Chapter 428

Tanya’s scream ripped through the air, loud enough to make my ears ring. “Don’t provoke her,” a firefighter warned again, but Jace waved him off. Jace knew, just like I did, that Tanya didn’t actually want to die. This was all a show, a desperate act to make everyone believe she was at her breaking point.

Sure enough, after her outburst, she shot a wild look at Jace and me. “You think I’m bluffing, don’t you? You think I’d never actually jump, that this is just about money. Well, today, I’ll show you—either I’m serious, or this is all just a game.”

She took another step back, inching closer to the edge. My heart raced. Even if she didn’t want to die, one wrong move, and she would. The whole thing was way too real.

I glanced at her swollen belly. I didn’t know exactly how far along she was, but it had been over six months since Jace and I broke up. That baby had to be at least six or seven months in.

Tanya might be playing some twisted game, but that baby? Totally innocent. My chest tightened with pity. But pleading with her wouldn’t help; if anything, it’d just give her more power.

I decided to hit where it hurt—her greed. “Go ahead and jump. Everyone here will see it’s your choice. It’ll be ruled as suicide, and you’ll get nothing. All your plans? Gone. Everything you’ve schemed for? Over. You’ll lose it all, including the love of the man who died for you.”

Tanya’s eyes widened, and her face twisted with grief. “I already have nothing,” she sobbed. “Desmond’s parents don’t acknowledge me. My own family’s disowned me.”

There it was. Her world had crumbled. No family, no support from Desmond’s parents. She was desperate, clinging to anything. Even her own brother had betrayed her.

“If you don’t want me to jump, give me Jace,” she demanded, her voice trembling. “Let him marry me.”

I almost laughed. Like Jace was some prize I could just hand over. The sad thing was, she actually believed Jace rejecting her was my fault; that if I wasn’t in the picture, he’d choose her.

“You’re wrong,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I’m not scared of you jumping. If you do, this whole mess ends, and we all move on.”

A firefighter near me shot me a shocked look, clearly not expecting me to be so blunt. But I wasn’t here to coddle Tanya.

Tanya, on the other hand, looked furious, her body shaking. “You’re evil! You want me to die so you can take Jace back!”

Her logic was so twisted, it was almost funny. Did she really think I still wanted… She must’ve thought I wanted power or money. Didn’t she get that once she’d tainted Jace with all her lies and drama, I wouldn’t take him back even if she wrapped him up and handed him over?

Still, I needed to keep her talking. If she stayed focused on me, maybe the firefighters could inch closer and grab her before it was too late.

I shrugged, playing along. “You’re right. If you jump, I can have Jace back. I’ll be the wife of the Riverwave Corp’s CEO, living in luxury.”

“Don’t you dare!” she screamed, her face red with anger. She clearly wasn’t willing to let me have Jace, not even in death.

I couldn’t help but wonder where this intense hatred for me came from. We hadn’t even crossed paths until she stole my fiancé. Why did she hate me so much?

“If you don’t want to give him up, stop with this whole life-or-death act,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “If you’re so strong, fight for him like a real woman. Don’t go around threatening to end it all.”

“Fight?” She let out a bitter laugh. “How can I fight you? You’ve got ten years of history with him. His parents already see you as their daughter-in-law. What do I have to compete with?”

At least she knew she couldn’t win. If only she’d realized that sooner, maybe she wouldn’t be standing on this rooftop, broken and desperate.

“I’ve lost everything,” Tanya whispered, her voice cracking. “I just wanted a better life. What’s so wrong with that?”

Her energy was fading, and her words were barely above a whisper now. She wasn’t entirely wrong. Wanting a better life wasn’t a crime. But what about everyone she’d hurt? Did their pain mean nothing?

Her façade was crumbling. I could see the firefighters inching closer from both sides. I held my breath, silently praying they’d reach her in…