After leaving the banquet hall, I made up my mind. This time, I would make sure both my child and I survived.

I didn't return to my apartment downtown. Instead, I headed straight for the airport.

In my previous life, staying in this city drove me to the brink. This time, I would leave before they could harm my child. They were ruthless, and I no longer had any ties holding me back.

But I had underestimated Luke.

The moment he realized I was missing, he had my bank account frozen. My phone was tracked, and even the flight I had booked in advance was canceled.

I was like a caged bird, unable to escape.

In the end, I had no choice but to hide away in a small rental house in the suburbs. The landlady saw my pregnant belly and took pity on me, charging me only half the rent. But I knew this peace wouldn't last.

Sure enough, Luke showed up at my door two days later.

"Whitney, what are you doing here?" he asked, standing at the doorway with a gentle expression. His perfectly tailored suit was completely out of place in this run-down neighborhood.

I looked at him coldly. "What is it, Mr. Stratton?"

"What are you talking about, Whitney? We've all been so worried about you."

Sorrow flickered in his eyes. "I want to take you back home. Let's live together as a family again."

My heart skipped a beat.

A family? Could it be that, given a second chance at life, my compliance finally meant something to them?

But just as I wavered, his next words plunged me into an abyss.

"Actually…" A faint trace of unease crossed his face. "We need you to help Yvonne. She found an old remedy. Combined with the blood of a premature baby, it could cure her illness."

My whole body trembled as memories of my past life came flooding back—the blinding lights of the operating room, the stench of disinfectant, the urgent shouts of the doctors, and then… total darkness.

"Get out!" I screamed, shoving him away. "Don't you dare lay a hand on my child!"

Why did I even have any expectations for them? How ridiculous.

"What's wrong with you?" Luke frowned. "It's just delivering the baby a little early and taking some blood. It won't harm the child at all. Why are you being so selfish?"

"Selfish?" I barked out a laugh as tears streamed down my cheeks. "Luke, this is your child too! How could you—"

Before I could finish, Mom and Dad suddenly dashed up the stairs.

"Whitney!" Mom threw herself at my legs, sobbing. "Please, save Yvonne! She's your sister!"

I shook her off harshly. "My sister? When have you ever treated me like a daughter?"

"Why, you!" Dad's blood boiled. "At least we took you back and gave you a comfortable life. How can you be so heartless?"

"I'm not the heartless one. It's you two!" I screamed, my heart shattering into a million pieces.

I had stayed out of their lives, letting them live happily as a family. Why did they still have to push me to the edge and demand my child's life?

"Whitney…" Yvonne slowly emerged from the stairs. "I'm sorry… It's all my fault for falling ill…"

Her pallor was ghastly, and she shook like a leaf in the wind, as if she could collapse at any moment. The sight of her made Mom and Dad feel bad for her. They rushed over to support her.

"Don't say that!" Mom hugged her, tears spilling down her face as she shot me a vicious glare. "It's all because we brought this wretch back. She made you sick! She has money now, but it's still not enough for her. She even stole what was yours! She's the one who ruined you, so it's only right for her to pay you back with her life."

I sneered. These were my biological parents. They called me a wretch, looked down on me, cursed me, and wished for my death.

And yet… what had I done wrong? Compared to me, weren't they the ones who were more despicable?

"Alright, Whitney. Stop making a scene," Luke said, grabbing my hand.

"Let's have the baby delivered early tomorrow so that they can save their aunt."

"No!" My eyes reddened. I wanted to try one last time to fight for myself and my child.

But Luke's next words made my blood run cold. "Even if you don't agree, you have to." His grip on my hand tightened, his voice turning cold. "I don't want to get rough with a woman."

The pain in my wrist made my eyes sting. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as I let out a bitter laugh. Once again, my heart was shattered beyond repair.

"Fine." I gave in. "Then just give me one more day. Let me take the baby to the beach for a walk. I'll come back tomorrow and do whatever you say."

I collapsed to the floor, clutching Luke's thigh in desperation.

"Luke… at least let me say goodbye to my baby," I whispered.

He sighed in relief, then nodded after a moment of thought. "You've finally come to your senses."

A flicker of guilt crossed his face. "Once the baby's born, I'll love them with all my heart."

He would love the child? In my previous life, he drained two tubes of blood from my newborn, leaving him so weak that he died.

I couldn't even imagine the pain my child had to endure. And now, he had the audacity to speak of my child like that?

Satisfied with my response, they finally left. I staggered to my feet in silence, closed the door, and stroked my belly.

I grinned. Since they thought I had stolen everything meant for Yvonne, I should return it all to them.

The next day, they came as promised. But just as they stepped into my small rental, Luke's phone rang. It was a video call.

The moment the line connected, he saw me—my clothes disheveled and my face covered in horrifying bruises. I was tied up with a rag stuffed in my mouth, staring into the camera as I struggled violently.

"Luke, see this? Your ex-wife is in my hands. If you want her alive, prepare 50 million dollars."

The stranger beside me pressed a knife to my neck.

His words dropped like a bomb in the otherwise silent living room. "And you'd better hurry. Don't even think about calling the cops. If you do, you can only expect to collect her corpse."

Luke's expression darkened.

Beside him, Yvonne covered her mouth in shock. Tears pooled in her eyes as she whimpered, "Luke, let's go save my sister. I know she won't refuse to save me on purpose. She must have her reasons!"

His expression grew worse. "Whitney, enough! Do you want Yvie to die that badly? To think you'd even stoop to this kind of trick to avoid saving her."

Mom and Dad had hesitated. But as soon as they heard Luke and Yvonne, their expressions hardened.

"I knew it," Dad said through gritted teeth. "That brat… Why would she ask for a walk out of nowhere? Of course, she was up to something."

"That wretched thing!" Mom cried out. "She's so cruel. What's going to happen to our dear Yvie?"

Even though I had long since stopped expecting anything from her, her words still pierced through my heart like a blade.

Just then, the kidnapper suddenly yanked the rag from my mouth. I coughed hard for a long moment before I could lift my head to the camera.

"I should never have expected anything from you guys," I wheezed, forcing a smile. "You want to use me and my baby to save Yvonne? This time, I want to see how you'll do it. Listen up—I don't ever want to see you again. From this moment on, I'll cut all ties with you all!"

With that, I lunged toward the dagger in the kidnapper's hand. The blade slashed across my throat, blood splattering onto the camera.

The video cut off.