My Husband the Firefighter Let My Paralyzed Father-in-Law Burn

My father-in-law, Robert Johnson, who was completely paralyzed, was trapped in a raging fire.

My husband, Michael Johnson, a fire captain, let a newly hired intern lead the rescue instead.

The intern’s hands were trembling so badly that she couldn’t even open the fire extinguisher.

She pouted, spread her hands helplessly, and said, “Captain Johnson! Please help me!”

Michael didn’t rush to open the extinguisher. Instead, he used his sleeve to wipe the ash from the tip of her nose.

The flames surged upward, quickly surrounding Robert’s room.

By the time the mission ended, Robert had already been reduced to ashes.

During the review afterward, Michael slapped a letter of consent in my face.

“Your dad is dead. It was an accident!”

“This isn’t Sophie’s fault. If anyone’s to blame, it’s your dad for being too slow to escape!”

I kept nodding.

He probably didn’t realize that the one who lay in bed and was burned alive…

was his own father.

…

Michael ground out his cigarette impatiently.

“What? You don’t want to sign?”

“I told you, this wasn’t Sophie’s fault. Stop wrongly accusing her!”

At that, Sophie Miller quickly stepped out from behind him.

“Captain, don’t be harsh on your sister-in-law. After all, it was her family who died. If she blames me, it’s only natural.”

She paused, speaking with a hint of grievance. “It was my fault. If only I’d been faster, maybe I could have saved Uncle Robert…”

Michael’s hands moved quicker than his words; he instinctively pulled her into his arms.

“Sophie, you just care too much! This wasn’t your fault!”

“It was just an accident. Nobody could have predicted it!”

His words dripped with tenderness, but the look he cast at me was as sharp as a knife.

“Emily, stop being so aggressive. You’ve already scared her enough!”

“Sign it, and apologize to Sophie in front of the whole team—that’ll be your compensation to her.”

I wondered if I had misheard.

Apologize?

When the neighborhood fire alarm was first reported by the security guard, Michael had rushed there with the intern, acting as if he were desperate. I thought he was worried about Robert’s safety.

Who knew that he was desperate only to play assistant to the intern.

Now, because of the delay, Robert had been burned alive.

As his biological son, Michael didn’t care. Why should I?

I pressed my lips together and waved dismissively.

“Since you agreed, I don’t mind.”

“Why don’t we settle this right now—find a witness, record a video, and call it closed?”

Michael’s expression tightened, almost constipated.

His voice even shifted as he sneered, “What’s this got to do with me? Why would I agree?”

“Don’t forget—the one who died was your dad!”

That mocking look appeared in his eyes again.

It was the same look he’d worn when Robert had first been paralyzed in a car accident—when instead of caring, his first reaction was to avoid responsibility.

“Your dad’s paralysis is your family’s problem. Don’t add to the burden of our little family.”

Later, when he realized it was actually his father who had been hit, he suddenly changed his tune.

I said nothing, simply pulling out my phone.

He just snorted, shaking his head. “Fine! Record it. You always make things difficult!”

With that, he shoved me aside. “You’re blocking Sophie from the breeze—can’t you see she’s sweating?”

Sophie leaned on his shoulder, flashing me a smile as if declaring her territory.

Michael’s mouth still didn’t stop.

“Your dad was old, taking his government allowance every year. His death is practically a service to the country.”

He laughed heartily.

I could only wait to see if he would still laugh so freely when he learned the truth.

This fire accident was already drawing media attention. Reporters were camped outside the Fire Department.