Chapter 381: John Suspects the Fire
The room was ablaze.
Aurora, lying on the bed, was engulfed in flames. Sandra stood amidst the roaring fire, laughing hysterically, "Burn, let's die together with Aurora. This life is worth it, no regrets."
Sandra spread her arms wide, laughing maniacally in the fire. The flames spread to the hallway, triggering the hotel's alarm system, and the sound of sirens filled the air.
The fire was devastating and intensel, making everyone desperate to rush into the inferno to save Aurora, but it was simply impossible.
Alexander stared in horror, his hands trembling, unable to utter a single word.
Inside the fire were his two daughters.
His only two daughters.
Now, all three of his daughters were gone.
Kevin held Ashley close as they looked on in shock and disbelief at the center of the fire where Aurora was burning. The bed sheets and covers were flammable, and her body was soaked in gasoline.
There was no way to rush in and save her, and even if they could, she wouldn't survive.
Allan shouted urgently, "Everyone, move to a safe area, evacuate the hotel now."
"Aurora," Lori shouted at Aurora in the fire, her her face lit up by the flames, her blue eyes filled with guilt and anxiety, "Aurora, Aurora."
Lori wanted to go in, even if it was just to retrieve the body, she wouldn't let Aurora die without a trace.
As the flames drew close, Todd grabbed her hand and pulled her out, "Lori, do you want to die? Move to a safe area now."
Lori was on the verge of tears, "I won't go. Aurora is inside, find someone to put out the fire."
This was the first time Todd had seen Lori so frantic.
With gasoline fueling the fire, it was raging out of control. The hotel was likely to be completely burned down. Even if the fire was put out, it would be too late.
"Listen to me, we need to move to a safe place first. We can't save Aurora, do you want to die too?" Todd wrapped his arms around Lori's waist, lifted her onto his shoulder, and carried her out.
Usually looking frail, Todd now showed incredible strength, and no matter how Lori struggled, she couldn't break free.
Allan ordered the evacuation of everyone who could be evacuated, and the fire department was on its way.
Allan tried to contact John through his earpiece, but there was no response. Almost everyone had evacuated, but Jack was still there.
He stood just outside the fire, his eyes bloodshot, watching the fire destroy everything. Sandra, now a human torch, writhed in agony on the ground.
Moments ago, Sandra had been arrogant, but now, engulfed in flames, she desperately regretted her actions, reaching out to Jack, "Save me, I don't want to die."
Sandra was completely on fire, her hair and clothes burning, as she painfully staggered towards the door, "Save me!"
Jack's eyes were filled with hatred. As Sandra stumbled out, he kicked her back into the fire, "Go to hell!"
His voice was drowned out by the crackling flames, and when Allan turned around, he only saw Jack kicking Sandra back into the fire, not hearing what Jack said.
"Jack." Allan shouted sternly.
Jack looked at Allan with hatred, "This is self-defense. She's a murderer, she already killed Aurora. Mr. Jennings, do you want to see me burned to death too?"
Allan was speechless. Jack's claim of self-defense was entirely plausible.
A burning person rushing at an ordinary person could instinctively dodge or kick them away.
"Where's John? Where did he go? Aurora is burning inside, where's John?" Jack questioned Allan.
Just then, a cold, deep voice came from behind.
"I'm here."
Jack turned abruptly to see John, dressed in a groom's suit, looking sharp and handsome. Furious, Jack rushed over, "What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be in the lounge? Why was Aurora inside and you out here?"
Allan also walked quickly towards John, "Sandra set the fire, Aurora is inside, and she... can't be saved."
Everyone knew how much John loved Aurora, but when he heard that Aurora was burning inside, his face showed no reaction. He looked at the fire, where Sandra had already fallen and stopped moving, the fire consuming everything.
Seeing John's indifference, Jack became even angrier, "John, Aurora is burning to death, and you..."
"Aurora is outside the hotel, she's fine," John interrupted Jack, "The one inside is a dummy, not Aurora."
This statement surprised both Jack and Allan, but John's expression suggested he was telling the truth.
Jack immediately rushed out, and as firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire, John and Allan also moved to a safe area.
The outdoor parking lot was crowded with people who had evacuated from the hotel and curious onlookers.
Aurora stood unharmed in the parking lot, being hugged excitedly by Lori.
Seeing Aurora safe, Alexander, Dean, Kevin, and the others were overjoyed.
It had all been a false alarm.
Seeing Aurora was indeed fine, Jack ran over with a smile, "Aurora, I'm so glad you're okay, you scared me to death."
"I'm fine, Jack, are you okay?" Aurora sighed in relief seeing Jack, "I asked John to find you."
Aurora saw everyone was there except Jack, so John went in to check.
As they spoke, Allan and John also came out.
The fire raged, thick smoke billowing, as dozens of fire trucks began to extinguish the flames.
John coldly ordered, "Lachlan and Gideon, Sam and Tyler, take Lloyd and Aurora home first."
The fire wouldn't be put out anytime soon, and with Sandra dead in the fire, there was no need for everyone to stay.
Allan and John stayed behind to wrap things up, while Aurora, prioritizing the bigger picture, left with the others.
John lit a cigarette, standing outside, his eyes deep and complex as he stared at the fire scene.
Allan walked over, "What happened tonight? Wasn't Aurora supposed to be in the lounge? How did she end up with you?"
John flicked the ash off his cigarette, "Aurora and I had a backup plan. The lounge and the room next to it are connected. Everyone thought Aurora was in the lounge, but she left before the drunk driver crashed into the wall downstairs."
Allan chuckled, "You two really fooled everyone. We all thought Aurora was inside."
"The dummy was prepared before the wedding, made to look like Aurora, but..." John's brows furrowed.
Allan asked, "But what?"
"No matter how realistic, a dummy is still a dummy. If you get close enough, you'll notice something's off." John looked at Allan, his voice low, "There was an insider for Sandra in the hotel. Aurora and I intended to make Sandra think Aurora was in the lounge, just to lure her there. We didn't expect Sandra to set the fire and go down with it."
Allan understood, "You mean, since Sandra entered the room, she would have realized the Aurora inside was a dummy. If it was a dummy, why set the fire and go down with it?"
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