The Ruthless CEO's Revenge Wife
Chapter 131: The Burning Cruelty

Chapter 131: The Burning Cruelty

"STOP IT!" Hannah screamed, racing toward the fire.

Jean’s eyes widened as her heart dropped into her stomach. "What the hell...?!"

She slammed on the brakes, flung the door open, and bolted out.

Emma wasn’t far behind.

The flames were licking the corners of a suitcase... her suitcase. The scent of burning leather and fabric hit her like a punch.

And standing right there, shirt sleeves rolled up, holding a whiskey bottle... was Alex Adams.

Jean’s older brother.

Her blood.

Her enemy.

"You’ve lost your damn mind!" Jean shouted, charging at him, shoving him back. "What do you think you’re doing?!"

Alex stumbled slightly but didn’t flinch. His eyes were bloodshot, lips curled in a sneer. "You think you can just walk away? Give our company to that Kingsley bastard? You think you’re free now?"

Jean’s fists clenched, the fire crackling behind her like an omen.

"I had every right to my own shares. But you guys never gave me a seat in the boardroom and never let me use any money from it. I gave myself freedom. And no matter what you burn..." she hissed through gritted teeth, "you’ll never destroy me."

Emma reached her side, and so did Hannah, eyes wide and scared.

The help rushed to put out the flames.

But the real fire now... was in Jean’s eyes.

"Emma, take Hannah away," Jean said coldly, her voice slicing through the chaos like a blade.

Emma nodded without protest, immediately taking Hannah by the arm, shielding her from the heat and hostility radiating in the air.

"Come on," Emma whispered urgently, dragging the stunned girl away as Jean stood like a lioness before the burning wreckage of her memories.

Jean turned to the help. "Recover whatever you can. Save the remaining boxes."

Just then, Alex’s condescending voice sliced through the tense air.

"Who is she?" His eyes followed Emma and Hannah, glinting with cruel curiosity. "A new puppy?"

Jean’s head snapped to him. "She’s Logan’s sister, you dimwit!"

Her voice boomed with such authority that the help who were taking things away from the fire froze.

Alex’s eyes lit up with malicious amusement. "Oh? Then maybe I should’ve hurt her more," he sneered, "as revenge for that punch Logan gave me."

Jean’s entire body trembled with rage.

"You dare touch her again and I swear..." she took a step forward, fists clenched, "I will throw you into the damn fire myself."

But Alex... deranged, unhinged... only laughed darkly.

"You know the difference between you and me, Jean?" he said, stepping closer, his voice low and venomous. "You’re all bark. No bite."

Jean narrowed her eyes. "Try me."

But in the blink of an eye, before she could even register it... Alex lunged.

He shoved her.

Hard.

Jean stumbled backward... straight into the burning pile of half charred luggage.

"Jean!" Emma’s scream echoed from a distance.

The heat seared her skin, flames licking dangerously close.

Jean’s body hit the scorched suitcase with a loud thud, and for a terrifying second... everything went white.

But she didn’t scream.

Not once.

Because fury blazed hotter than the fire around her.

The fire didn’t touch her soul, but it tried.

Jean hit the ground with a dull thud beside the roaring flames. Heat rushed at her face, and for a second, her breath caught. The edge of her sleeve sparked... bright orange flickers crackling up the fabric.

"Jean!" Hannah’s terrified cry echoed across the estate.

But Jean didn’t cry. She didn’t scream.

She pushed up, coughing, the smoke clinging to her throat.

Her arm slapped the ground, snuffing dirt onto the spreading fire on her sleeve, but it kept growing. The pain was real... but she had felt worse.

Then Emma’s coat slammed onto her arm.

Emma’s eyes wide and panic stricken, beat the fire out with her own trembling hands, tears glossing her vision. "You’re okay. You’re okay, Jean," she chanted, not knowing if it was for Jean or herself.

_____________________________

Smoke curled through the air, thick and stinging. Jean lay on the gravel, her sleeve catching fire, her body jolting with pain.

Hannah stood frozen for a second... just one awful second... before she jolted into action.

She screamed for help, tears pouring down her cheeks, and then... her hands shaking... She grabbed her phone and hit Logan on the speed dial.

The moment he picked up, her voice cracked like glass.

"Logan!"

He was caught off guard, his tone casual at first. "Hannah? What’s wrong? Are you all..."

"It’s Jean!" she sobbed. "It’s Jean... she’s hurt... Alex threw her into the fire!"

Silence.

A terrifying kind of silence.

Then...

"What?" Logan’s voice dropped several octaves, calm in a way that masked a growing storm. "Tell me exactly what happened."

"She... she asked me to wait with the staff while she and Emma went to get the cars. And Alex... he... he set her stuff on fire and when she yelled at him, he just... he pushed her into it! I saw it! Her sleeve caught fire, Logan! Emma’s trying to help but... Jean’s hurt! Badly!"

A low, vicious breath hissed through the line.

"Is she awake?"

"She... she was, but she passed out. Emma’s got her in the car now. We’re taking her to the hospital but I don’t... Logan, I don’t know what to do..."

"Listen to me." His voice was sharp. Controlled. Dangerous. "Don’t go to the public hospital. Take her to Crestview. That’s the private one I told you about, remember? I’ll call ahead. They’ll be ready. Just get her there. You understand?"

"Yes yes yes... okay, okay... Logan..."

"Hannah."

"...Y-Yes?"

"You didn’t fail her. You called me. You’re getting her help. Now stay calm and drive. I’ll meet you there."

He hung up.

_______________________________

Behind the chaos, a door slammed open.

Darla.

Derek.

And Morris Adams stepped out.

"What the hell is going on?" Darla’s shrill voice broke the moment.

Emma snapped around, grateful for a moment... until she saw Morris’s face. Cold. Calculating.

"Dad!" she yelled, "Call the ambulance! Jean’s hurt!"

But he didn’t move.

Didn’t flinch.