Chapter 3

Our journey to the hot-air balloon was quiet. Victor held my hand in his warm palm, talking about the birthday celebrations he had planned for me.

“I've booked all the newest custom dresses. You can wear whichever you want for your birthday.” He paused, his voice turning gentler. “Once the dust settles down, let's try for a baby too, shall we? Didn't you love kids?”

I just listened to him quietly without replying, staring at the scenery outside the car window.

He still did not know that we had a child once, but that little angel left us for good because of the orders he gave.

Not long after the car drove out of the estate, his phone started ringing.

He picked up the call and said something softly before turning to me with a perfectly apologetic expression. “A problem came up with the goods at the port. I have to take care of it myself.”

I nodded and said calmly, “Go ahead. The family's matters are more important.”

He paused, as though wanting to explain. “Zoe, I…”

“It's fine, you go ahead.” I smiled at him. “I'll wait for you at the hot-air balloon park. You promised you'd watch the sunrise with me.”

After I arrived at the hot-air balloon park by myself, I turned on my phone and saw that Summer had updated her social media feed.

She sat on a hospital bench, looking weak and frail. The caption read, [Today was scary, but thank goodness the baby is alright! I'm so grateful that someone was willing to abandon everything to stay by my side.]

The figure next to her was blurry, but I still recognized him at a glance. It was Victor.

I called his number. After many rings, the one who picked up was Summer.

“Hello, Zoe? Are you looking for Victor? Stop bothering him already! He's asking the doctor about my condition!” She sounded deeply smug.

“You have no idea how worried he is about me. Once, I tripped by myself at home, but I called him and wept that I'd been attacked. He sent all his men to save me within ten minutes! You don't stand a chance against me!”

She laughed uncontrollably, but I felt a chill down to my bones.

I knew which night she was talking about. It was the night I lost my baby.

The cause of that tragedy was nothing more than Summer's lie on a whim.

I hung up the call, my hand trembling, and looked up into the sky. I waited all night.

Dawn came, and Victor still did not show up.

I walked into the hot-air balloon's basket and told the soldier in charge, “Take me into the sky.”

He hesitated. “Ma'am, aren't you supposed to wait for someone to join you?”

I said softly, “No need to wait any longer. I'll go alone. You don't have to join me, either. I know how to handle the balloon.”

He opened his mouth to say something, but then he remembered who I was and agreed nonetheless.

The hot-air balloon rose slowly into the sky. I leaned against the side of the basket and stared hollowly at the silent city beneath me.

His sweet words, his company, his promises… The memories flickered through my mind, but they no longer affected me.

They seemed hilariously small and insignificant compared to the bright red words, “top protection priority”, on Summer's file.

When the first ray of sunlight shone through, I called his number for the last time.

This time, his phone was simply turned off.

I then looked at the email I had scheduled to send him. There were three attachments.

The first was a picture of his secret file on Summer. The second was my medical report, stating I had miscarried because I was not treated in time. The third was an audio recording of Summer confessing that her “attack” was merely a lie.

Once everything was ready, I looked up at the sky one last time and took out the gun I had kept in my jacket.

Bang!

I shot the hot-air balloon without an ounce of hesitation.

…

At the same time, Victor was about to leave the hospital.

Summer tried to hold him back, pouting. “Victor, I still need you…”

Victor shook his head, his voice firm. “No, I have to go now. Today is Zoe's birthday. I promised to see the sunset with her.”

Just then, a soldier ran to him in a panic. “Boss, this is bad! Your wife blew up the hot-air balloon she was riding and killed herself!”