She didn’t have the strength to fight a grown man, so her only option was Ivy–the woman she hated most.

If she could get Ivy’s hands cuffed, Ivy wouldn’t be able to resist. Then, the two of them could jump together, ending it all. If it meant dying, so be it–she was no longer afraid.

Emma pictured the scene in her mind, the fantasy growing more exhilarating with every passing second.

But when the group opposite her still hadn’t reacted, impatience made her shout again, “Hurry up! I’m counting to ten–if Ivy isn’t over here by then, I’ll throw the girl off this roof!”

“Ten…”

“Nine…”

She counted down, freeing one hand to untie the knot that bound her to the little girl.

She’d tied them together for two reasons: first, to keep the girl from escaping; second, to keep the police from taking a risky shot. With their bodies bound, no one would dare act recklessly–if Emma went down, the child would fall with her. But now, with the girl as her bargaining chip against Ivy, she needed to undo the makeshift binding.

“No, please!” the girl’s father sobbed, suddenly rushing forward and dropping to his knees in front of Ivy. “I’m begging you, please save my daughter! My wife’s in poor health–if anything happens to our girl, my wife won’t survive it either-”

Ivy quickly helped him up. “Please, get up! This is all my fault–I’m so sorry. But I promise you, I’ll get your daughter back safely.”

Turning to the police, she demanded, “Where are the handcuffs? Hurry, do as she says.”

Without hesitation, Ivy pressed her wrists together and held them out to the nearest officer.

“Ivy!” Jamison’s voice broke with frustration, but he knew there was no better way. He called her name, but in the end, said nothing more.

With no time to lose, the officer had already set up the safety air cushion down below. This is the eighth floor–technically at the safety limit, but based on previous experience, the survival rate is still high. If it comes to the worst-”

He didn’t finish; Emma’s countdown had already reached “Three.”

“I understand,” Ivy replied. She turned, resolute, and began walking toward the edge of the rooftop.

“Ivy-” Jamison instinctively reached out, but didn’t dare try to pull his wife back.

All he could do was watch her retreating figure, a thousand terrifying possibilities flashing through his mind, his whole body trembling with dread.

Step by step, Ivy approached the edge. When she was close enough, she called out, “Let the child go. I’m here.”

Emma’s guard was up. She kept a tight grip around the child’s neck, suspicious Ivy might try something.

Not until Ivy stood right beside her did Emma suddenly seize Ivy by the throat and drag her in, releasing her hold on the little girl’s clothes.

The child–only three years old–was frozen with terror, too shocked to run.

Emma noticed the girl hadn’t moved. Her eyes narrowed. She reached out, ready to grab the child again.

Ivy caught the motion from the corner of her eye. She didn’t hesitate–a steely look flashed across her face as she lurched forward, handcuffed wrists straining, and locked her arms around Emma’s neck with all her strength.

The metal dug into Ivy’s flesh, pain shooting up her arms, but she ignored it.

Emma cried out, her breath cut off, her body arching backward-

In that split second, Jamison, the police, and the firefighters all lunged forward. But Emma, consumed by her death wish, twisted with Ivy in her grasp and flung herself violently over the opposite side of the rooftop.

“Ivy, if I’m dying, you’re coming with me!” she screamed, a wild, triumphant laugh echoing as both women disappeared from view.

Emma fell.

Ivy was dragged down with her.

Jamison’s outstretched hand caught only the edge of his wife’s coat–he couldn’t save her.

The little girl, teetering dangerously on the rooftop, was snatched to safety at the last instant by a firefighter.

A heartbeat later, a sickening thud resounded from below.

Jamison collapsed to his knees, his right hand still reaching out, his eyes wide and unblinking as he watched his wife plummet from the roof.

For a moment, it felt as if the air had been knocked from his lungs–his heart crashed to the ground along with her, and for a split second, seemed to stop beating altogether.

“Mr. Ludwig! They landed on the air cushion–come down quickly!”

“Mr. Ludwig?”

“Mr. Ludwig!”

It took several calls for the officer’s voice to cut through the roaring in Jamison’s ears.

He turned, looking at the officer.

“They landed on the cushion, sir–hurry-” Before the words were finished, Jamison snapped back to himself and dashed for the stairs.

Down below, firefighters had rushed forward the instant the bodies hit the safety mat.

Thanks to the hospital location, several doctors were already waiting.

Firefighters and medical staff swarmed the air cushion. It was stained a bright, shocking red–so much blood, it was impossible to tell whose it was.