Chapter 4

I had no idea that Howard was watching us from a distance. He believed that Anna was helping me, feeling a sense of pride that his adopted sister had such a kind heart. The truth, however, was far darker: no one in this cruel world could be trusted, especially not someone like Anastasia.

As we stood there, a car suddenly sped toward us. Before we could react, two men jumped out and forcibly shoved us inside. Howard witnessed everything; his expression shifted from shock to concern, but it seemed his worry was not for me. No, it was for his adopted sister, Anastasia. In a panic, he ran back, calling for security, his footsteps echoing with urgency.

The chaos escalated as security personnel chased after the car, and Howard joined them, determined to save her. But as the world around me blurred, my vision faded, and I felt myself slipping away from reality.

When I finally opened my eyes again, I found myself surrounded by the very people who had kidnapped me. They were the same individuals who had brought nothing but destruction into my life. My heart raced as I realized the gravity of the situation.

Anastasia appeared before me, her smile wide and triumphant as she stepped into the room. She seemed to revel in my despair, her expression filled with delight at seeing me in such a vulnerable state. The contrast between her joy and my fear was stark, and in that moment, I understood just how deeply twisted she truly was.

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After the harrowing experience of being kidnapped, I opened my eyes to find myself in a hospital bed,

I turned my head and saw her again: Anastasia. She stood there with that same twisted smile, flanked by the very men who had taken me. The sight sent chills down my spine, and my heart raced as I realized I was not free from her grasp.

“Welcome back to reality,” she said, her voice dripping with mockery. The room felt suffocating as her presence loomed over me, her eyes sparkling with a cruel delight at my vulnerability.

The men exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable but menacing.

I glanced at those men again, a wave of panic washed over me, and my heart raced uncontrollably. Just thinking about everything they had done to me made me feel nauseous. My stomach churned, and I fought the urge to vomit. Then, I turned to Anastasia, desperation lacing my voice. “What do you want from me? You’ve already ruined my life, and now Howard is going to divorce me too.”

Anastasia let out a chilling laugh, her eyes glinting with malice. “You can run away from him all you want, but there’s something that will always keep him tied to you, so he can't be mine fully.” Her words sent a shockwave through me, leaving me stunned. What did she mean? I knew she was Howard's adopted sister, but I could never understand the depth of their connection or why it seemed so twisted.

She continued, her voice dripping with bitterness. “I have always loved Howard. Ever since my mother was best friends with his mother, I knew he was meant for me. After my mother passed away, the Carter family took me in, and I waited for the day I could marry Howard. But then you came along and ruined everything. To him, I am just a sweet, innocent girl—like a sister, even. Ugh, how disgusting is that?”

Her words struck me like a dagger. I could see the hatred in her eyes, and it terrified me. “I am meant to be his wife,” she said, a sinister smile spreading across her face. “And as long as you’re alive, that can never happen.”

The gravity of her threat sank in, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. I was trapped in a web of danger, with Anastasia at its center, and I realized just how precarious my situation was.

“Take her to the rooftop,” Anastasia ordered, her voice cold and commanding. The cruel men around her wasted no time. They grabbed me roughly and dragged me off the bed, showing no regard for my condition. I struggled to walk, my body weak and trembling, but they were relentless. They forced me into a wheelchair, completely ignoring my pleas for mercy.

As they wheeled me down the hall, I could feel blood trickling down my legs, pooling on the floor beneath me. The sight of it made my heart race with fear. They showed no compassion; their expressions were devoid of any empathy as they pushed me toward the elevator.

The hallway was eerily quiet—no one was around to hear my silent cries for help. I wanted to scream, to call out for someone to save me, but they had my mouth covered, silencing my desperate attempts. This was a private floor, restricted to only doctors or specific individuals, which meant there was no one to come to my aid.

I felt utterly powerless, trapped in a nightmare with no way to escape. The weight of despair settled heavily on my chest, and all I could do was hope for a miracle—that somehow, someone would come to rescue me.

Before I knew it, we arrived at the rooftop. The doors of the elevator opened, revealing the vast expanse above, and I felt a chill run down my spine. My heart raced as I realized the gravity of my situation.

They threw me from the wheelchair, and I cried out in pain as I hit the ground. Desperation filled my voice as I begged for mercy. “Please, let me go! I just want to leave. You’ve taken everything from me—my husband, my unborn child, and my dignity. Just let me go!”

But Anastasia grasped my hair, forcing me to look into her eyes. “You are the biggest thorn in my side. As long as you’re alive, Howard will never be mine. I’m not foolish enough to let you live; you have to die. Besides, what will you do with your life now? As you said, you’ve lost everything. People in your situation usually take their own lives. Why don’t you do the same so I can benefit from it?”

She smiled cruelly and pushed my head down. Turning to her men, she ordered, “Stand her up over there and give her a push. It needs to look like she took her own life out of despair. I don’t want any more theatrics; finish this quickly.” With that, she walked away, leaving me in the hands of my captors.