That night, Nathalia's message haunted my thoughts.
[Do you believe me when I say I can ruin your engagement banquet?]
Sleep eluded me. I tossed and turned while Mathias never returned to the bedroom.
The next day, at the engagement banquet, Mathias appeared distracted.
His attention drifted, and when his friends congratulated him, he barely reacted, a stark contrast to the eager, confident man he had been in front of the cameras just days ago.
His friends exchanged knowing glances, their eyes betraying a silent understanding. The whole world seemed to know who this engagement was really for.
Suddenly, a shout pierced the air.
"A fire has broken out in the Maplewood Heights apartments!"
I froze. I recognized the name immediately. Nathalia lived in Maplewood Heights.
Mathias snapped, his hand lashing out to grab the speaker by the collar.
"Where did you say the fire was?!"
The guest recoiled, visibly shaken, fumbling for their phone to show the footage.
"Maplewood Heights."
The video was blurry, but there, standing at the balcony’s edge, was a delicate, fragile figure swaying like a ghost in the wind.
"All the other residents have been evacuated, except for one woman… still trapped inside…"