Chapter 2

Melinda's soft, pitiful voice came from upstairs. "Chuck! Harry! I'm so scared!"

Chester's expression darkened, and he turned his head angrily, snapping, "Shut up! If you make another sound, I'll kill you right now!"

Harry, who was on the floor below, could see Chester was serious. After a brief pause, despite Chester's threat, he signaled the sniper to fire.

Chuck rushed in the moment Chester fell. Looking at the bombs strapped to the three of us, Chuck hesitated, his eyes scanning between us.

Melinda's eyes were red with tears. "Chuck, please save me, I don't want to die."

Chuck touched Melinda's face with trembling hands. His voice was hoarse as he comforted her. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."

He completely ignored me—his wife—beside them.

My heart grew colder by the second.

As Quinn's cold hand gripped mine, I looked over at her. I realized I couldn't let this happen. Even if Chuck abandoned me, I couldn't let Quinn get hurt. After all, she was pregnant too!

I raised my voice. "Chuck, I'm pregnant!"

I had thought Chuck would choose me and Quinn for the child's sake.

But to my shock, Chuck's expression turned impatient. "Scarlett, how can you be so selfish? Are you actually lying just to save yourself? Do you think I wouldn't know if you were pregnant?"

He lowered his head and carefully began disarming the bomb on Melinda. "Also, so what if you were pregnant? I checked the bombs. They won't kill you. They'll just injure you a little."

He added, "Mel is still young; she's never been through anything like this. I promised her I'd protect her."

I was stunned. It felt like I was seeing the man beside me for the first time. The pain in my chest was now far worse than the fear.

Quinn sighed softly. "Don't be afraid, Scarlett. I'm here."

Tears slowly slid down my cheeks.

Just a few hours ago, I was still looking forward to the birth of my child, imagining it growing up alongside Quinn's, just like we had grown up together as best friends.

The beeping of the bomb strapped to my stomach grew more rapid. My heartbeat, too, quickened.

At that moment, my eyes lit up when I saw Harry rush in. If Harry knew that Quinn was pregnant, surely he would make Chuck choose to save us both.

Quinn also looked at Harry and softly called out to him, "Harry."

Harry glanced at Quinn, his steps faltering for a moment.

I quickly said, "Harry, Quinn is pregnant. You can't let Chuck save only Melinda."

Harry froze as if struggling to find the words.

On the other side, Melinda's sobs grew louder as her arms reached out to Harry. "Harry, I'm so scared! Why did it take you so long?"

Chuck frowned deeply and reprimanded us sternly, "Scarlett, Quinn, are you two done? One moment, Scarlett is pregnant, and the next, it's Quinn. To steal Mel's only chance of survival, you're both willing to tell such vile lies.

"Harry, don't listen to them. Come comfort Mel; she's terrified."

Ignoring Quinn entirely, Harry walked straight toward Melinda.

But Quinn wasn't like me. She was decisive. She spoke firmly, "Harry, if you go to Melinda, we're getting a divorce."

Harry turned to look at her with his eyebrows raised slightly, clearly irritated. "Are you threatening me?"