Surviving My Obsessive Ex novel Chapter 24

William drove back in a panic, only to be met by the thick, curling smoke rising from the small courtyard, the flames shooting high into the sky.

A perimeter had been set up around the house, and firefighters were actively battling the blaze.

William’s voice cracked with desperation as he shouted, "What happened? Where’s Margaret?"

The bodyguard, his face filled with fear, rushed over and lowered his head. "Mr. Bradford, when I arrived, the fire was already fierce. I called out for Margaret many times, but there was no response, so I called the fire department."

William’s gaze locked onto the raging fire in the yard, his fists clenched tightly as though trying to convince himself, "No, Margaret won’t be hurt. She’ll be fine... Margaret will be fine..."

"Captain, we found a burned body inside!"

The firefighter’s heavy voice cut through the air, and William’s heart clenched in pain. Without hesitation, he tore through the police line and rushed toward the house.

The fire was still burning inside, thick smoke billowing everywhere. William hadn’t thought to wear a mask, and the smoke quickly stung his eyes and made him cough uncontrollably.

He saw two firefighters carrying a charred body out of the house. The remains were still wearing a piece of clothing that hadn’t fully burned. The sight made William freeze in place, his eyes bloodshot.

The fabric was the same light blue denim skirt that Margaret had been wearing that day.

"Margaret!"

William ran forward, his heart racing with hope, even as the rational part of his mind screamed that he couldn’t keep fooling himself.

Maybe this body wasn’t Margaret's, maybe someone else had died in the fire, wearing similar clothes... perhaps Margaret had escaped...

But then, as the firefighters laid the body on the ground, a small, charred token slipped from the corpse’s palm. It fell directly in front of William.

It was a piece of a "safe-keeping charm" — the same charm Margaret always wore.

A sharp, unbearable pain shot through his chest. His mind went blank as memories of his earlier words to Margaret flooded back in his mind.

"Margaret, I’ll be a bit late tomorrow. We’re going to the church to give thanks."

"The church really works. No matter what happens, never take off your safe-keeping charm. It’ll protect you."

"Margaret, I love you..."