My Birthday, My Downfall novel Chapter 70

At Zoe Davis's engagement party, James Carter and Joshua Morgan were both kidnapped.

Masked kidnappers pointed guns at their heads.

A harsh, ambiguous voice reached Zoe's ears.

"You can only choose one. I'll count to three. If you don't pick, I'll kill them both!"

"No!" Zoe shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

Her eyes were bloodshot.

The choice was unbearable.

James was her boyfriend, and Joshua was her childhood friend.

No matter who she chose, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

But the kidnappers didn't give her time to think. "One!"

"Two!"

"Wait! I'll give you anything you want!" Zoe frantically waved her hands.

The kidnapper coldly said the final number, "Three!"

Zoe slammed her eyes shut and screamed James's name.

A gunshot rang out, and Joshua fell to the ground.

"Ah!" She clutched her heart and collapsed beside him, unable to believe it as she cradled his head. The bloodstain felt like it had pierced her heart.

In the next instant, Joshua's parents rushed over, pushing her to the ground. Countless feet trampled over her hands, and she curled up in pain.

A pair of warm hands pulled her into an embrace. "Zoe, it's not your fault. We couldn't do anything!"

No. It was her fault. She shouldn't have chosen.

But she chose James, her boyfriend.

She betrayed Joshua.

Overwhelmed with guilt and fear, she dug her nails into her palms.

That night, she couldn't sleep.

James stayed by her side, answering the police's questions, feeding her, cleaning her up. He was so attentive, like a personal maid.

At 4 a.m., James was suddenly gone.

She heard voices outside the room.

The quiet made everything seem louder.

"James, you've really gone too far this time! Pretending to be poor, pretending to have amnesia, pretending to have cancer—fine. But this fake kidnapping? If Zoe finds out, she'll never forgive you!"

"Stop it! Zoe loves James so much, she wouldn't stop loving him over something so small! But are you really going to marry her?"

"Yeah, James, you've been with Ella for almost eight years. If you marry Zoe, you'll have to break up with her. Are you sure?"

Zoe's breath caught, her head spun. She bit her lip to keep from crying out.

It was all a lie.

"You're serious now! But with Zoe's stubbornness, you better be careful she doesn't find out about all this."

"Nobody else would accept you, don't regret it."

But James waved it off confidently, slapping his chest. "Joshua's 25 years don't even compare to my six. She's going to be my wife for life!"

His words shocked everyone, and they all shouted, "Crazy!"

Meanwhile, Zoe, her fingers raw from clawing at the sheets, gasped for air, her tears soaking the bed.

She trembled, holding back the sobs.

The James who had once held her so tightly when they were young was gone.

She couldn't stay in Redwood City anymore. She couldn't face Joshua's parents.

Zoe found a chat window with a completely black profile picture.

Her hands shaking, she spent five minutes writing and sending a message.

"I accept the job in Westfield to teach languages. When do we leave?"

The reply came quickly. "In half a month."

She typed two words with determination. "Got it."

That day was supposed to be the day James proposed, but it was also the day she was leaving.

Soon, she would escape this absurd place and leave James behind for good.