"Is it too late?" Holden looked at Zayden calmly. “If I die, the inheritance could go to your unborn child."

"So, you're certain the child Sadie's carrying is mine." Zayden squinted.

"Your story has too many loopholes, and your acting is subpar."

Holden scoffed, "I can't even pretend to not know the truth."

As the two stood in silence, Zayden looked down at Holden with cold eyes.

“Holden, do you think I'm stupid?" he sneered, flicking ash from his cigarette and exhaling a plume of smoke. “If you die, your heir is Melon. You have no legal ties to Ariana, but I suspect you've made secret arrangements, haven't you?"

Holden pressed his lips together, realizing Zayden was smarter than he had anticipated.

“So, if both of you were gone, no one could stop me." Zayden laughed, spreading his arms wide.

Holden's expression darkened at the implication.

Suddenly, Zayden snapped his fingers, and crane arms extended from either side of the rooftop. Adele and Melon were tied to the arms.

Zayden's sinister laughter echoed over the roof. "See, Holden, I'm still offering you a choice."

"One of them will live, and the other will die." Zayden walked to the edge of the rooftop, leaned over, and smiled maliciously at Holden. "Don't worry. Whichever one survives, I'll take care of them. They'll know their father's killer raised them. Imagine the great life they would have."

After a pause, with a playful glint in his eyes, Zayden said, “Make a choice, Holden. Who do you want to save?"

The mechanical arms' vibrations roused the two children from their slumber. Melon blinked sleepily, his ears catching Zayden's voice.

His heart raced as he realized he was suspended in the air, fear gripping him. Instinctively, he let out a scream, struggling until clarity returned.

Memories flooded back. He had accompanied a servant to the bathroom to see Adele. But the moment he entered, a blow had struck him unconscious.

Lowering his gaze, he spotted his father. He then turned and saw Adele, who was also hung up. Her small face contorted in fear.

Sensing Melon's gaze, Adele's lips trembled. A raspy plea eventually escaped her. "Melon, help!"

Fear gnawed at Melon, but seeing Adele's distress, he forced it down.

Gritting his teeth, he projected calmness. “Don't worry, Adele. Look, Daddy's here. We'll be alright."