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Chapter 3

Penulis: Elizabeth
last update Tanggal publikasi: 2026-03-16 19:55:11

Astrid’s POV

My lungs burned.

Every instinct in my body screamed for air, but Adam Pierce’s hand tightened mercilessly around my throat.

My back pressed painfully against the wall as his fingers dug into my skin.

I clawed at his arm, trying to pry his grip loose, but it was useless.

Adam had always been stronger than me.

I had just never imagined he would use that strength like this.

Dark spots began dancing in my vision.

“Adam…” I choked.

My voice came out as nothing more than a broken rasp.

He watched me struggle with cold curiosity, like a scientist observing an experiment.

“You should’ve stayed quiet,” he said calmly.

My chest heaved uselessly.

Air wouldn’t come.

“You always did have a temper,” he continued almost conversationally. “That’s something I never liked about you.”

My fingers slipped weakly against his wrist.

My strength was fading.

The room seemed to spin slowly around me.

My heart pounded desperately, each beat weaker than the last.

This couldn’t be happening.

This couldn’t be how my life ended.

Not like this.

Not in my own bedroom.

Not at the hands of the man I loved.

My baby.

The thought crashed into me like lightning.

My baby.

Panic surged violently through my veins.

My hand instinctively moved toward my stomach.

No.

I couldn’t die.

Not now.

Not when there was a life growing inside me.

Something fierce ignited deep inside my chest.

Survival.

With the last of my strength, I lifted my leg and drove the sharp heel of my shoe down hard onto Adam’s foot.

“Damn it!” Adam cursed.

His grip loosened just enough.

I sucked in a ragged breath as precious air rushed back into my lungs.

Before he could recover, I shoved him with everything I had and stumbled away.

Run.

The word echoed loudly in my head.

Run.

My legs moved before my brain could catch up.

I bolted out of the bedroom, my heart racing wildly as I sprinted down the hallway.

Behind me, I heard Adam curse again.

Heavy footsteps followed.

Fear surged through me like electricity.

The mansion felt enormous as I ran through it.

Too big.

Too empty.

Too silent.

Adam hadn’t been lying.

The house staff were gone.

Every last one of them.

“Get back here!” Adam shouted behind me.

His voice was getting closer.

My lungs burned as I raced down the grand staircase, gripping the railing to keep from slipping.

I nearly lost my balance but forced myself forward.

The front door.

If I could just reach the front door

I burst into the main hall and ran across the polished marble floor.

The massive doors stood just ahead.

Freedom.

My trembling hands grabbed the handle.

I yanked the door open.

Cool night air rushed against my face.

Relief flooded my chest.

I was going to make it.

But the moment I stepped outside

I slammed into someone.

Strong hands grabbed my shoulders, steadying me before I could fall.

“Astrid?”

The familiar voice filled me with overwhelming relief.

I looked up.

“Miley!”

Tears instantly filled my eyes at the sight of Miley Perez.

My best friend.

The person who had been by my side for years.

Thank God.

“Miley, you have to help me!” I gasped desperately.

She stared at me in confusion.

“What’s wrong?”

“Adam!” My voice shook violently. “He’s gone crazy! He poisoned Dad and he tried to kill me! We have to—”

My words trailed off.

Something about Miley’s expression made my stomach twist.

She wasn’t shocked.

She wasn’t scared.

She wasn’t even surprised.

Instead…

She was smiling.

A slow, strange smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

My heart skipped a beat.

“Miley…?”

Her fingers tightened slightly on my arms.

Behind me, I heard Adam’s footsteps approaching.

But he wasn’t running anymore.

He had slowed to a calm walk.

Like he wasn’t worried at all.

A cold chill crept down my spine.

Miley tilted her head slightly as she looked at me.

Then she sighed softly.

“Well,” she said casually.

“I guess you finally found out.”

My blood ran cold.

“Found out… what?” I whispered.

For the first time since I had known her, the warmth in Miley’s eyes disappeared completely.

And suddenly, the woman standing in front of me felt like a stranger.

Miley reached into her purse.

My heart began to pound violently again.

“What are you—”

Before I could finish the sentence—

She pulled out a knife.

And drove it straight into my stomach.

Pain exploded through my body.

My scream tore through the night.

As I collapsed to the ground, one horrifying thought echoed through my mind.

Not Miley too.

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