Chapter 3

2

My mother-in-law's last hope was crushed under his heel.

My team had spent three years in the lab perfecting that single vial.

We failed thousands of times and spent more money than ten of these horror parks combined.

That was the only finished dose in existence.

Xander hung up the phone, a triumphant smirk on his face.

"Let that old bag rot in the morgue. If you weren't so good-looking and useful in bed, you'd never have made it into the Sterling family."

Serena stood on her tiptoes and kissed his jaw.

"Isn't it a blessing her mom is dead? No more begging for handouts."

"Last week she asked me for a job cleaning the park toilets just to collect extra cans. So pathetic!"

I actually laughed out loud this time.

My mother's trust fund interest alone could buy the Sterling estate ten times over.

Who did these people think they were?

The only reason the Sterling business was even afloat was because I felt sorry for Xander.

Ever since I was kidnapped as a child, my mother insisted I keep my identity a secret for safety.

And this was the thanks I got.

He used my money to buy gifts for his mistress and humiliate me.

"If you don't want to save a life, that's on you. But don't you dare insult my mother again."

Xander stepped toward me, his eyes flashing with hate. "You're threatening me?"

"You want to see her body? I'll make sure she's used as a prop for Serena's grand opening tonight!"

The 'friends' standing around us started cheering.

"Xander, we need to test the new 'Live Experiment' room before the gates open."

Xander looked at me and signaled his bodyguards.

"Since you're so mouthy, you can be Serena's first test subject."

I struggled, but I was forced onto a cold metal operating table in a staged bio-lab room.

Serena picked up a massive, oversized syringe filled with a strange liquid.

"Welcome to my laboratory, Elara!"

"Tonight, we're performing a live vivisection!"

The crowd roared with laughter.

"This is perfect. I'm going to livestream this. It'll go viral before the opening!"

My phone started buzzing incessantly in my pocket.

Xander noticed the caller ID: "Chairman of the Sterling Group."

He grabbed the phone and smashed it against the side of my head.

"Wow, Elara. Playing pretend? You really think you can fake a call from the biggest CEO in the country?"

Serena poked Xander's chest.

"Maybe she's cheating on you with some old sugar daddy who calls himself Chairman!"

"Maybe she killed her mom herself to get inheritance money to run away with him!"

Serena leaned over me, drawing a dark, bubbling liquid into the needle.

"Let's see how pretty you look after I fix that face of yours."

Xander looked on with pure excitement.

"Do it, Serena. Then we'll lock her in a cage for the tourists to see!"

Serena lunged, aiming the needle straight for my neck.