Chapter 1

On my birthday, my boyfriend insisted I join him and his god-sister on a Ferris wheel ride, despite my fear of heights, to make her happy.

“Nora, it’s just a Ferris wheel. You won’t die. I brought you because you take the best photos.”

Even though I was terrified, I took photos for them, but his god-sister kept criticizing my shots.

Unexpectedly, when the Ferris wheel reached its peak, it suddenly broke down. Ignoring my pleas, my boyfriend pushed me out.

“We’re too heavy with three people, Nora. Hang in there, I’ll call for help.”

“I have to protect Adeline, she’s my mom’s goddaughter.”

Somehow, I survived with broken bones, called off our engagement, and burned all our photos together.

But later, when he saw my Instagram post announcing my marriage, he lost it completely.

Inside the stuck Ferris wheel car, my boyfriend Asher looked at me with a harsh expression.

“We’re overweight. If you don’t jump, we’ll all die. Just do it.”

“It’s not that high. If you jump, you might just break a leg. Trust me, Nora. I’ll call an ambulance for you right after.”

I was stunned, gripping the doorframe so tightly my hands bled.

Who could have guessed that on my birthday, Asher would trick me into coming here to take photos for him and his first love, Adeline?

“Asher, do you realize I could die if I jump from here? How could you do this to me…”

My voice shook as I spoke.

Asher’s face turned cold, and he shouted at me.

“What do you want then?! If you don’t jump to lighten the load, we’ll all die together! Nora, how can you be so selfish?!”

Selfish?

I never thought I’d hear him call me that.

Today, when Asher mysteriously promised a surprise, I was excited. I took the day off, expecting something special for my birthday.

In the five years we’ve been together, he either forgot my birthday or brushed it off without a gift.

Whenever I showed my disappointment, he didn’t seem to care.

“It’s just a birthday. Do you think you’re some great person who deserves something extravagant? Aren’t lipstick and skincare products enough?”

But the lipstick was used, and the skincare products were just samples.

Back then, I thought he was just being thrifty. Now, I see it was because he didn’t love me enough.

Seeing my silence, Asher grew impatient.

“Are you jumping or not? Do I have to push you? Why are you making such a fuss over something so simple?”

He stepped closer, almost ready to push me himself.

At that moment, my heart ached unbearably, forcing me to bow my head, tears falling to the ground.

How foolish I was to believe his words.

All his promises meant nothing compared to the woman, Adeline, now cowering in his arms.

For Adeline, he didn’t care about my existence at all.

The ground was several meters below. Just looking made me dizzy.

At noon, when Asher sent me a location to meet him, I didn’t expect Adeline to be there too.

She let him pamper her, softly asking if I could take some photos of her on the Ferris wheel.

I was about to tell her about my fear of heights and refuse when Asher dragged me into the Ferris wheel car.

The overwhelming fear mixed with my current grievance and anger made me shout at the top of my lungs.

“Asher, do you remember I’m your girlfriend? Do you know we’re about to get engaged?!”

“You already know I’m afraid of heights and now you don’t even care about my life. Was your love for me a lie?!”

Choking with emotion, I collapsed on the floor.

Seeing me shaking and crying, Asher looked slightly pained and reached out to help me up.

Just then, the Ferris wheel hanging mid-air made a dull noise, scaring Adeline into his arms.

“Asher, I’m so scared. Are we going to die here? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked you and Nora to come. It’s all my fault.”

Her eyes were red as she walked to the door.

“If it’s like this, then I’ll jump to make amends.”

In an instant, Asher rushed to pull her back, his eyes wet with anxiety.

“No, Adeline, it’s not your fault! You can’t jump, you’ll get hurt!”

He held her tightly, comforting her softly.

A few minutes later, he turned to me with determination on his face.

“Don’t worry, Nora. Even if something happens to you, I’ll take good care of you. I’ll always be there for you.”

“But Adeline can’t. She’s too delicate to endure hardships.”

With that, ignoring my pleas, he opened the door and pushed me out.