Chapter 389: Philip Bennett Stood Organizing Files in His Study

Philip Bennett stood organizing files in his study. He rose to pour himself a drink. His cigarette accidentally dropped onto the expensive carpet. It immediately began smoldering. He tried stamping out the small flame. But it spread rapidly instead. The fire quickly consumed everything flammable around it. Wooden furniture. Bookshelves. Piles of documents. Even the heavy drapes.

“Help!” Philip shouted desperately. “Fire! Somebody help!”

He suddenly remembered an critical contract hidden in the shelves. Three months of relentless negotiations would be destroyed. He had to save it. Philip charged through the flames toward the shelf. His sleeve caught fire. The heat seared his skin.

“Aargh!”

He cried out in agony and stumbled back. Frantically, he beat at his burning clothing. The contract was moments from being incinerated. It would be lost forever. Suddenly, a slender figure burst into the room.

“Father, get out!” Someone shoved him forcefully into the hallway. The figure dashed past him into the inferno.

It was Vanessa! Vanessa actually ran into the burning study!

“Vanessa! Come back! Get out!” Philip yelled while extinguishing his sleeve.

She ignored his shouts completely. Flames engulfed the entire room. Bookshelves groaned and collapsed around her. Burning volumes crashed at her feet. She pushed forward relentlessly. Her target was the deepest shelf. Vanessa snatched the contract from its hiding place. She also grabbed the laptop from the desk. A massive bookshelf cracked loudly overhead. It plummeted directly toward her.

“Vanessa!” Philip screamed. He tried rushing back inside.

But it was too late. The heavy shelf slammed down onto Vanessa with crushing force.

“Argh!”

She was pinned beneath the burning wreckage. Maids finally arrived with fire extinguishers. They battled the blaze furiously. Several minutes passed before the last ember died. Philip and the staff heaved the shelf off her. Vanessa’s clothes were charred. Soot blackened her face. Deep cuts marred her arms. Yet she lay protectively cradling the contract and laptop. Despite her severe injuries, the documents were completely unharmed. Philip’s eyes stung with emotion. “Vanessa! Why… why would you be so reckless?!”

“My Vanessa! Oh, my poor girl!” Helena Bennett helped lift Vanessa from the debris. She carried her out carefully.

Vanessa moaned painfully as consciousness flickered. She lay limp in Helena’s arms, dazed and confused. Her voice emerged as a strained whisper. “The contract… Father’s contract…” Though barely audible, her sole concern was the document. Helena’s heart clenched at the raw worry in her voice. “The contract is safe. You saved it,” she soothed. “Don’t speak now… The doctor is coming.” Vanessa relaxed hearing this. Her eyes fluttered shut as darkness took her.