Derek's POV
The next second, the scene cut to a stunning view. Above the clear blue sea, seagulls were hovering. Everything seemed so peaceful.
Well, except for those two women hanging by ropes.
Daphne was in an expensive gown. Even though she was blindfolded, I could see tears streaming down her face. Obviously, she was freaked out.
Next to her was Tabitha. She was blindfolded, too, only revealing her delicate chin and pale lips.
Leo began to roar in my head.
Though Daphne couldn't see anything, she seemed to sense everyone's gaze on her.
She screamed her lungs out, "Derek! Dad! Help! Please! I don't wanna die!"
Tabitha wasn't doing good. Her forehead was covered in beads of sweat.
Unlike Daphne, she was too weak to shout.
Seemed she was suffocating because of the rope around her waist.
Tabitha's POV
Derek chose Daphne a year ago. I didn't think he'd choose differently now.
This time, I wouldn't wait for an answer that would never happen.
Without hope, there'd be no disappointment.
As I calculated my chances of escape, I heard a noise.
It was the sound from the banquet.
Holly's crying stuck out. "Daphne! Tabitha! Are you OK?" she shouted.
I slowly lifted my head and tried my best to locate the direction of her voice.
Meanwhile, I heard Daphne burst into tears. "Mom! Help!"
"Daphne, don't worry. You'll be fine. I promise!" Holly sobbed.
I licked my lip, remaining silent.
Compared to Derek's choice, I found myself caring about hers more.
After all, she was my mom, biologically speaking. I stroked my phone watch, feeling perturbed.
Despite the fact that she had walked out on me, we were related by blood, whereas Daphne was just her stepdaughter.
She'd pick me, right?
It was the only logical answer, but I felt so nervous that my breath hitched in my throat.
Holly begged, her voice trembling, "Please... Let go of my daughters, OK? They have no beef with you. If it's money that you're after, just name a price. We'll give you however much you want. Just don't hurt them."
I had to admit that I was kinda moved by her sobbing voice. She had never experienced anything big her whole life, so I guessed she must've been scared outta her wits. Getting too emotional would be bad for her health. So hopefully, she could calm down a bit.
I didn't even realize that I was worried about Holly and no one else, including myself.
Derek spoke up, "What do you want?
"Let go of them, and you can have whatever you want."
Holly couldn't stop crying at all. "Say something! Just say it! What the hell do you want?!"
"Mrs. Sutton, I'm so moved by your tears, though you and I are just strangers."
The woman's voice rang out again. Although she sounded regretful, something in her tone gave me goosebumps.
Sure enough, she added, "I wonder, though, are you crying for your daughter or your stepdaughter?"
Holly sniffed and then replied, "What does it matter? They are both my daughters."
The woman sneered.
"Of course. You may be attached to both of them, but there's a difference no matter what. Tell you what? I don't want your money. All I want is to play a bomb game with you guys.
"You've all watched soap operas, right? You know how bomb disposal experts usually will come across two wires connecting the bomb at the last minute. One of the wires leads to survival, and the other one... Boom."
She deliberately imitated the sound of a bomb exploding, startling everyone present.
"As you can see, they're tied with a blue and a red rope respectively. You've got one minute to choose. Which rope is it gonna be?"
Everyone was shocked. "Gosh! If the rope's cut, the person's gonna drown!"
"They're family! How could you force them to make such choices? Are you a monster?"
"You're not God. What right have you to decide whether they live or die?"
The guests kept condemning the mastermind.
Derek, Holly, and Mark all fell silent.
Daphne kept screaming frantically, "Derek! I'm your fiancée! I'm Kyrian and Reid's mom! Pick me! You've gotta save me!"
Alpha Justin demanded, "Pick Daphne. What are you waiting for?"
I was the woman Derek had dumped, whereas Daphne was his future wife who could bring him glory.
Even a fool knew who to pick.
The woman asked, "Mrs. Sutton, what about you? Who would you choose?"
"Me?" Holly panicked.
"Yeah. One is your beloved stepdaughter, and the other is the biological daughter you left behind. I'm dying to know. What's your choice gonna be?" the woman said, clicking her tongue.
"What an idiot! Of course she's gonna pick her biological daughter. Come on! They're related by blood, OK? No matter what, Daphne's just her stepdaughter. Nothing beats blood ties."
"But she's hesitating..."
Everyone was speculating. Meanwhile, after a long silence, I slowly spoke up, "Mom, I'm curious, too. Between me and Daphne, who would you choose?"
This time, I didn't call her Mrs. Sutton. I called her Mom.
Holly would have been overjoyed in any other situation. Unfortunately, we were stuck in such a critical dilemma now.
I went on, my voice calm, "I don't blame you for being cold to me since I was born, nor do I blame you for leaving that year outta the blue. Dad once told me you were unhappy staying by his side. He said that you didn't leave. You just set off to find your own happiness. I get it. You know, none of these matters. I just wanna know one thing.
"Do I still mean anything to you?"