When I woke up again, Aaron was gone, but he left a note.

"Amanda, I've got work. Be good and rest at home."

I closed my eyes, pain radiating from my wrist. A small blue dot indicated that the tracker was active and could pinpoint my location.

More attention than they give to prisoners. I forced a bitter smile.

On the TV, Aaron and Nora appeared together, a picture-perfect couple.

Aaron always said it was just a contract, a business arrangement between their two families.

He explained it back then so I wouldn't be upset.

But I was just a bird in a cage. How could I ever compete with the daughter of the Peyer family?

Just then, my phone rang. It was Aaron.

"Amanda, I've been drugged. Come here."

Outside, the wind was howling. I threw on some clothes and rushed out.

He had been drugged.

Over the past three years, this happened often, and I had grown used to it. I had almost forgotten that Nora was still by his side.

I mechanically grabbed some warm water and the antidote.

As soon as I opened the door, rain poured down in torrents, and the wind nearly knocked me off my feet.

I got into the car and started driving. The night was so dark, I couldn't see the road ahead.

I only knew I was about a few dozen meters away. I could see Aaron, with Nora supporting him.

He glanced in the direction of my car, and then turned back to kiss Nora on the lips.

They entered the house together.

Did he call me here just to see this?

I didn't know how to feel—only that my heart was drowning in something cold.

Yes, what difference did it make if I came?

I was always his canary, kept in the shadows. A single tear slid down my cheek.

At this moment, my heart was truly shattered.

I wanted to turn around and leave, but a pickup truck suddenly cut me off.

The driver said that Aaron had given instructions. If they saw my car, they were to stop me. He wanted to spend a beautiful night with his fiancée.

I was dragged to the neighboring villa, tied to a bed, forced to watch the silhouettes of the couple in the other villa.

I... a figure that couldn't be more familiar.

A wave of nausea hit me hard.

I wanted to vomit, but the atmosphere around me suddenly changed.

More people appeared, and they shut the door.

Their laughter made my heart tremble.

I told them I was carrying Aaron's child, but they only laughed harder.

"You? Carrying Aaron's child? You're just a bird to him. Miss Peyer wanted us to keep you company, so a bird like you wouldn't try to seduce someone else's fiancé."

When they laid their hands on me, I suddenly laughed. The blue dot on my wrist went out.

After enduring so much pain to have it implanted, it was useless when I needed it the most.

The world really was unfair.

I was already dying.

Did they still have to humiliate me?

But I couldn't fight back.

My clothes had already been torn off. Even if I died here, what difference would it make?

I only knew that I used all the strength I had left to slam my head against the wall.

The last thing I remembered was seeing a group of shirtless men trying to save me.

Aaron, I no longer owe you anything.

Death... would be a relief for me.

It was just a shame about my child.

But in the end, I won't leave so easily.