The Doormat Wife’s Ultimate Glow-Up novel Chapter 81

The crash of metal against metal was deafening, each blow more urgent than the last. A man’s voice shouted through the chaos, raw with worry.

“Annie, Ms. Meyer, are you in there?”

Reese clung to Annie, the little girl limp in her arms, her breaths barely there, her face a sickly shade of gray.

With everything she had left, Reese managed to yell, “Here! We’re here!”

Matthew caught the faint reply and felt his heart stop. “Move away from the door. I’m coming in!”

Reese held Annie tight and scooted back. Outside, the whine of a power saw kicked in. She gave Annie’s cheek a gentle pat.

“Annie, don’t fall asleep, okay? Your dad’s coming. He’s almost here.”

Her own voice was barely a rasp. Every word scraped her throat, her chest burning.

Then the noise at the door changed, a screech of tortured metal, and finally—one thunderous bang as the door crashed open.

A tall figure rushed in, backlit by the hall lights, eyes sharp and searching. He spotted them huddled in the corner in an instant.

Matthew was there in seconds, kneeling in front of them. “Are you hurt? Talk to me.”

“Reese! Come on, stay with me!”

Reese’s head lolled, sweat plastering her hair to her forehead. Matthew’s panic spiked as he patted her cheek, desperate to keep her awake.

Maybe it was relief, maybe she’d just run out of strength, but Reese’s lips barely moved. She tried to answer, but nothing came out. Her vision blurred until the world faded to black.

Matthew’s heart slammed in his chest. He bent down, searching for her breath. When he felt the faintest sign of life, he exhaled in relief and looked at Annie.

“Annie!”

“Dad… Daddy, Auntie…” Annie’s eyelids fluttered open at his voice, and she managed a shaky little smile.

“Don’t be scared, sweetheart. I’m getting you to the hospital right now.”

There was no time to think. Matthew grabbed his phone, called for an ambulance, and told them everything. Then he scooped Reese up in one arm, hooked the other under Annie’s small frame, and carried them both out of the lab.

He paused for a split second at the broken door, eyes flickering to the iris scanner, suspicion flashing across his face.

But there were more important things right now. He tightened his grip on the two of them and hurried to the elevator.

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