Chapter 272

A taunting threat echoed from just outside the door. Joyce, on the verge of tears, looked at Thea desperately. "Thea, what are we supposed to do now?"

Unlike Joyce, Thea seemed only to grow more composed under pressure, her gaze fixed on the door, which was dangerously close to breaking. That door won't hold much longer, Thea thought.

"Miss Rowland, we're all acquainted here, aren't we? Why don't you just save us both the trouble and open the door? I'll make it quick and painless for you… Isn't that the best outcome? There's no point resisting. This is what happens when you cross the wrong people." His words were laced with hidden meaning.

Nicolas's face flashed in Thea's mind, but she pushed the thought aside. What would I be if I leaned on Nicolas for everything? she thought.

Thea dragged Joyce toward the bedroom bathroom, searching for a length of rope. Finding none, she twisted the bedsheets together.

"Thea, what are you planning?" Joyce watched in terror as Thea knotted the sheets into a makeshift rope and began lowering it out the narrow bathroom window. "We're on the twentieth floor. Not even Spider-Man could make it out alive from here. One misstep, and we'd fall," Joyce said. It was an escape plan as daunting as confronting their attackers. Thea knew this all too well.

She had a fear of heights; even as she lowered the rope, the cold wind made her hands tremble. But they had no other choice.

"Listen. The apartment on the eighteenth floor has a balcony below our window. Use it as a landing spot and stay hidden there," Thea instructed, estimating the distance. Both she and Joyce were light enough, and the bedsheets seemed strong enough to support them. The pounding on the door continued, and cold sweat slicked Thea's forehead.

"These are merciless people; they won't spare anyone. But they're here for me. If you make it down safely, they won't bother hunting for you. I'll cut the rope as soon as you're clear… Take your phone. You should have enough time to call the police." Thea spoke swiftly, aware of the limited time.

But Joyce hesitated, gripping Thea's hand. "Thea, what about you? Are you planning to let them kill you?"

Thea shook her head. "I'm not giving up. But with my leg injuries, I can't run. You go. I'll figure something out."

Does she really have a plan? Joyce wondered, then decided to trust Thea. Thea's mind is sharp enough to come up with this, and she must have another way out!

Finally, Joyce climbed out the window and began her descent. Clinging to the wall, she was too frightened to look down. The drop seemed endless.

Fortunately, the apartment levels were standard height, and Joyce, mindful of the time, reached the ground in ten minutes. She collapsed in relief. "Thea, come down! It's not that far. You can make it!" Joyce called, waving frantically.

But Thea had already cut the sheets; she had no intention of escaping. Thea knew she had dragged Joyce into this. Only by ensuring Joyce's safety could she find peace.

"Joyce, live well…" Thea's words drifted to Joyce's ears. A deep premonition filled Joyce's heart.

"Who… who are you?" The tenant on the eighteenth floor, a clean-cut young man, barely out of college, stepped out, alerted by the sounds.

He was startled to see Joyce slumped on his balcony, sobbing. "Where did you come from?"

Joyce looked small and helpless. The young man, seemingly harmless, cautiously poked her arm with a baseball bat, testing her intentions. Joyce clutched the cut bedsheet, crying uncontrollably.

She realized then that Thea had no other plan. She had simply given her the chance to live. Overcome with grief, Joyce's vision blurred.

She grabbed the young man. "Please, sir, I'm not a bad person. Can you help me save someone? She's my best friend. Contact the building management and security. Come with me to the twentieth floor."

Joyce was frantic. Only one thought consumed her: No matter what, even if it cost her life, I have to save Thea, just as Thea did for me.

Her disheveled state caught the young man's attention. "What exactly happened? I can't help if you don't tell me."

On the twentieth floor, Thea's small frame allowed her to hide among winter clothes in the closet. She had locked every door and window, confident they would find no trace of Joyce's escape.

Yet, she had no idea how long she could stay hidden. She couldn't guarantee she'd last until the police arrived. Her breathing was shallow, and her heartbeat pounded in the confined space.

The door lock clicked. Thea recognized the leader instantly: Chad, a familiar face from her past.

He was immediately drenched by a trap Thea had set, and his dark expression turned even more menacing.

"Well done, Miss Rowland. But this place isn't that big. No matter where you're hiding, I will find you," he sneered, his voice muffled but chilling.

Thea racked her brain, unable to understand why Corey would send someone who despised her so much. Is my life really that difficult to claim? Thea mused.

Footsteps drew closer. Suddenly, a phone rang, sounding ominous.

Cold sweat soaked Thea's clothes. The closet felt airless.

"Ah, it's Mr. Hendrix," Chad said, his voice disturbingly close. Though he hadn't located her, Thea knew he was focused on the bedroom.

He seemed to relish the hunt, taking sadistic pleasure in cornering his prey.

Gazing at the phone, Chad smirked. "Still working to stay in Nicolas's good graces, aren't you? Even Mr. Hendrix can't let you go, which explains why Ms. Sandy is so eager to see you dead." Ms. Sandy? So, it wasn't Corey; it was April? Thea's mind raced.

Chapter 272

It all made sense now. Corey might be calculating, but even she didn't know what she ultimately wanted. April, on the other hand, despised Thea and had repeatedly tried to kill her. But there was no time to dwell on it. Thea could feel Chad's gaze settling on the closet door.

"Well, well, such a noble lady, and you don't even know how to cover your tracks properly. If you're willing to surrender, I might just be in a good enough mood to leave your corpse intact," Chad taunted.