Chapter 3

My legs were frozen to the spot as I stared at him in disbelief.

He was actually threatening my grandfather''s life!

Grandpa was my only family—how could I let anything happen to him?

Seeing no way to reason with him, I grew even more desperate, my voice choked with emotion.

"Steven Landers, I''m carrying your child! I''m eight months pregnant! That drop tower could make me miscarry or trigger my heart condition. Are you really going to force me to take that risk?"

A flicker of conflict crossed Steven''s eyes, but it was quickly replaced with determination.

He leaned closer to my ear.

"Myla, didn''t you promise you''d always support my career? This is the newest drop tower I designed especially for you. I begged for this opportunity, and now everyone''s watching. You''re getting on that ride whether you want to or not!

"Don''t you love me more than anything? If you just get on the drop tower this once, I''ll treat you even better afterward. I''ll bring in the best specialists in the country for your grandfather''s treatment!"

Everyone was staring at me, some even recording videos with their phones.

Finally, I could only nod.

Steven sighed with relief, tenderly stroking my face.

"That''s my good girl. The ride only lasts a minute. After it''s over, I''ll take you to celebrate your birthday. I ordered a huge cake for you..."

Stay calm, Myla. You need to stay calm!

I held back tears and said in a flat voice, "I need to use the bathroom first. I''m worried I might... have an accident on the ride."

Steven frowned with disgust. "Be quick then. I''ll wait outside."

He and Anne watched me enter with suspicion.

Hidden behind the door, I heard them talking.

"Don''t worry, Anne. She won''t escape. I''ll tie her to the ride if I have to."

"Steven, you''re so good to me. But what if she hates you for this afterward?"

Steven chuckled, his voice full of contempt.

"Don''t worry. Myla loves me to death. She''s so easy to manipulate—all I have to do is apologize afterward and she''ll forgive me."

Loves him to death? Easy to manipulate?

I felt cold all over, realizing what a fool I''d been to fall for such a monster!

I locked myself in a stall, sat on the toilet, and covered my mouth as I sobbed. Despair was overwhelming me.

"Baby, can mommy really not protect you? Why am I so useless!"

My grandfather''s life and my baby''s life were both in my hands.

How could I possibly choose?

Just then, Belinda’s call came like a lifeline.

"Myla, I''m here! Where are you?"

Hope suddenly sparked in my heart. I quickly said, "Come to the bathroom by the haunted house in Area A. They''re waiting outside the door. I need to escape through the back window!"

She immediately agreed.

I waited anxiously until she messaged me.

"Myla, I''m behind the bathroom. Climb out the window now!"

I nervously swallowed but obediently prepared to climb through the window.

But as soon as I landed, I felt a sharp pain at the back of my neck, and everything went black.

When I woke up again, I was already strapped into the drop tower!

My hands, feet, and body were glued to the seat with industrial adhesive—I couldn''t move at all!

The area around the ride seemed empty, as if it had been cleared of people.

My eyes fell on the figures standing in front of me.

There was Steven with his sinister expression, Anne, and my unconscious friend lying on the ground.

I screamed, "Steven, what did you do to my friend? You''re insane!"

Steven held up my friend''s phone, looking at me with disappointment.

I gasped in horror—the text messages had been sent by him pretending to be my friend!

"Myla, you''re so scheming. I just wanted to give you a perfect birthday, but you tried everything to escape. Did you really think your friend could help? I had the staff bring her here and knock her out to prevent her from helping you."

"Now, the game is about to begin. This is the latest model drop tower—you''ll love it."

In my desperation, I remembered what he''d said in the chat logs.

I demanded to know why he wanted to hurt me when I had never harmed Anne!

I didn''t know how Anne had slandered me behind my back, but I needed to clear things up.

Steven''s voice was ice-cold.

"You''re the one who made Anne permanently infertile. This is what you owe her!"

"I never hurt Anne! Her infertility has nothing to do with me!"

Anne clung to Steven with a wounded expression. "It''s okay, Steven. She''ll never admit it..."

But Steven looked at me with contempt.

"You still dare to lie? Anne was hit by a car while saving you, which led to her hysterectomy. Not only were you ungrateful, but you''ve been flaunting your pregnancy to hurt her. You''re despicable!"

"Once this is over, we''ll forgive you, and we can all live happily ever after."

I was stunned into silence.

But the person who saved Anne and was hit by the car... that was me!