“Calm down, miss. Please don’t make any sudden or big movements. We’ll definitely save the two of you.”
“I don’t want to stay in here anymore! I want to get out!”
Yet, Shirley refused to listen to them. It was as if she’d lost her mind.
Yvonne couldn’t take it anymore. Slapping Shirley hard on the arm, she snapped, “Stop it! I don’t want to die because of you!”
Clutching her stinging arm, Shirley froze immediately. Standing right at the front of the elevator, she looked at Jared, who was standing behind the firefighters, and begged, “I’m hurt, Mr. Ford. I–I think I’m going to suffocate to death soon.”
Just then, the firefighters asked, “Who should we pull out first?”
Jared could see the tearful Shirley as well as Yvonne, who was standing calmly behind Shirley. It felt as though he was staring down imperiously at her.
“If you want to come out first, tell me now, Yvonne.”
He was giving her a chance to make a deal with him. He wanted her to give in. He wanted her to admit that she was wrong and dutifully return to him.
Jared didn’t think he was taking advantage of the situation. He was merely giving her a chance.
“Mr. Ford…” Shirley cried out with a hurt expression.
However, Yvonne calmly said to the firefighters, “Save her first.
11
She wasn’t being selfless in any way. She merely didn’t want Shirley to throw a fit and put their lives at more risk if she were to be rescued first. On the contrary, she’d be far safer in the elevator once Shirley was gone.
“Is that the choice you’ve made, Yvonne?” Jared questioned.
He couldn’t believe that she had rejected him after he’d offered to save her first! Was she still doing it on purpose, or did she just not know when to stop kicking up a fuss?
“I’ll save you right away, Shirley.” Enraged by Yvonne’s response, Jared chose to save Shirley instead. She was thrilled by his decision.
The firefighters managed to pry the elevator doors open. However, worried that the elevator couldn’t take any additional weight, they had to lie down on the floor and pull the women out of the elevator.
Shirley eagerly scrambled to climb out, but she suddenly cried out, “Oh, no! My skirt…”
She was wearing a pencil skirt, and the position she had to be in as they pulled her out meant that she would most likely end up exposing herself. As a result, she started tugging at her skirt.
“Please stop moving around so much, miss. It’s very dangerous,” a firefighter reminded her.
Yvonne couldn’t take it anymore. She reached out to hold Shirley’s skirt down for her. Just as the firefighters pulled Shirley out of the elevator, she glanced at Yvonne and purposely kicked her.
Losing her balance, Yvonne ended up banging her arm against the elevator door. Immediately, herarm stung so painfully that it ended up going numb.
At the same time, thanks to her restless movements, Shirley ended up getting a cut on her calf. As soon as she saw the blood, she started crying.
“I’m hurt! It’s so painful, Mr. Ford…”
Jared hurried over to hold Shirley steady while the firefighters started rescuing Yvonne. As they pulled her out of the elevator, the force exerted on her injured arm caused her even more pain.
“Are you hurt, miss?”
“I’m fine. Thank you for your help,” Yvonne said as she slowly calmed down her breathing.
Jared looked over at Yvonne. He wanted to check on her too.
Resting against him, Shirley wept pitifully, saying, “I feel like I’m going to faint, Mr. Ford. Thank goodness you’re here. Who knows what would’ve happened?”
In stark contrast to Shirley, Yvonne expressed her gratitude to the firefighters instead.
Jared frowned in displeasure. He felt as though she did it on purpose to vex him. Why wasn’t she pouting and venting to him the way Shirley was?
It seemed like he hadn’t given her the silent treatment long enough yet.
“I’ll take you to the hospital, Shirley,” Jared said as he held her protectively and started leading her off.
Hearing that, Yvonne glanced at the document she was holding and hurriedly ran after them.
“Wait a minute, Mr. Ford ”
At last, Jared heard the words he’d been waiting for, and a smug smile appeared on his face. He knew Yvonne wouldn’t be able to hold herself back
1/2
Chapter 14
This was precisely what she should be doing. As long as she obediently did as he wanted, he would give her another chance.
“Are you hurt too? Do you want to go to the hospital?” Jared asked.
He waited for Yvonne to seek a hug and some comfort from him.
