"When Sebastian got back, fire trucks were already there.
Seeing the ze, Sebastian clenched his fists. He walked up to Derek and asked, ""What''s going on? How did this happen?""
Derek looked worried. ""Cordelia got hold of gasoline, sent the servants away, and tried to set herself on fire in the bedroom. We don''t know her condition yet; firefighters are trying to rescue her."" Sebastian''s eyes darkened. ""How do you know she set the fire herself?""novelbin
""She video-called me before starting the fire, said some weird stuff, and then lit it on camera.""
""Sebastian, we can''t let this get out. The media will have a field day. They''ll think you imprisoned your mom for your wife. Winters Group''s stock will plummet.""
Sebastian''s expression grew colder. ""It''s probably toote. This was nned to boost Cordelia''s position and hurt Winters Group.""
Just then, a bodyguard reported. ""Mr. Winters, a bunch of reporters are outside wanting to interview you.""
Sebastian''s gaze turned icy as he saw the cameras and phones pointed at them. He realized the news had already spread online.
"""I''ve underestimated whoever''s behind this. They want to destroy the Winters Family."" Thinking this, Sebastian clenched his fists and ordered, ""The fire is dangerous. No one gets in!"" The bodyguard replied, ""Yes, Mr. Winters.""
Sebastian then turned to the fire chief. ""Give me a set of protective gear.""
The fire chief refused. ""Mr. Winters, the fire''s too intense. You''re not a firefighter; it''s too dangerous.""
Sebastian''s voice rose. ""I said give me the gear! I know theyout and can find my mom quickly.""
""Mr. Winters, it''s too risky.""
"""Don''t worry, I won''t me you if something happens.""
Under pressure, the fire chief handed over the gear and helped Sebastian suit up.
Sebastian patted Derek''s shoulder. ""I''ll get Cordelia out."" Then he rushed into the fire.
Meanwhile, the incident was trending online. [Winters Mansion on Fire, Cordelia Trapped, Suspected Abuse by Winters Family]
Netizens had mixed reactions.
[Is this a cover-up? I heard Derek''s a yboy. Is he trying to kill his wife for his mistress?]
[Never thought I''d see a scandal like this from Winters Group. Being rich and powerful doesn''t give you the right to abuse people. Poor Cordelia.]
[Cordelia''s really pitiful. Cordelia is practically running thepany while her husband is out gallivanting, and this is how they treat her? I heard she was almost beaten to deathst time for speaking out against them!]
[This might be about Joyce''s great-grandfather''s death. The old man had cancer and was dying anyway. Why me Cordelia? Sebastian''s abandoning his mom for his wife.]
Public opinion quickly turned. Posts were filled with sympathy for Cordelia and condemnation of the Winters Family. Winters Group''s stock plummeted.
In a vi out in the suburbs, a man in ck sat in a wheelchair, scrolling through posts and watching Winters Group''s stock plummet. A cold smile crept across his face. ""Sebastian, this is just the beginning. The real show is yet toe."" His assistant nodded. ""Sir, this time we''ll definitely take down Winters Group. Sebastian will be despised by everyone, and our n can move forward.""
The man grinned maliciously. ""The more Sebastian wants something, the more I want to destroy it. Let''s see how he handles this.""
He picked up a ss of wine, took a sip, and his eyes gleamed with malice. Hisrge hand gripped his numb leg tightly, memories from years ago shing through his mind.
Just then, the assistant got a call and reported, ""Sir, people on the scene said Sebastian rushed into the fire to save Cordelia.""
The man''s eyes narrowed. ""The fire is so intense, yet Sebastian dares to rush in. Is he really not afraid of death?""
He sneered. ""Since Sebastian wants to die so badly, let''s help him out. Turn the fire up.""
The assistant replied, ""Yes, I''ll have someone take care of it.""
After rushing into the fire, Sebastian headed straight for Cordelia''s room. But after searching for a while, he couldn''t find her.
A firefighter grabbed his arm. ""Mr. Winters, the gas pipeline is leaking. This ce is about to explode. We need to get out now.""
Sebastian gritted his teeth. The Winters Mansion was built to be fireproof and explosion-proof with top-grade materials. Such a fire couldn''t damage the pipelines. The gas switch would automatically activate a protection mode during a fire. A gas leak could only happen if someone manually activated the switch.
Realizing this, Sebastian knew someone was trying to kill them.
He shouted, ""Cordelia, can you hear me? Someone wants you dead. If you don''te out now, you''ll die here.""
His voice cut through the fire. After a moment, he heard Cordelia''s cries for help from the next room. ""Sebastian, I''m here. Save me.''
Sebastian kicked open the door and saw Cordelia with a wet nket over her head, hiding by the kitchen sink, which was overflowing with water.
Seeing this, Sebastian gritted his teeth. She had nned her self-rescue, hiding to let the fire escte and put him in danger. This was his own mother, willing to sacrifice everything for her goals.
Sebastian rushed over, picked Cordelia up, and at that moment, an explosion sounded from the first floor, shaking the second-floor floorboards. The walls began to copse.
A firefighter shielded Sebastian and said, ""Mr. Winters, the gas pipeline on the first floor has leaked. A second explosion is imminent. We can only jump from here. Give her to me, and you jump first."" The firefighter tried to take Cordelia, but Sebastian dodged and ordered, ""You jump first and catch her below.""
""No, if you do that, you won''t have a chance to escape.""
""Stop talking and jump.""
The firefighter knew every second counted. He rushed out of the fire and leaped down.
Sebastian saw the people below were ready and threw Cordelia to them. Just as he was about to jump out of the window, a deafening explosion echoed in everyone''s ears."