He Chose My Stepsister, So I Chose His Brother

Isabella's POV

The west wing of the orphanage was on fire.

The flames burned furiously, consuming everything in their path, and the thick black smoke pierced through my lungs.

Children were sobbing. Some were already outside, others were trapped, and the staff tried desperately to evacuate them.

“What the hell happened here? How did this happen?” I asked frantically.

One of the staff replied, crying hard. “It's your step sister, she started the fire. She kept messing with the gas cookers in the kitchen.”

Rage surged through me, but there was no time to confront her.

“Get these children out, let me check for more!” I shouted to the staff, then I rushed into the thick smoke.

I rushed into different rooms, pulling children out. My lungs burned. My arms trembled. I couldn’t stop. My baby didn’t get the chance to live, so I would make sure these children got a chance, even if it killed me.

My legs ached and my vision blurred as I ran through the flames. The fire was spreading faster.

One by one, I helped them out.

After checking all the rooms, and making sure everyone was safe, I began making my way out, coughing as it was getting harder to breathe.

I blindly felt my way back as the smoke was too thick making it hard for me to see.

Suddenly, something slammed into me, and I stumbled back, almost falling.

“Bianca?” I choked out.

She looked disoriented, and panicked, but her eyes widened when she saw me.

“I—I didn’t mean for it to get this bad,” she coughed, trying to wave away the smoke around her. “I just wanted to scare you… I didn’t know it would spread this fast!”

“Are you insane?!” I screamed. “You set a fire in an orphanage! With children inside!”

She shook her head. “I just wanted to piss you off, because I knew how much you cared about this place.”

Before I could respond, the ceiling began to fall.

“Move!” I yelled, grabbing her arm and pushing her out of the way.

The ceiling fell before us, blocking us from the exit.

We were trapped.

Panic surged in my chest.

Bianca whimpered, stumbling back. “I don’t want to die,” she cried. “Marcus… Marcus, help!”

Suddenly, a voice yelled from outside. Marcus’s voice.

“Isabella!” he shouted from outside. “Isabella’s still inside!”

Seconds later, he burst through the smoke, with terror on his face.

His eyes landed on me instantly.

“Isabella!” he shouted, running toward me, holding two gas masks in his hands. They were from the first aid in our car.

For a second, just one second, I thought he came for me.

I thought I mattered.

Until Bianca whimpered softly.

“Marcus…” she called faintly, her voice was frail, scared, and pitiful.

He froze, his eyes widened. He hadn't known that Bianca was also inside.

“Marcus, the baby… I—I can’t breathe—”

He immediately turned away from me to rush to Bianca.

“No,” I croaked, reaching for one of the gas masks in his hands.

He yanked them away from my reach. “Bianca will need them, Isabella! What if one is faulty?!” He barked at me, his eyes blazed wildly.

I watched as he quickly placed one of the gas masks on her face, and carried her gently, holding the second gas mask uselessly in his hand.

I felt numb at that very moment. I knew he had chosen her already, but being left to die was like a slap.

His eyes met mine one last time, and I stared back into his eyes, but I felt nothing. No sorrow, no rage, just acceptance.

He swallowed, an unreadable expression crossed his face, then he turned away, disappearing with Bianca in his arms.

The flames drew closer.

I slumped to the floor, accepting my death. The heat was unbearable, and everything hurt, but I didn't move.

A sound reached my ears, but I was too weak to move. I was already losing consciousness.

Then I felt strong, gentle arms wrap around me firmly.

A deep familiar voice murmured near my ear. “I’ve got you, Isabella. Stay with me.”

I tried to look up, but I couldn’t.

“I’ve got you now… it’s alright… I’ve got you.”

I didn’t know who it was, but I let myself relax into those warm comforting arms as he whispered soothing words over and over till I finally lost consciousness.

That day, Isabella Pierce died, and a new person was born.

Marcus，One day I will make you pay for what you did to me!