The Man They Blame

A shield for the perfect public image

“You Bastard!”

Instead of being met with a verbal response, Erin’s palm struck him hard, sending his massive body reeling in the opposite direction. “Don’t ever expect that to happen.”

A stinging heat spread across his cheek; facing raging fires every day didn’t mean his body had become immune to the kind of pain that left a mark. For a moment, Derek thought Erin might actually be trying to maintain their relationship—perhaps he’d been wrong to assume she was just using him as a shield for the perfect public image she wanted to project.

“You won’t do anything I don’t order you to do, Derek.” She drilled that into him forcefully.

The woman pointed at him, her voice brimming with emotion. “You won’t ruin the plan I’ve laid out. I’m about to deliver a public speech on ‘The Firefighter’s Wife: Love, Fear, and Safer Rescue’—I need to keep the image of our marriage intact.”

Erin’s words immediately shattered his assumptions; her true motives were entirely rooted in self-interest.

“Under any circumstances, you shouldn’t prioritize your personal feelings over my important career and public responsibilities. All of this is for the greater good,” she declared loudly, disregarding Derek’s feelings as he stood there, the victim of her actions.

Fiercely, she continued, “A divorce right now would undermine the environmental and planetary causes I’m fighting for—that’s just not fair.” Her eyes fixed on Derek, who stood there frozen in horror.

Her hand struck Derek’s chest once more. “How could you do something so destructive just to satisfy your ego as a man?”

She took a deep breath, as if Derek were the one acting foolishly in front of her right now. Acting as if she were a wise person, she tried to steady her breathing, then stared intently at Derek with a threatening glint in her eyes. “Since you’ve been playing along with my game for three years, you’ll have to keep doing it until I successfully complete this public project.”

Derek shook his head. He was sick of it; he was completely exhausted. This marriage was his whole life, but Erin treated it as nothing more than a game. He could no longer play his part.

Erin pushed him again, shouting. “You have to listen to me! You can’t ruin all my hard work so far, you bastard! I won’t let you!” she screamed, snatching a glass and hurling it onto the floor.

Watching Derek seem to turn her command, she remembered his weakness. “After the speech, the foundation will launch a long-term assistance program for families like William’s wife.” She looked him straight. “Lily, who is raising their child alone, will get help. If you ruin the speech and make the sponsors withdraw, people like Lily will suffer.”

He warn him. Erin know then uses the family of Derek’s fallen best friend, William Hawk, to pressure him. Derek’s expression changes at the mention of William and Lily. William was his close friend and a fellow firefighter who died in the line of duty. Lily genuinely does need help.

She coldly adds, “Of course, I will also receive more management fees, resources, and recognition through the foundation, but I deserve them.” She put a smile on her face. “Without me, those families would not even have the chance to be seen by the media.”

Seeing Erin again reveals her true face; Derek lost his beliefs. She never thought that the women she loves are mean, heartless, and so selfish.

As if trapped there as a victim, he stared at them. “I don’t want to ruin your marriage or be the cause of an argument. So I’d better leave this place.”

Erin stopped him immediately. “You don’t have to leave—this house is mine. If anyone has to leave, it’s him.” Erin’s gaze was accusatory and full of frustration.

But that look quickly softened again as she turned to Dick. “I’ll cook you an expensive imported steak tonight, so just stay here.”

Erin then turned away, pointing an accusing finger at Derek. “You’ve never been the responsible one in this relationship. So you’d better keep quiet and do nothing—at least if you have even a shred of conscience, you won’t stand in the way of my efforts to protect this foundation.” The accusation struck him, accompanied by Erin’s scornful gaze that hit him right in the heart.

He took those attacks one after another, ignoring his own wounds, giving her his full attention—even today he ran when he knew Erin’s life was in danger—yet in Erin’s life, his presence had never been valued; his sacrifices had never been worth anything.

Derek didn’t respond, his emotions completely drained. He just stared blankly at them, his feelings in turmoil and his body too exhausted to react.

He shifted his gaze, searching for a distraction, and at that moment, a bright light on the television caught his eye. A news alert suddenly flashed across the screen: a massive wildfire had broken out in Los Vangees County. The fire was spreading rapidly, forcing evacuations in various residential areas and resorts.

The fire department was desperately requesting assistance from neighboring cities. On the screen, thick smoke blanketed the sky, and a wall of fire engulfed the mountain slopes. The anchor kept repeating the phrase: “an unprecedented wildfire emergency.”

Just then, Derek’s phone rang. He picked it up, and his expression immediately hardened.