself. But he knew that his hesitation had cost him that chance.
He stood there like a guilty child, paralyzed by regret and unable to act.
Even as Bianca and Blake got into the ambulance, Dave took a step forward, then quickly retreated, overwhelmed by a heavy sense of failure and guilt.
Blake waited anxiously outside the emergency room after Bianca and Madison were rushed in.
About ten minutes later, Bianca appeared from the room. She had suffered some suffocation but was expected to wake up soon after receiving oxygen.
Madison’s condition was much worse. She had inhaled too much smoke, resulting in severe brain damage from prolonged suffocation.