chapter 2

Samwell avoided my gaze. "Rosalie, can we talk later? I've got something urgent."

I looked at the man I had loved my whole life, my heart feeling like it was being ripped apart. "You wouldn't save me, and now you won't even talk to me?"

Samwell stammered, unable to get a word out, until Mike and William showed up with Lotta.

"Samwell, what took you so long? Lottie’s been whining for that cake—she’s about to burst into tears."

I felt a pang seeing the little cake box in Samwell's hand. So this was his so-called "urgent matter."

The three of them noticed me and clearly got flustered.

Lotta quickly moved in front of the three men. With tears in her eyes, she pleaded with me, "Ms. Bluth, please don't blame them. If you're angry, just take it out on me."

The three men, who had looked guilty just moments before, instantly panicked. They gently pulled her back, soothing her with soft words.

"Rosalie, I know you blame me," Samwell explained, "but the situation was critical. I had no other choice."

William had the quickest temper. He used to be like a fierce little lion, always ready to defend me, right or wrong.

But this time, he stepped in front of her, shielding her. "Hey, every life counts. And besides, Rosalie, you're fine. But in our past life, Lotta was—"

"William! Shut it!" the other two yelled, cutting William off.

I ignored them. My voice shook as I asked Lotta her name.

"Ms. Bluth, my name is Lotta Parekh. My nickname is Lottie."

I let out a breath. The world spun around me.

Now I understood everything.

I remembered when Samwell had become obsessed with lotuses. So I'd designed our promise brooch as one.

Our brand was named Cor Lotus. I never thought much about it.

He even designed a new piece of lotus jewelry every year on the anniversary of the fire rescue. I'd naively thought it was to mark the day my feelings for him began.

"When you pinned that lotus brooch on me," I whispered, eyes locked on Samwell, "were you remembering our promise—or the woman you let die?"

Samwell was silent for a moment. He reached out as if to hug me. "Rosalie, I know I failed you. But I can't lose Lotta again."

My heart was bleeding, yet I wore a smile. "Samwell, we're through."

I'd always valued cleanliness. I didn't want feelings that were dirty, or people who were tainted.

Samwell stood frozen.

Before he could speak, Lotta collapsed to the floor sobbing. She began beating her fists against the floor with desperate force. In moments, blood streamed from her broken knuckles.

She said, "I’m sorry, Ms. Bluth. This is all on me. I should’ve been the one who never made it out of that fire."

The three men's faces instantly darkened. Mike turned and yelled at me, furious, "Rosalie, you need to drop this princess act. Does the whole world have to revolve around you? Lotta is lucky to even be alive."

"Apologize now!" William clenched his fists, staring at the pitiful Lotta, her knuckles bloody from beating the floor.

"Right, she got a little burn," I snapped, every word laced with venom. "While I only lost an arm and half my lungs. Poor her, huh?"

A sharp slap rang out. The slap sent me to the floor, where I slammed my right arm. The pain brought instant tears to my eyes.