Chapter 3

Alice was unaware of what happened next, but as soon as she sat in the car, she heard Michelle's piercing scream behind her. Was she really hitting herself?

For some reason, the fear in Alice’s heart seemed to fade a bit, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. It was the first time in years that someone stood up for her...

The man glanced at her smile through the rearview mirror and calmly instructed the driver to start the car. The tinted windows made the outside world look dim. As she relaxed, pain spread through her limbs, making her face increasingly pale, but she didn’t dare to sleep. After all, she couldn’t tell if he was a friend or a foe.

“Miss Howell, if you’re tired, feel free to sleep. I’ll wake you when we arrive,” he said.

Nodding slightly, she murmured a thank you and leaned against the car window, drifting off. She was exhausted—so tired. Her limbs felt unresponsive, and in her dream, she was in a soothing hot spring, the warmth melting away her fatigue. She wished she could sleep forever in that bliss.

But suddenly, the water turned cold, and monsters appeared, grabbing her limbs and pulling her down into the depths.

“Ah—” Gasping for breath, Alice jolted awake, feeling as if her body had been crushed. Shivering, she opened her eyes to darkness, realizing she was outside, surrounded by towering trees and a sky full of stars. The wind rustled the leaves, sending chills down her spine.

Looking down, she felt buoyant, her body warm in the natural hot spring that enveloped her waist. She couldn’t see how turbulent the waters were beneath her, but her consciousness began to fade.

Maxwell watched as Alice’s head drooped, her long hair cascading softly over him. However, the ugly wounds marred her beauty, and a hint of anger flickered across his strikingly handsome face.

When Alice woke again, the nightmare had ended. She found herself lying on a lounge chair next to the hot spring, covered with a white towel. Every part of her ached, especially where the wounds had swollen and throbbed in the hot water.

A young girl crouched beside her, holding a medicine bottle and cotton swabs. Upon seeing Alice awake, she sighed in relief. “Miss, you’re awake! Here, drink some water.”

The girl offered a straw, and after a few sips, Alice finally found the strength to speak. “Thank you. Can you tell me where this is...?”

“Sky Fortress,” the girl replied, resuming her position. “I’ll apply some medicine for you now.”

“Hmm?” Alice was taken aback.

“It’s okay, don’t be shy. Can you get up? If you can, please get dressed so we can do a check-up.”

Her abdomen throbbed with pain, but she lacked the strength to resist, surrendering to whatever they planned.

Advanced medical equipment beeped and hummed, with control switches glowing in blue and red. Two doctors in white coats and masks instructed her to lie down.

One of them took a probe and began examining her flat abdomen under the bright lights above, making Alice feel like a fish on a chopping board, unaware of who was doing this to her, just enduring the procedure, all while being pregnant.

But after such a long ordeal, surely the child was—

“All done, you can get up now.”

“Doctor, am I really pregnant? What will happen to the child?” The sensation was surreal; there was life growing inside her, and it felt so strange.

“Yes, you are. Take these medications home, and wait for Mr. Henderson’s further instructions.”

“Mr. Henderson? Who is Mr. Henderson?” 

But no one answered her question. She was escorted out and placed in an opulent room to rest.