Chapter 4

I didn't open the rescue record right away.

I remembered what happened fourteen years ago better than anyone.

That night, the Suttons' old warehouse caught fire.

Luna Sutton was trapped deep inside. I got through two burning steel doors and dragged her out from beside a window.

She was already unconscious by then. I covered her face with my wet jacket and carried her out on my back.

The flames burned straight through my shoulder.

When she woke up, all she remembered was the outline of someone in a gas mask.

Later, the Suttons found a rescue list that had been partly burned.

According to the list, the last person to go into the warehouse was Lucas Lowell.

From then on, Luna was convinced Lucas was the one who had saved her life.

I'd tried to explain once.

But her father told me not to upset her any further.

So I swallowed the truth for fourteen years.

Now, at last, I opened the file.

Inside was a piece of restored surveillance footage.

The image was blurry, but I could still make out the person running out of the fire with Luna on his back.

On his right wrist was a black mechanical watch.

It was the gift my mother gave me when I turned eighteen.

At the end of the video was a statement from the rescue team captain back then.

"The one who actually went into the fire and saved her was Adrian Grant."

I stared at the screen and didn't move for a long time.

So it had never been a misunderstanding.

Someone had erased my name on purpose.

I copied the files and was about to leave when my phone rang.

It was Luna.

"Lucas was in a car accident."

Her voice was shaking.

"He was hit by a car yesterday. They're trying to save him right now. The police say it was your car."

I froze.

My car had been parked in the hospital's underground garage the whole time, and only my driver and I had the keys.

Luna sounded like she was holding her emotions back.

"Did you go looking for Lucas last night? The cameras caught you."

I went quiet.

Last night, I had gone to the Sutton Group.

But I hadn't seen Lucas.

I'd only gone to pick up some documents I'd left at the office.

"Luna, I didn't hit him."

"Then come to the police station now."

She hung up as soon as she finished.

When I rushed to the hospital, the doctors were still working on Lucas.

Luna was standing outside the emergency room, her eyes bloodshot.

The moment she saw me, she strode over and slapped me across the face.

My head snapped to the side, and my ear rang.

"Adrian, why would you do this?"

I looked up at her.

"I didn't."

She glared at me.

"Your car, your fingerprints, and the figure on the security footage. Everything points to you."

"Do you believe them, or do you believe me?"

For a split second, hesitation flickered in her eyes.

Then a shrill alarm went off from the equipment inside the emergency room.

Lucas's assistant ran out, shouting, "Dr. Lowell's heart has stopped!"

Luna immediately turned and ran toward him.

I stood where I was, my cheek burning.

The police arrived soon after and took me in for questioning.

In the interrogation room, they played the surveillance video over and over.

On the screen, a man in a black jacket just like mine walked into the underground garage.

But a crucial ten minutes had been deliberately cut out of the footage.

Watching the screen, I suddenly remembered the message Lucas had sent me that morning.

[Adrian, don't think nobody knows the secret you're hiding.]

I hadn't replied at the time.

Now it was clear he'd been setting this up all along.

At one in the morning, my lawyer finally arrived.

He set a document on the table, his expression grim.

"Mr. Grant, the police found Lucas's bloodstained clothes in the trunk of your car."

I closed my eyes.

Luna's voice came from outside.

She stood at the door of the interrogation room, looking at me through the glass.

"Adrian, if you just admit it, I'll get you the best lawyer there is."

I looked up at her.

"You think I should admit it?"

Her lips had gone pale. "I just don't want you making this any worse."

I looked at her and suddenly laughed.

"Luna, I'm asking you one last time."

"Do you believe me or not?"

She didn't answer.

A few seconds later, she said quietly:

"The evidence is all right here."

I leaned back in my chair and slowly closed my eyes.

In fourteen years, I had saved her twice.

The first time, she forgot.

The second time, she chose someone else.

This time, I decided to give up.

I opened my eyes and pushed a document over to my lawyer.

"Tell the police I refuse to confess."

"And one more thing," I said, turning to look at her, my voice firm,

"Luna, our engagement is off."

On the other side of the door, her head jerked up.