Chapter 3
Andrew probably thought I'd finally given in, or maybe my words had made him wary.
He did loosen his grip a bit, but still stuck close to my side, making sure I couldn't slip away.
I pretended to go along with him, following him toward the parking lot, my mind racing.
As we neared the elevator, I let out a gasp and fell sideways, faking a twisted ankle.
The moment his grip loosened, I blended into the crowd and darted toward the emergency exit in the opposite direction.
"Isabelle!" Andrew roared in anger behind me.
Without looking back, I sprinted away faster than I'd ever run in my life.
Only when I was sure I'd lost him did I collapse into the driver's seat, completely drained.
That night, my phone wouldn't stop buzzing.
It was Andrew.
At first, he bombarded me with apology after apology, pouring out his guilt in text after text.
He said he was blinded by anger earlier and that Charlotte had provoked him into saying those awful things.
He even claimed he'd accept the baby, raise it as his own, and hoped I'd forgive him.
But then, that disgusting confidence of his came flooding back, and he shot me another text.
[Isabelle, quit making a fuss. In seven days, I'll be at the Foster family to take you as my bride.]
[Southvale's best hotel, our wedding. Nothing's changed.]
I stared at the screen, reading his self-congratulatory messages, and couldn't help but think how ridiculous it all was.
I picked up my phone and shot back a short reply: [If you're so dead set on dying, I'll help you out.]
Before I knew it, it was time for my boy, Ethan's, birthday party.
My in-laws had already gone ahead to greet the guests, so I brought Ethan to the hotel a little later.
As soon as we reached the entrance, we bumped right into Andrew.
He stared at Ethan in shock, his voice hoarse. "Who... who is he?"
I pulled Ethan behind me, keeping my tone calm. "My son."
Charlotte spoke, her voice soft, but everyone could hear her. "This kid looks about three. If you think about it, he must've come along right when you first left for overseas...
"Andrew, don't get upset. Maybe Isabelle just didn't think straight back then."
Ethan instinctively hid behind me. I didn't want him to witness any more of this drama. "I'm just here to take my son to his birthday party. Please move aside."
Andrew struggled for a second, then steeled himself. "Isabelle, I don't mind that you have a kid. Since you came here yourself, let's get this wedding over with right now."
Charlotte took the chance to sidle up next to me and whispered, "You're together with Alexander, aren't you?"
My eyes flickered, and she pronounced each word slowly. "Andrew and I made a bet. If he gets you to lie down in that red coffin at the wedding today, I'll get my creative spark back.
"But he doesn't know that coffin is the soul-transfer coffin I've searched so hard for. If you die inside it, I'll become the most powerful woman in Southvale."
It felt like my blood turned to ice in an instant.
Every instinct screamed she was dead serious.
I had to get out of here, right now.
But as soon as I took a step, a wave of dizziness crashed over me. Charlotte caught me with a sly smile on her lips.
She whispered, "Bet you didn't see that coming. I just drugged you. When the Grant family comes looking for Isabelle, the only one they'll ever get is me."
Her words had barely faded before darkness swallowed me whole.
When I came to, I was bound so tightly I could barely move, swallowed by pitch darkness in a space so cramped I could hardly breathe.
Pure terror flooded my mind as I realized I was trapped inside a coffin.
"Mmmpf..." I tried to call out, but my mouth was taped shut.
"Is this where she was last seen?"
That voice was Alexander! He was here. He'd come for me. He was going to save me.
Charlotte's voice cut in. "Alex, maybe Isabelle had to leave in a hurry for something urgent. Why don't you check somewhere else?"
She was lying! I was right here.
Just then, someone burst in, sounding like they had urgent news.
"Are you sure?" There was a hint of urgency in Alexander's voice.
"The clues point over there..."
Were they really leaving?
No! I can't die here.
Ethan was still waiting for me.
With every last bit of strength and desperation, I threw myself against the coffin lid.
"Wait." Alexander stopped, suspicion creeping into his voice. "This coffin... Why is there a sound coming from inside?"
"Alex, maybe it's just a rat? Or maybe you just imagined it." Charlotte's voice was shaky with panic.
Alexander said, "Open it."
The footsteps drew closer and stopped right beside the coffin. Whoever it was seemed ready to open it.
"Mr. Grant!" the assistant called out, his voice full of excitement. "We've got news.
"One of the maids from the side hall said she saw Isabelle leaving by herself through the back door about half an hour ago, and the security cameras caught a blurry shot of her, too."
"See, Alex? I told you Isabelle probably left on her own," Charlotte said, her voice tinged with just the right amount of hurt. "This coffin's been here forever. Maybe there really are rats living inside."