Mr Carlos Huo, She's Your Wife

Matthew gave it everything he had. He struck the door with mighty kicks more than a dozen times. He'd studied fight science, so he knew how to kick with maximum effect. Each of his attacks was more powerful than a car crash. But it was all to no avail. After all, the gangsters had anticipated this. The iron door was reinforced by welded steel rebar, and while he could shatter the iron lock, they had ordered a special padlock in case he tried. The modern lock had a tensile strength of more than six tons. They wanted Matthew and Erica to burn with the house.

There was no water in the house. The previous residents pumped water from the well in the yard. Even if they could get there, it took time to pump any appreciable amount of water. But because of the iron door, they couldn't even try.

The thugs were rather thorough. They didn't want to leave anything to chance. And Erica and Matthew were at their mercy.

Taking a deep breath, Matthew turned around and hugged the woman squatting on the floor, and tried to comfort her. "Don't be afraid, Rika. Dad and Owen are on their way. We'll be okay."

Leaning against his shoulder, Erica said, "I'm not afraid as long as you're with me. But the kids..."

"Don't worry about them either. They're brilliant. If anyone could survive this, it's them!" Although Matthew tried to reassure Erica that the children would be fine, in fact, he was also worried. After all, no matter how smart the children were, they were still three years old.

Matthew was never a man to sit and wait for death. He guided Erica to a relatively safe spot. Then he racked his brain for ways to escape the blazing house.

The temperature in the room was rising. It was getting hard to breathe, which made them panic. A smoky haze filled the air, obscuring their vision and stinging their eyes. Erica took off her coat, stood up and tried to smother the fire with her coat.

Before long, the material in her coat caught fire. It was devoured and quickly burnt to ashes by the hungry flames.

Soon, Erica was overcome by a coughing fit. She coughed violently and glanced at Matthew.

Even Matthew was coughing, but he fought the urge and was desperately going from one corner to the next, trying to find a way to escape.

he was facing an iron door

minutes later, Erica shrank into a corner where the fire was not burning. She put her hands to her soot-covered face and gasped for breath. Matthew, on the other hand, was still studying the door

seconds and was sure that the beam was shuddering, trying

in the kitchen, and was using the wood, trying to put a hole in the wall. 'Oh no! If the beam falls, it'll crush Matthew!' Erica thought to

leapt at him, knocking him over. The burning beam struck her across her

from her back and fell to the floor with

was on fire.

when it struck Erica, Matthew felt it too. 'It must have been really heavy,

crouched down. Then he quickly gathered the soot-covered

with Erica, the woman spat out

and his eyes were bloodshot. "Rika!" He felt that his hand on her back

spot and looked her over carefully. Her creamy white shirt was grey from all

had happened, Matthew roared, tears falling from his eyes for probably the

left home for three years, hoping to become worthy of you. But apparently I hadn't gotten any smarter. I was fooled by those gangsters again, and got you killed too!" If she hadn't insisted on avenging Orange, Matthew would be okay. He wouldn't

have taken her revenge before finding him

sons to get to you. You wanted to protect them, naturally." As

in her lower back and a wave of nausea shuddered through her.

from the corner of her eye and growled at her, "Shut up! Damn it! You're not going to die. Besides, Dad would never let me hear the end of it. What do you think my family would do to me if I let something happen to you? Not to mention your family? I'd be lucky if all they did was stop inviting me around for dinner. No, you dying would suck a lot. Who would I cook for? Who would I spend