Chapter 51

At the hospital, Christopher accompanied Cynthia to the emergency room. After some checks, she lay on the hospital bed, her eyes closed in pain.

“Doctor, what happened to her? She just said she felt dizzy and then passed out,” he asked.

“Her vital signs are normal, including her heart rate. It seems like she inhaled a small amount of gas, which triggered the dizziness,” the doctor replied.

“Gas?” The strange smell he had noticed when he opened the door earlier… Was it natural gas?

“At this point, it’s likely there’s a gas leak in your house. You should call the authorities and get the gas system checked immediately. If too much gas accumulates, it could lead to an explosion,” the doctor continued seriously.

The mention of “explosion” made Christopher suddenly remember something. He gasped. “Melody! Melody is still at home!”

Without another word, he rushed toward the door, but he heard coughing from the bed behind him.

“Christopher… Christopher,” Cynthia’s weak voice called out. He paused, turning around to see her reaching for him.

“I feel so uncomfortable,” she said with a sob.

Hearing her cries, he hesitated for a moment before telling the doctor, “Doctor, please take care of her. I need to go home.”

He left immediately. Seeing him go, Cynthia instinctively gripped the bedsheet tightly.

Christopher drove at full speed to the community gate. The sound of an ambulance siren blared in the distance, and an uneasy feeling arose in his chest.

No one was at home. Who could have called for an emergency? It had to be someone else.

He hastily parked his car before running toward the community entrance, narrowly avoiding a stretcher. As he turned, the rescue team blocked his view.

Without pausing, he took the elevator up. Reaching the hallway, he found a group gathered near his door, talking amongst themselves.

“Oh god! It’s a gas leak. This is so dangerous! Where’s the man of the house?”

“I didn’t see him. My son was on the early shift and found a woman passed out at the door. He called 911.”

“I went inside to check. The gas valve in the kitchen was off, and no one else was inside. Probably someone living alone.”

“Impossible. I’ve seen a man come out to buy groceries. He’s quite handsome. The woman who passed out is a regular resident, but a young woman has been visiting recently.”

For a moment, gossip swirled about the two young women and one man. After the incident, the couple had disappeared, leaving only the resident woman. Who wouldn't speculate?

“Get out of my way!” Christopher shouted, pushing forward.

Seeing him, the crowd parted silently.

“Melody! Melody!” he shouted, rushing toward the small guest room. The door was open, but no one was inside.

“Hey, are you looking for a woman with straight hair and a delicate appearance? They took her away in an ambulance,” a neighbor said from outside the door. Christopher stepped outside. “Are you her husband? Where were you when the gas was leaking? She passed out, and no one knew.”

The mention of “passed out” made him freeze in panic. Did Melody leave in that ambulance? The one he'd heard earlier?

At that moment, the gas maintenance and property management workers arrived. Christopher directed them to handle the leak and rushed toward the elevator.

“Where’s the curly-haired woman? She needs to be saved too,” the neighbor called out.

“I’ve already sent her to the hospital earlier,” Christopher said, oblivious to the implication of her words. He quickly left.

Behind him, the onlookers exchanged knowing glances. If they weren't mistaken, the regular resident was Christopher's wife. So, the other woman was…