Three Tracker Alerts Led Me To Uncover My Whole Family’s Secret Betrayal Chapter 05

Three Tracker Alerts Led Me To Uncover My Whole Family’s Secret Betrayal Chapter 05

Chase stumbled and fell three times before he made it back to that yard.

The fire reflected in his pupils like a nightmare.

Smoke burned his throat. He coughed, tears streaming.

He didn’t hesitate–he tried to charge straight in.

Neighbors who’d come out to watch grabbed him.

“Are you crazy? You’ll die in there!”

Chase fought them, sobbing.”

“I have to go–Mara’s still in there!”

They didn’t let go.

“The fire department’s already inside. If there’s anyone, they’ll get them out. You’ll only make it worse.”

The others caught up.

Their faces were red from the heat, but their expressions were twisted with dread.

Eileen Holden collapsed to her knees.

“Mara–our Mara–is she still in there?”

Walter Holden kept it together, but his whole body was shaking.

“No. No, Mara was in the yard. We didn’t tie her legs. If she saw the fire, she would’ve run.”

They all scanned the crowd.

No Mara.

Some neighbors spoke up, hesitant.

“We came as soon as we saw the flames. We didn’t see anyone come out. Didn’t hear anyone call for help either.”

Trent’s face went chalk–white. He remembered glancing back as they left,

“When we left… my sister was on the ground. She looked like she was out cold.”

They all recalled it now–the chaos, the shoving. Mara had fallen.

But they’d all been so focused on Piper that no one had checked if Mara was even conscious.

A neighbor tried to comfort them

“Maybe she got out before I got here. Don’t lose hope–fhrey’re fighting the fire now.”

Sasha steadied herself.

“Okay—even if Mara blacked out, the smoke would’ve woken her up.”

The tension eased a fraction, but their eyes stayed locked on the flames.

Piper, who’d been silent, coughed and tugged at Chase’s sleeve.

“Chase, the smoke’s awful. Can we wait somewhere else?”

No one answered.

She tried again, louder.

Chase finally turned, and glared at her.

“Then go somewhere else. Mara could be dying in there. We don’t have time to coddle you.”

Piper flinched. She lowered her head, but her eyes burned with resentment.

Why? Whenever anything happened to Mara, they all ran back to her.

It had taken her so long to win them over.

The best outcome now–Mara burned to death in that fire.

Then she’d never have to compete again.

She stared into the flames, her own jealousy burning even hotter.