Liam Dunlap, my girlfriend's junior apprentice, bragged that he could defuse a bomb with one hand.

Then he slipped. The timer began to race. Terrified, he dropped his tools and ran.

I stepped in at great risk and saved the hostage. For that, I was commended.

Liam, on the other hand, was condemned across the internet and faced severe disciplinary action.

My girlfriend tried to speak up for him, but I stopped her.

"If you defend him now, not only will your promotion be revoked—people online will come after you too."

Later, unable to bear the pressure, Liam jumped to his death. Every line of his suicide note blamed my girlfriend for not standing by him.

She said nothing. She simply burned the letter in silence.

After that, she rose step by step from a frontline officer to a model figure in the police force.

On the day I was kidnapped by criminals, she came in person to defuse the bomb strapped to me—using only one hand.

She looked coldly at the device on my chest and said, "See? It can be done with one hand. Why did you all have to drive Liam to his death back then? If I had protected him at the time, the one in my position today… should have been him."

The bomb detonated. I died on the spot.

After I opened my eyes again, I saw her running around desperately for Liam.

She didn't know—the hostage was the mayor's son.

I was reborn on the very day Liam Dunlap bragged about defusing a bomb with one hand.

The first thing I did was turn off my phone.

Then I slept straight through till morning.

When I turned it back on the next day, there were—just as expected—over a hundred missed calls.

In my previous life, after realizing the disaster he'd caused, Liam had called me frantically through the night, begging me to come clean up the mess.

At the time, I had just finished three consecutive bomb disposal operations and had been home for less than an hour. Even so, I rushed back to the scene in the pouring rain and worked through the night to defuse the bomb.

Because of that, the hostage's father—Mayor Allen Bowser—chose not to pursue legal action against Liam. Liam received only the internal disciplinary action he deserved. If he had managed to endure that period, he might still have had a chance to remain on the force.

But Liam had grown up under my girlfriend Erica Adams's protection, sheltered from hardship. When the storm of public criticism hit, he couldn't withstand it. In the end, he chose to jump to his death.

This time, when I arrived at the scene, Liam was slumped beside the command vehicle, his face pale with panic.

The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up.

"I called you dozens of times last night! Why didn't you answer? Your phone is supposed to stay on during operations—that's basic discipline! You knew there was a bomb disposal mission last night, and you're the most experienced in the whole team. And yet you chose that moment to turn off your phone? Andrew, what exactly are you playing at?!"

My hand struck his face.

I looked down at him coldly. "Liam, have you lost your mind?"

Colleagues from other units rushed over at the commotion.

I raised my voice. "The one on duty last night was you—not me!"

His face went stark white.

"When lives are at stake, does it matter who's on duty?" he shot back. "You never turn off your phone—why did you do it yesterday? Andrew, you can dislike me all you want, but don't gamble with a hostage's life just to prove a point!"

He spoke with righteous conviction.

Some of the uninformed had already begun whispering, assuming I had deliberately stayed away and dumped the mess on a rookie like him—just to watch him fail.

Before I could respond, a colleague snapped.

"Liam, shut up! Do you know Captain Craig handled three bombs in a row yesterday? He barely had time to take two bites of a compressed ration! You sit in the office all day while we take the fieldwork. How would you know how exhausted he is?

"He didn't get home until one in the morning. His phone died, and he collapsed the moment he lay down. What's wrong with that?"

Even members of Liam's own team couldn't stand it anymore.

"Enough, Liam. It really wasn't Captain Craig's shift last night. If anything, we were just unlucky."

Liam staggered back and dropped into a seat, his lips trembling.

"What are you all doing standing around here?!"

The police chief's furious shout rang out from behind us.

At his side, Erica approached quickly, her face cold.

I was about to speak. But she didn't even glance at me. She went straight to Liam, bent down, and helped him up.

"Don't be afraid," she said softly. "I'll help you. You'll be fine."

After the chief issued his orders, the crowd gradually dispersed. He pulled me aside. The composure he had been forcing instantly cracked, replaced by visible panic.

"Andrew! This may not be your responsibility, but you have to defuse that bomb! The mayor's son is the hostage! If it explodes, none of us will escape the consequences!"

I let out a quiet sigh. The reason I dared to turn off my phone was because I knew my colleagues could hold the situation for a while. Even if I came after waking up, there would still be time to defuse it. Only then would I have leverage to negotiate what came next.

I looked at the chief and said firmly, "Sir, this isn't just Liam's responsibility. Erica can't escape blame either."

He froze.

I handed him a document bearing Erica's signature.

"The one-handed bomb defusal procedure Liam used—it was personally approved by her. You're asking me to risk my life to clean up their mess. Sir, I can handle it this time, but those who should be held accountable should not be spared."

I pressed both hands against the desk.

"If Erica isn't dealt with seriously, the same thing will happen again. Next time, I'm not sure I'll be able to protect everyone."

The chief's expression darkened. Erica was his protégé, handpicked and trained by him since her days at the police academy. But this concerned the survival of the entire department. No matter how close the subordinate, he couldn't indulge her.

Besides, I was the only one who could save the mayor's son, Mike Bowser.

Seeing the chief's hesitation, I pushed harder.

"There are only ten minutes left on the bomb. If I go now, I'm risking my life to clean up their mess!"

His eyes flickered. He slammed the document onto the table.

"This is outrageous! Abusing my trust—this is completely lawless! Don't worry! I won't approve her Outstanding Officer nomination. Her promotion application is rejected as well! From now on, she'll be assigned to desk duty only. She is never to touch a core field operation again!"

I nodded and signed the document.

That single signature marked the end of Erica's brilliant rise—from Outstanding Officer to the heights she had once reached in my previous life.

With the experience from my previous life, I was able to stabilize the bomb on Mike quickly.

After removing the main device, my vision went black, and I collapsed to the ground.

My colleagues rushed me to the hospital.

Sometime in the middle of the night, a sharp, acrid gas suddenly flooded my nose. I lost consciousness instantly. I don't know how long passed before I forced my eyes open again.

My right hand was locked tightly to the table by an icy chain.

Under the dim light, I made out a familiar figure.

"Erica!"

The hand gripping my wrist hesitated for a split second.

I struggled against the chair, summoning every ounce of strength I had.

"Erica, it's you, isn't it? Let's talk. Please, let me go! I saved Liam! I really did!"

She fell silent for a moment, then let out a low sigh.

"You did keep him from being held accountable by Mayor Bowser… but you also made him bear everyone's blame. I'm sorry, Andrew. If you truly want to help him, then you'll have to sacrifice this hand.

"As long as everyone believes you were the one who defused the bomb—and that Liam was the one who really saved the day—he can start over. I'll handle the records. I'll take care of our colleagues. Andrew… just help me this once, okay?"

I stared at her in disbelief.

"Erica! Do you even hear yourself?!"

The utility knife in her hand lifted suddenly. I jerked back in panic.

"I'm a police officer! If you cripple my hand, how am I supposed to go on missions ever again?!"

The blade froze midair. In the dim light, a flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes.

"Don't be afraid, Andrew. I'll take care of you for the rest of your life."

"Wait!" My voice tore from my throat. "If you do this, you'll ruin yourself too!"

She shook her head gently.

"Chief Johnson brought me into this line of work. He won't abandon me. I'll still wear this uniform, and I can keep protecting you."

"He's already given up on you!" I yelled.

Her body stiffened, but she forced out a faint smile.

"No. He hasn't."

"Ahhh!!!"

Agony exploded through me, shattering every last shred of reason. I couldn't stop the scream that ripped from my throat.

Just to help Liam, Erica actually went through with it.

I could no longer feel anything in my right hand. I didn't dare look. I didn't dare imagine what it looked like now.

"It's over. Don't be afraid, Andrew."

She wrapped my mangled wrist gently in a towel, even lowering her head to press a soft kiss against it.

"I'll stay with you. I promise."

"Get lost!"

My voice trembled so badly that it barely formed words.

"Andrew."

"I said get away from me!"

She slowly released me and took a step back.

"I'm sorry, Andrew. But until everything is settled, you'll have to stay here. Liam's reputation can't be ruined."

I laughed as tears streamed straight down my face.

"Are you that afraid I'll tell the truth?"

"I'm sorry."

With that, she closed the door and left.

My world plunged into complete darkness, and my consciousness slowly faded, sinking into oblivion.

The next time I woke, it was to Erica shaking me violently.

"Andrew! Wake up! Why has Mike's bomb started ticking again? Didn't you already defuse it?!"

My right hand was still numb, like it no longer belonged to me.

I looked at the woman in front of me, teetering on the edge of hysteria, and let out a cold laugh.

"That kind of complex device needs continuous monitoring. How could one attempt possibly solve everything?"

"You—!"

She grabbed my arm tightly.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?!"

The next second, as if remembering something, she yanked up my left hand and tried to drag me outside.

"Come on! We need to stabilize the bomb now! Otherwise, Liam's life is over!"

"Erica!" I roared with everything I had left. "My hand is already gone!"

She froze. Her gaze slowly dropped to my right arm. Her pupils contracted sharply.

"It's… it's okay," she said, her voice barely audible. "One hand is enough."

She stared into my eyes as if clutching at her last shred of hope.

"You're so capable—you can do it with one hand, right?"

I slapped her hard across the face. My whole body trembled uncontrollably.

"You actually believe that nonsense about one-handed bomb disposal?!"

Her eyes unfocused as she murmured to herself, "No… Liam said it was possible…"

Suddenly, she grabbed my ruined hand. Ignoring how I curled up in pain, she pleaded desperately, "Just try, Andrew—please, just try! If you don't go, Liam is really finished!"

At that moment, the door was kicked open from the outside. A tall man stood in the doorway, his face dark with fury.

"What have you done to my son?"

Mayor Bowser's voice dripped with killing intent. Behind him, Liam was being held by two bodyguards, blood at the corner of his mouth.

I looked past Mayor Bowser.

"Chief Johnson."

Chief Johnson's gaze fell on my ruined right hand, and he froze in shock.

Mayor Bowser pressed a heavy hand onto the police chief's shoulder.

"Are you going to tell me yourselves, or should I investigate?"

The police chief shuddered.

I raised my left hand and pointed at Liam.

"He insisted on defusing the bomb with one hand. He triggered the fuse by mistake—that's why the device reactivated!"

"That's nonsense!" the police chief suddenly cut in sharply. "It was clearly you trying to show off by copying that one-handed technique! When you messed up, you destroyed your own right hand and tried to frame Liam!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Chief Johnson stepped closer, lowering his voice as he spoke rapidly, "I'm sorry, Andrew. But your hand is already ruined. Liam's future, on the other hand, is limitless. Our previous agreement is void."

The last trace of a smile vanished from Mayor Bowser's face.

"Bring four vehicles. Tie this cripple's limbs to them. I want to see just how many pieces a man can be torn into."

His gaze shifted, catching sight of my limp right hand. He arched a brow with a cold sneer.

"Hah. Forgot—you've already lost one hand. Then tie the rope to his neck."

The bodyguards actually brought ropes, binding my limbs—and my neck—to four off-road vehicles.

I struggled desperately, but Erica stood nearby, murmuring softly, "Just endure it, Andrew. Mayor Bowser is only trying to scare you. He won't really hurt you."

Before she could finish, Liam suddenly cried out in pain.

Without a second thought, Erica turned and ran to him.

Engines roared to life. With the last of my strength, I shouted, "I'm not the one who harmed your son! I have evidence!"

Mayor Bowser's eyes sharpened. He raised his hand sharply.

All the vehicles cut their engines at once.

He walked toward me step by step, then bent down, staring straight into my eyes.

"You get one chance."