The girl grinned, her golden eyes glinting with satisfaction as she drank in Ethan's terrified expression—the same expression she had worn the night before.

The flames in her hands flickered excitedly, as if mirroring her emotions, eager to consume him.

Yes.

She was going to take her revenge.Right now.

Ethan's breath came in short, shallow gasps. His body screamed at him to move, to run, to do something, but his back was already pressed firmly against the cold wall. There wasnowhereto go. His entire body trembled, cold sweat trailing down his spine, soaking his shirt, his forehead damp with fear.

Last night, for some reason, her flames hadn't harmed him. But now? He couldfeelthe heat radiating from them, the scorching air making his skin prickle, his lungs struggle to pull in oxygen.

This time, she wouldn't hold back.

"I'm going to die."

His mind raced, grasping at anything,anyplan,anyhope of escape. But he foundnone.

Fight?He barely knew how to throw a punch, let alone face someone who could wield magic. On Earth, he had never been in a real fight, never been pushed into a life-or-death struggle. And now, in this unfamiliar world, in a body thatwasn't even his... what chance did he have?

No.If he tried to fight, he would lose.

His hands clenched into fists.But I have to do something. If I don't—

The girl took another step forward, slow and deliberate,savoringevery second of his fear.

Otherwise, I will definitely die.

Desperation clawed at his throat. His voice cracked as he pleaded,"Please... I'm sorry. It—it wasn't my fault! I—I—"

The moment the words left his mouth, shesnapped.

Her entire expressiontwistedwith fury.

Shelunged.

The fire around hersurged, flaring violently as her golden eyes widened with pure rage.

"Not your fault?"

A hollow, humorless laugh tore from her lips, sharp and jagged like broken glass.

"Ha... ha... ha..."

She glared at him, stepping closer, the heat of her flames forcing him topress himself even harder against the wall.

"Not your fault?"she repeated, her voice dripping with malice."Then whose fault is it?"

The air in the room grewsuffocating, thick with magic and barely contained fury.

"Was it that cowardly dog of your family?"she spat, her voice trembling with rage."The one who was stronger than me but didn't dare face me head-on? The one who ambushed me in my own home, bound me, and threw me into your bed for your enjoyment?"

Ethan's bloodran cold.

She wasn't justangry.

She wasseething.

"Or was it the mayor?"she continued, her tone sharp as a blade."The one who conveniently sent my brother away for ten days so he wouldn't be here to protect me?"

She tookanother step forward, her fire casting long, jagged shadows across the room, her presence overwhelming.

"Tell me, Ethan."Her voice dropped to a whisper, thick with venom."Who do I blame? Who should I burn?"

Ethan's mouth wentdry. He had no answer. No words that could change the storm that was about toconsume him.

Because in the end—

She was right.

What happened to her last night washorrible.

Ethan knew that. He couldempathizewith her, but at the same time, he knewhimself.

Hewouldn'tdo something like that. No matter what.

What happened last night hadmany factors involved.

First,he was transmigrated into this body. He hadno controlover it at the time.

Second,that damncurse—the one the system had informed him about. One of its effects was toforcehim to act in ways he wouldn't normally.

So, in truth, it wasn'thisfault.

But she didn't know that.

And she probablywouldn't believe himeven if he explained.

Ethan swallowed hard, his throat dry as sandpaper. His eyes darted to the fire swirling around her fingers, the deadly glow reflecting in her golden irises.

"But I don't want to die."

She stepped closer.

The heat was unbearable now.

Hestammeredout,"I... I unbound you."

Shefroze.

Ethan saw her eyes flicker with something—hesitation? He latched onto it.

"I unbound you,"he repeated, breathless."If you wanted, you could have pushed me away."

Her brows furrowed.

For a moment, she looked...stunned.

Ethan didn't waste the opportunity.

"You could have stopped me,"he pressed.

He thought—no, he swore—that he sawthe faintest hint of red on her face.

But was it from the fire... or something else?

It didn't matter. He had to keep going.

"So... it shouldn't really be my fault, right?"

The flames around herflickered, the intensity lowering slightly as she cast her gaze downward.

"...You did do that,"she muttered.

Ethanfelt hope.

An opening.

"And your fire,"he said carefully,"it didn't burn me. Even when it touched me."

She blinked, looking down at her hands, her voice softer,"Yes... it didn't burn you then."

Ethan exhaled, relief flooding through him.

Maybe—justmaybe—he could get out of this without being burned alive.

But then—

She lunged.

Ethan's breath caught in his throat as her eyesblazedwith renewed fury.

"But let's see if it works now."

Her handslammedagainst his chest—right over hisheart.

This time—

Hefelt it.

A searing, unbearablepain.

Fire.

Burning himfrom the inside out.

Ethan'sscreamtore through the room, raw and agonized, his back arching, his fingersclawing at her wristin a desperate attempt to pry her hand away.

His vision blurred, his bodyconvulsingin sheer agony. His breathhitchedas he choked on a ragged gasp, his mind blank with white-hot pain.

Shelaughed.

A dark, mocking laugh.

She wasenjoyingthis.

"Ha... ha... ha...."

She tilted her head, watching him with cold, predatory amusement.

Drinking in his suffering.

Just like she had suffered.

"You think I'm stupid?"she sneered, pressing her palm evenharderagainst his chest, making him cry out again.

Her golden eyes gleamed withcruel satisfaction.

"Whatever happened last night for whatever reason my falmes didn't burn you it doesn't matter."

Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.

"You will pay. I will make sure you'll wish you were dead."

Ethan's world was nothing butfireandpain.

And this time—

There wasno escape.

----------------

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