Chapter 4

My legs finally gave out, and I crashed to the ground.

The impact jolted my belly, and I felt something warm and wet between my legs.

I looked down. My water had broken.

Despair washed over me. I leaned back and remembered the promise Connor had once made to me.

“My family is pretty old-fashioned. We’d have to wait until you’ve had the baby before we can get married.

“But don’t worry. Marriage certificate or not, you’ll always be the only woman for me.”

I had grown up in an ordinary family, so I knew I was no match for someone like Connor, a rich heir who had it all.

But I loved him, and I believed he loved me too. That was why I had accepted his terms.

Yet even the sincerest forms of love wore thin over time.

It certainly could not withstand the interference of another woman.

The sky was pitch-black and endless.

Were even the stars on Quilla’s side?

I took a deep breath and waited for the contraction to pass.

Then, I opened my contacts and found the number I had once sworn I would never call again.

“I’ll marry you…”

The man on the other end immediately perked up.

“Zara, where are you?”

The cable car had reached the summit.

Its lights looked like a star in the sky.

“I’m at the cable car station halfway up the mountain. I’m going into labor.

“Yale, please save me.”

…

My water kept leaking. White spots flashed before my eyes again.

I tried every breathing technique I had learned before giving birth, but nothing eased the pain.

How could something hurt so much?

The contractions came faster and faster.

The ground beneath me felt like ice.

I checked my phone. It was 8:50 p.m..

I just had to hold on a little longer.

Even if Yale could not get here in time, the mountain patrol would eventually come.

Another wave of pressure built up in my lower belly.

I quickly adjusted my breathing, but my phone suddenly rang.

I thought it was Yale, but it was Connor.

“I’m calling to let you know that the patrol team is still having dinner. They probably won’t get to you until 10 p.m..

“You can walk down instead. Stop bothering them while they’re eating.”

I pushed myself upright with my elbows. I was about to speak, but then I froze.

Connor impatiently called out, “Hello? Are you listening?”

My lips trembled. I sucked in a sharp breath.

“Connor, my water has broken.”

The cable car in the distance was heading downhill.

Fear overwhelmed me. I could barely keep my voice steady, and my words came out almost like a plea.

“Connor, there’s blood in the water. I need to get to the hospital right now!”

“It’s so dark. You must have seen it wrong.”

“It’s true! I’m going into premature labor…”

“Zara, are you that desperate to marry me?”

The words died on my lips.

I looked inside the cable car. Quilla was happily munching on potato chips.

Connor was massaging her ankle. He did not even look up.

“I did say I’d marry you after you had the baby.

“But there’s no need to rush things. You’re only nine months pregnant, and you already want to have the baby cut out of you? What kind of mother does that? You’d do anything to become my wife, even if it meant putting your own child at risk.

“My dad was right. When two people come from different backgrounds, they’re bound to see things differently.”

The cable car continued past me.

Its lights looked like a star as it descended through the valley toward the foot of the mountain.

The cold wind hit my face and brought me back to my senses.

Then, I spotted several beams of light. A group of people came running toward me along the maintenance path.

Yale rushed forward and caught me just as my legs gave way.

“Get the cable car ready! We need to get her to the hospital! Zara, hang on! Zara!”

My vision slowly cleared. Through my bloodshot, tear-filled eyes, I stared at him and clutched his sleeve with all my strength.

“Yale, please make sure the baby survives.”

His men dragged the staff out of the ticket booth. A few seconds later, a cable car stopped right in front of me.

Yale lifted me into his arms and carried me inside.

“Don’t worry. You and the baby are both going to be fine. I promise!

“Call the hospital down the mountain. Tell them to get ready for us!”

I refused to let go of his sleeve.

Each word took all the strength I had left.

“One more thing. I want Connor’s cable car to stop right now.”