Chapter 237 Hidden Watcher

Chapter 237 Hidden Watcher
Marisa POV

I watched in furious silence as Diana and her family reunited. That orange juice should have been their end. It was right there, seconds from Joanne's lips, when she stumbled and spilled everything across the concrete. All my careful planning was wasted because of a clumsy child tripping over her own feet.

"Damn you," I whispered, tugging at the stifling doggy mascot costume I'd stolen.

The happy family strolled through the park, Diana with her hand resting protectively over her pregnant belly, Bradley's arm wrapped around her waist. Those two children bounced around them like eager puppies.

I trailed behind them, maintaining a careful distance while plotting my next move. Diana was leading the family toward the Ferris wheel now, the children pointing excitedly at the massive structure.

That's when inspiration struck. If poison wouldn't work, perhaps gravity could do the job for me. I'd overheard maintenance workers complaining about postponed inspections after the recent storm. The structure was already compromised—it just needed a little assistance.

"Excuse me! Coming through!" I chirped in a cartoonish voice, squeezing past families who smiled at the park character. I ducked beneath the Ferris wheel's platform, waiting until the attendant stepped away for his break before slipping behind the maintenance barrier.

The mechanical underbelly of the wheel was a labyrinth of metal and cables. I located several key connection points and began my work—loosening bolts here, damaging joints there, all while making it look like weather damage and poor maintenance. My heart raced with each act of sabotage, a strange euphoria building inside me.

A faint cracking sound from above confirmed my handiwork was taking effect. Perfect. It wouldn't collapse immediately—I needed time to get away and watch. I wanted to savor the moment Diana realized she was going to die.

I retreated quickly, finding a bench with a clear view of the wheel. My breath quickened with anticipation as Diana's family joined the line and boarded a passenger car. They rose slowly toward the sky, the car swaying gently in the breeze.

Then I noticed something that made my heart drop. Bradley had boarded with them. No! I hadn't thought this through. I only wanted Diana and those children dead, not Bradley. Never Bradley.

I clenched my fists, suddenly conflicted. Should I run to the operator? Tell them to stop the ride? But that would expose me. Besides, even if they fell, they might only be seriously injured, not killed. That could give me the perfect opportunity to comfort Bradley, to be his strength during recovery. The thought calmed my panic.

The wheel turned slowly, completing a full rotation without incident. I watched in bitter disappointment as they approached the platform, convinced my sabotage had failed. The family stepped off, and I silently cursed my luck. But then, to my delight, I saw only Bradley walk away with his phone while Diana and the children boarded again for a second round.

This wasn't the plan, but it was even better. Bradley would be safe on the ground while Diana and those brats plummeted to their deaths.

Then I heard it. A loud metallic groan. People looked up, concerned. The wheel shuddered to a halt. Screams erupted from the passenger cars as the structure tilted slightly. It was happening, just not as quickly as I'd hoped.

What happened next left me speechless. Bradley ran to the operator's booth, then began climbing the Ferris wheel himself. My mouth fell open in disbelief. What was he doing? The fool was going to get himself killed!

I watched, unable to look away, as Bradley scaled the tilting structure with surprising agility. He reached Diana first, securing her in some kind of harness before lowering her to safety. Then he returned for both children, bringing them down together despite the wheel's increasingly dangerous angle.

But he didn't stop there. To my astonishment, Bradley continued climbing, rescuing other stranded passengers one by one.

By the time the wheel finally collapsed with a thunderous crash, everyone was safe. The crowd erupted in applause, surrounding Bradley with praise. I felt sick watching Diana embrace him, her eyes filled with that nauseating adoration.

"What happened?" I heard Bradley ask a park employee. "Was there a mechanical failure?"

"Probably storm damage," the man replied nervously. "We've been behind on maintenance."

Bradley's eyes narrowed suspiciously, but he said nothing more. A crowd quickly formed around the employee, people shouting and demanding explanations. Bradley simply grabbed Diana's hand and pulled her and the children away from the commotion, Diana clinging to his arm like the parasite she was.

I exhaled slowly. At least I hadn't been caught. I could try again another day. Removing the costume behind a food stand, I made my way back to my roadside tent.

Something was wrong. The flap was open, though I distinctly remembered closing it. Heart racing, I peered inside and found a small piece of paper on my sleeping bag.

[I know what you did.]

My blood turned to ice. I flipped the note over.

[Answer the phone.]

What phone? As if on cue, the payphone beside my tent began to ring. Is this what the note meant? I immediately glanced around nervously. Someone knew I was reading the note right now, and they had to be nearby to time this call so perfectly. With trembling fingers, I picked up the receiver.

"Hello?" My voice cracked. "Who is this?"

"Don't worry about who I am," the cold male voice replied, clearly altered by some electronic device. "And don't bother looking around. You won't see me."

"What do you want from me?" I demanded.

There was a pause on the line, long enough to make me wonder if the caller had hung up.

"I've been following you," he finally continued. "I've seen what you tried to do today."

My blood ran cold. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Please," the voice sounded almost amused. "The orange juice? The Ferris wheel? I know what you did. I know you hate Diana and her kids."

I swallowed hard, unsure whether to deny everything or admit the truth. "If you're going to blackmail me—"

"I don't want your money," he cut me off. "I have a proposition. I want Diana dead, too. I can help you."

"Why would you help me? Why not kill her yourself?" I challenged, still scanning the area, trying to spot anyone watching.

"Let's just say I have my reasons."

"And what do you want in return?"

"Nothing. Just Diana gone. That's all that matters to me."

I hesitated, suspicion mixing with curiosity. "What about Bradley? And the children?"

The voice paused. "If I'm correct, you want Bradley for yourself, don't you?"

My breath caught. This person knew everything. "Yes."

"Then it's simple. Remove Diana and her children, and Bradley will eventually be yours. Isn't that what you want?"

A smile spread across my face. "Yes, that's exactly what I want."

"Good. We understand each other. Check inside your tent. I've left you something."

"How will I contact you when it's done?" I asked quickly.

"You won't. I'll contact you."

The line went dead.