Love in Flames: It All Goes Up in Smoke

While James, Monica, and Harrison celebrated the end of Monica's flawless practice session, the neighbors who'd been alarmed by the fire were busy calling the fire station and questioning them with a frown.

"Why did you people only send a single firetruck to deal with such a major fire at Jasper Heights? Do you not take our lives and safety seriously?"

After a brief silence, the dispatcher explained, "We didn't receive any reports of a fire at Jasper Heights. Can I confirm with you that you're reporting a fire in the area? I'll send a fire crew out at once!"

In less than a minute, James' phone started ringing.

"Jasper Heights? I'm already here. No one was harmed. You don't need to send anyone else over."

The dispatcher continued speaking, but James firmly declared that he would assume full responsibility if anything happened. Once the dispatcher confirmed that no one was hurt, he decided against sending another fire crew over.

James had put the call on speaker mode, which meant that Monica caught the entire argument between him and the dispatcher.

With her brows furrowed, she made a show of apologizing.

"Will you get punished because of this, Captain Ellis? If that's the case, I'd rather resign than cause trouble for you!"

It was evident that James didn't see the determined, possessive look in Monica's eyes. He pulled the seemingly heartbroken Monica into his arms.

With a gentle tone that had long eluded my ears, James said to her, "What's the big deal? It's not worth crying your eyes out over. It's just a house. I'd be more than happy to burn down ten houses if it means you get to gain more experience."

Amused by James' exaggerated declaration, Monica laughed and hit his shoulder with her fist.

"What are you saying? Where will you and Harry stay if you burn down all those houses?"

"I can stay with you, Monica!"

Overhearing his nickname, Harrison eagerly raised his hand and expressed his fondness for Monica's house.

James wasn't mad that Harrison was fawning over Monica either. Instead, he asked why.

"Monica's house has everything, and she even lets me eat snacks! Meanwhile, that mean old witch at home doesn't let me eat anything. I like Monica a lot more."

Even though I was merely a wandering soul without a body, Harrison's childish yet cruel words still made me feel as though I'd been stabbed in the heart.

For the sake of minor things like treats, Harrison, the boy who used to sweetly declare that he loved me the most, didn't even hesitate to choose another woman over me. He even called me a mean old witch.

"You like me? Well, why don't I treat you to fried chicken today?"

After nudging Harrison's nose affectionately, Monica looked at James, who was standing in silence. She cocked her head to the side and asked, "Why aren't you saying anything? Do you not want to eat with me, Captain Ellis?"

James shook his head and silently pocketed his phone, but thanks to my keen sense of sight, I noticed that he'd been reading my chat with him. The last message on the screen was the one I'd sent just before I died.

"I'm pregnant. You're not the father."