"I nearly lost my life back then, but I never regretted risking it to save Alexander," Carla stated proudly, her smile wide.
Rain bit her inner cheek, feeling the weight of mories she hadn’t fully processed until now. She didn’t recall every child she’d saved that night, but she vividly rembered running back and forth through the conservatory, pulling out anyone still trapped.
As she thought back, a particular mory surfaced... a boy, the heaviest one she’d had to carry out. She found him alone in the study room of the conservatory, his faint cries just audible over the crackling flas. He had been hurt, pinned by a fallen wooden shelf, and though conscious, he was too weak to move on his own.
She had pulled him up, struggling under his weight as the fire closed in. She even rembered snapping at him in frustration, "Do you want to die here with you? Try moving yourself, will you, and hold onto my back!"
Turning toward Alexander now, she frowned in realization. ’Could he have been that boy?’ She searched his face, but the details were hazy. The smoke, the chaos... it had been impossible to make out his features.
Alexander caught her gaze and gave her a small, knowing smile, as if he could read her thoughts.
"Hmm, you ntioned that day," Sanya suddenly spoke up. "I was actually one of the kids in the orphanage caught up in that fire."
Rain’s stomach clenched as she noticed the mischievous glint in her friend’s eyes, sensing exactly where Sanya was heading.
"Really?" Aunt Ava interjected, her tone surprised.
Mrs. Sumr joined in with a warm smile. "Yes, Sanya grew up at Haven Orphanage. She’s one of those we’re incredibly proud of. She worked so hard and even managed to put herself through school," she said, her voice full of pride.
Sanya shook her head modestly. "Actually, it’s all because of Rain. She supported through everything, like a sister... No, more like a mother. She worked overti, just so I’d have extra money to continue my studies."
Everyone murmured, admiration directed at Rain.
Sanya continued, sharing mories of their childhood and how Rain had been her constant support.
"To have done all that at such a young age, you’re remarkably talented," Mr. Arlan praised.
Rain blushed and replied humbly, "I couldn’t have done it alone. My Aunt lanie was always there to support . I had friends like Sanya working hard alongside , and Cliff managing my savings. He invested it all wisely..." Her cheeks flushed a little as she explained.
Sanya’s expression turned serious. "About that fire at the orphanage... sothing has always felt off to . I was there, and I rember every mont as the kids were rescued."
"What do you an?" William asked, curious.
"I rember only Rain going back and forth, rescuing kids trapped in the conservatory. There was also a girl with blonde braids, dressed in gold with white flowers, who was pushing through everyone to get to the exit first..."
Sanya turned, locking eyes with Carla. "Weren’t you that girl in the gold dress, with butterfly clips in your braid?"
A collective gasp spread across the room at Sanya’s words. Alyssa, her expression hardening, shot up from her seat. "Please, be careful with your statents! What exactly are you implying? Are you saying that Carla would push children aside to save herself? Carla wouldn’t do that!" Alyssa’s voice was laced with both anger and disbelief, her glare fixed on Sanya.
But Sanya didn’t flinch. She remained calm, her tone unwavering. "But that’s what I witnessed that day. Carla... she stepped on one of the girls without a second thought, just so she could get out first. She was pulling kids out of the way, pushing ahead, as if only her escape mattered."
Sanya’s gaze shifted to Carla, who was still silent, her face pale. "How could she have saved Xander when she was already out of the fire by then?"
The room fell into a heavy silence. It was as if everyone was holding their breath, waiting for Carla’s response.
Lucian’s voice cut through the silence. "Are you saying Carla didn’t save Xander that day?"
Sanya simply shrugged. "I’m just sharing what I rember. All of us kids from the orphanage saw it... Rain was the one pulling everyone out. And I distinctly recall that blonde girl in the fancy dress. She was the first to escape and just stood by while Rain helped everyone else."
Carla’s face went pale, and she stamred, "Why are you doing this? I saved Xander that day, and he knows it." She looked desperately at Alexander. "You rember, don’t you? We were in the sa ambulance when you woke up. I saved you!"
Sanya shook her head, her voice calm but firm. "I’m not trying to ruin the night, and I respect Mrs. Sumr and Mr. Arlan deeply. But I believe the truth matters, especially after hearing Carla claim she saved Alexander’s life. It’s not right to take credit for sothing so important if it isn’t true."
The tension grew thick. Carla’s face darkened as she spat, "Are you calling a liar? How dare you!"
Ignoring Carla’s anger, Sanya turned to Alexander and asked, "I did see you both taken in the sa ambulance, Xander, but that doesn’t prove who saved you. Can you rember anything specific about the person who did?"
Rain turned to Alexander, waiting for him to answer. She was still unsure if he was the boy she had saved that day, but if he was, surely he would recognize sothing about his savior, right? He had been conscious when she carried him on her back. Couldn’t he at least rember her hair color, or how it had been tied up in a ssy bun at the ti?
Carla’s voice trembled with frustration as she turned her gaze toward Xander, her eyes pleading. "You’re doing this because Rain is your friend!" she snapped, her face flushed with anger. "I risked my life to save Xander!" She paused, her chest heaving with anger.
Then, turning directly to Xander, she practically shouted, "Xander, do sothing! Why are you letting your wife’s friend embarrass like this?! This is not fair! She’s making look like I’m a liar!"
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