Chapter 2 He's Here

Sophia's POV

"Jared, how could you do this?" I collapsed, dropping to my knees.

There were no other firefighters in sight. With no other choice, I began to dig through the rubble with my bare hands. My nails tore, and blood streaked my hands, but I couldn't stop. Molly needed me.

My hands throbbed, and my head spun with dizziness. Just when I felt I might pass out, a metal pipe suddenly appeared in front of me.

"Ma'am, do you need help? Wait, Sophia?" A familiar voice sounded from behind me.

"Alexander?" I looked up, stunned to see him there.

"I'm back in town on business. Forget about this," he said, quickly wedging the pipe under a massive stone beside Molly. "Maybe this will work."

I stood beside him and steadied the pipe with all my strength. Finally, with a heavy, gut-wrenching sound, we managed to pry the huge rock off together.

"Mommy..." Molly's soft voice whispered as she smiled up at me from under the rubble, her hand going limp.

Even so, she still clutched that plush bear, the one she'd planned to give to Jared.

"Don't sleep, sweetheart. Stay with me," I leaned in, wrapping her in my arms. "Don't leave me, sweetheart."

...

Two hours later, Molly was admitted to the hospital. She lay unconscious on the bed, pale and motionless.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry." The doctor's voice was somber. "Your daughter was buried under the debris for a long time. Her condition is critical."

"No..." I started to sob, the weight of everything crashing over me.

After a few minutes, I forced myself to calm down, though bitterness welled up inside me.

"How ironic!" I laughed bitterly.

Jared was a great firefighter. Every time there was a fire, he was on the front lines, saving families and giving people hope.

In daily life, he was the same, always helping others wherever he could, shining his warmth and light on everyone around him.

Everyone praised him, and our married life had always been good.

Jared was handsome, tall, and an incredibly caring husband. He'd make me breakfast, bring me little surprises after work, and always plan something special for anniversaries—flowers, candlelit dinners, moonlit walks. We had a life filled with beautiful memories. It felt like a perfect dream.

But then, Charlotte came back. Everything had changed since then.

Jared's first love, freshly divorced and struggling, returned to town with her daughter. I felt sympathy for her, so every time Jared went to help her out, I supported him.

But slowly, things changed. Jared's focus shifted. The last time Molly invited us to her school's family day, Jared claimed he was too busy with work.

Yet, I saw him there, holding hands with Charlotte and Mia, laughing as they strolled around the campus.

Molly could only stay in the corner, watching other kids play with their parents. Her face was filled with disappointment.

Snapping back to the present, I sighed and looked down at Molly's sleeping face.

Her brow was furrowed. Even in sleep, she seemed unsettled. I bent down and kissed her gently on the forehead.

"Who's going to help us now?" I whispered to the empty room. "Jared, you need to take responsibility. You're Molly's father, for God's sake."

I dialed his number, my hands trembling.

"Sophia, I'm so sorry," Jared said sincerely. "I wish I could be there, but you know how demanding my job is."

"Jared, I need that helmet," someone called out in the background.

"Sorry, it's a bit noisy here," Jared said gently.

But he had no idea what he was missing.

"Can't you ask for some time off or arrange something with a coworker? Jared, your daughter..." I began, but the line went dead.

"Mommy, was that Daddy?" Molly's weak voice startled me.

She looked up, eyes pleading.

The machines in the room beeped louder as her heart was starting to falter.

"I want to see him," she murmured, her face turning paler. "I haven't seen Daddy in so long."

Her words tore at me, and I clenched my fists.

'No, I have to try again. Jared needs to be here,' I thought, calling him again.

"Sophia?" He sounded surprised this time.

"Come to the children's hospital, Jared," I said, my voice shaking. "I'm begging you. The doctor said Molly's condition was bad."

There was a moment of silence. Then he said, "Don't do this, Sophia. Don't lie to guilt me into abandoning my responsibilities. There are people out there who need me."

"I'm not lying. Molly's really..." I said urgently, but he cut me off.

"I'll make it up to you both. You're everything to me. I would never abandon you. Please believe that," he said. "Tell Molly I love her. Always."

And then he hung up.

I found it hard to believe. He thought I would lie about Molly's life.

Steel had pierced her body, and her organs were failing. The doctors had warned me that her chances were slim. Yet, Jared still refused to visit Molly in the hospital.

I sank to the floor, wrapping my arms around myself as sobs wracked my body.

Just then, a shadow fell across me. I looked up, hope surging as I thought it might be Jared.

I stood and forced myself to follow, calling out, "Jared!"

But he rushed past, not even glancing my way. He had lied.

Fury coursed through me, making my body tremble. He was right there in this hospital, yet he wouldn't spare even a moment for Molly.