The policeman gave a grim nod. “Yes. We received a report from a bystander that a woman was dangerously close to the edge of Royal Skyline Tower. Our crisis negotiators are already on the roof trying to talk her down. We’ve also positioned SWAT officers nearby in case of an
emergency.
“Mr. Dorsey, was there an argument between you and your wife? What could’ve driven her to this?”
Cameron’s voice was raw with desperation. “It’s all my fault. I wronged her. Officer, can I go up and talk to her, please? Just a few words.”
After a brief hesitation, the officer gestured urgently. “Alright. Come with me.”
He was then led into the elevator and taken up to the roof of Royal Skyline Tower.
There, a woman in a white dress stood alone at the very edge of the rooftop, steeped in solitude and sorrow.
Her back was turned to the world, while her skirt and hair swayed wildly in the wind. It was as if the next gust would carry her away at any moment.
Seeing her teetering on the edge shattered something inside Cameron. He shouted, his voice hoarse and desperate, “Cassie, I was wrong! It’s all my fault! You can hit me, scream at me, and do whatever you want! Punish me however you need to, but please, please come back!”
The woman seemed to hear him, but she didn’t turn around. Instead, she took a step closer to the ledge. With another step, she’d be falling into the rushing traffic below.
The tower was 100 stories high. A fall from this height meant certain death.
“Cassie, no-” Cameron lunged forward, but several negotiators held him back. “Mr. Dorsey, is she your wife?” one of the negotiators asked.
“Yes, she is.”
“Did she attempt suicide because of marital issues?”
“Yes,” Cameron growled, then roared, “Please save her! I’m begging you to save her-”
“We need to understand why she’s given up on life before we can intervene effectively,” the negotiator pressed, steady but insistent. “Mr. Dorsey, what exactly led you both to this point?” Cameron clenched his jaw hard. “I… I cheated on her.”
The negotiators exchanged glances. A few even gave him that all–too familiar look that said “I knew it“.
Chapter 93
They had handled suicide cases before. Men usually jumped for money or career failures, while women did it mainly because of relationship issues.
“Mr. Dorsey, the only way you can save your wife now is if you make a public promise to cut ties with the other woman completely.”
“Of course!” Cameron replied without hesitation “It’s already done. I’ve taken care of everything. I’ll never see Annabelle again. I only love-”
Before he could finish, the woman in the white dress slowly turned to face him. She softly called out, “Cam.”
Cameron’s eyes widened in shock. “You! Why are you here? You were supposed to be preparing for the abortion in Hannover…”
Annabelle gave him a bitter smile. “The first thing you say to me after seeing me on the edge of a building is to ask why I didn’t go through with the abortion?”
“Where’s Cassie?” he asked, his voice laced with fury.
“I don’t know,” Annabelle quietly said. “I just wanted to find the highest place possible to end my life. As for Cassie… I don’t know where she is.”
The negotiator nearby overheard their exchanges and snapped, “Mr. Dorsey, how could you still bring up another woman’s name at a time like this?”
Another negotiator added, “Your wife is pregnant, and you pressured her into an abortion? It’s no wonder she’s on that ledge!”
“She… She’s not my wife.” Cameron admitted hoarsely.
“She’s not? Then why the hell did you rush here?”
“I didn’t know it was her! I thought it was-”
“This is a life or death matter, Mr. Dorsey!” the negotiator barked. “Even if you’re tired of her, how could you just stand by and watch her die?”
Cameron buried his face in his hands, overwhelmed. He had never expected Annabelle to be the one attempting to take her own life.
The police blamed him, the negotiators kept pushing, and Annabelle’s broken stare was boring into him. He had no words left.
Chapter 4