"I''m ready, Gifford. I''m sorry for all the trouble," Mary said, her head bowed, her voice trembling on the edge of tears.
She looked truly pitiful.
Gifford had never approved of Mary agreeing to be a surrogate for Ferdinand and Briony.
All these years working for Ferdinand, he''d only stayed out of gratitude.
Back then, he''d been tricked into a scam operation in Myanmar. When he tried to escape, he was caught and nearly beaten to death—until Ferdinand appeared and pulled him out of hell.
Ferdinand had promised him a life of luxury and security if he stayed loyal, vowing that his family would never want for anything again.
Given the choice between a brutal death and following Ferdinand, Gifford knew there was only one path for him.
He respected Ferdinand deeply; sometimes he even thought that if Ferdinand hadn''t be obsessed with Briony, none of this mess would have happened.
Ferdinand had built his own little kingdom-maybe the world didn''t recognize it, but it was enough for Ferdinand to live exactly as he pleased.
And now Mary was standing before him, caught up in the same web as Ferdinand.
They were both ves to desires they couldn''t control.
Gifford couldn''t approve, but he was powerless to change any of it.
Seeing Mary so fragile and lost, he couldn''t help but feel a twinge of sympathy.
"Miss Mary, don''t be afraid. Once we reach Switzend, you''ll be safe."
There was a softness in his reassurance that didn''t escape either of them.
Mary nodded, still looking at the ground. "I trust Ferdinand. I just feel so useless- at a time like this, I''m only slowing everyone down."
"You''re pregnant. There''s nothing you can do about it," Gifford replied. "Come on, let''s get back to the car and keep moving."
Mary murmured her agreement and followed him. She''d barely taken a few steps when her ankle twisted on a loose stone.
"Ah-!"
She let out a cry as she pitched forward, and Gifford spun around, rmed, just in time to see her hit the ground.
"Miss Mary, are you alright?"
He rushed to her side and knelt to check her injury.
Mary clutched her left ankle, her face twisted in pain. "I stepped on a rock and twisted it..."
"Let me see."
She pulled her hand away.
Her ankle was already swollen and red, clearly badly sprained.
Gifford frowned. "Can you walk?"
"It really hurts..."
"Then I''ll carry you." Not wanting to lose any more time, Gifford scooped her up his arms and started back toward the car.
Behind them, the tall grass rustled ever so slightly—
A sniper''s rifle emerged, its scope trained on Gifford''s back.
Mary turned her head, catching a glimpse of movement in the brush-
The next instant, a gunshot rang out!
Bang!
Gifford''s eyes went wide. His body went rigid, frozen in ce.
Mary screamed, "Gifford!"
Inside the car, Briony and Ferdinand jolted at the sound.
"Something''s happened to Mary!" Briony eximed, reaching for the door, but Ferdinand grabbed her arm, stopping her.
"Let go of me!"
Briony struggled. "Didn''t you hear the gunshot? Mary''s still out there! She''s carrying your child-"
"Calm down," Ferdinand snapped.
"You''ll only make things worse if you
And don''t
go out there. And
forget-youre still sick!"
Briony fell silent, her hands shaking
"But what about Mary? Ferdina ever if you don''t care about her she''s carrying your baby. How can you just abandon them?"
Ferdinand stared at her.
Tears streamed down Briony''s cheeks. "Ferdinand, please—I''m begging you. Help Mary. Help that child..."
A voice in Ferdinand''s mind screamed at him: Don''t trust her. She''s manipting you. Don''t listen.
But in reality, Briony looked at him through her tears, pleading, "Ferdinand, save the baby. Save our baby, please."
Ferdinand closed his eyes.
So be it. Even if she was lying, he would ept it.
"Stay in the car. I''ll bring Mary and our child back."