Chapter 1

During the Christmas celebration, my sworn enemy kidnapped my husband and son.

The thugs placed two tons of TNT explosives underneath them and brazenly broadcast it on the giant screen in Times Square downtown.

"Everyone in the police department says Captain Sarah is the backbone of the bomb disposal unit, saving countless lives!"

"Well, today I'm going to test her. Cut the red wire and your husband dies. Cut the blue wire and your son dies. Which will our expert choose?"

Every citizen understood this was a death trap. No matter which wire I cut, I would become a criminal for all eternity.

Amid the terrified screams of tens of thousands of spectators, I casually typed a comment in the live chat.

"Human fireworks must be beautiful. Make sure to record it for me!"

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On the giant screen in Times Square, my husband James's face and my son Bobby's face were magnified to the extreme.

Beneath them sat barrels of explosives, connected to two prominent red and blue wires.

A woman wearing a clown mask spoke, her voice processed to sound sharp and piercing.

The live chat comments refreshed like a waterfall.

"This is insane! This has to be a movie promotion! Pulling this kind of stunt on Christmas?"

"Look at the hostages' expressions! They're not acting! Their mouths are taped shut, they've cried themselves dry!"

"I looked it up. Captain Sarah is Sarah from the Municipal Police Bomb Squad! Her family's been kidnapped?"

My father-in-law Richard grabbed my arm, his nails digging into my flesh.

"Sarah! You're usually so capable, aren't you? Why aren't you saying anything now!"

I pulled his hand away and calmly adjusted my sleeves.

"Richard, why are you panicking? They didn't ask for money, just want me to make a choice. This is obviously a trap."

"A trap? What trap is more important than your husband and son's lives! Is your heart made of stone?"

His chest heaved violently with anger.

"If you make one wrong move, your life is over! Do you understand?"

My mother-in-law Laura rushed over, about to slap me across the face.

"You jinx! It's because of you that our family is being targeted for revenge!"

"If anything happens to my son, I'll kill you!"

I dodged to the side, my eyes showing not a ripple of emotion.

"So according to you both, I should choose my son, right?"

My words were like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing their fury.

The old couple exchanged glances. Neither dared to respond.

On screen, the clown woman's voice rang out again, tinged with mocking laughter.

"Captain Sarah, it seems your family understands how to choose better than you do!"

"Stop wasting time. Hurry up and tell the entire city—do you love your husband or your son more?"

The tone of the live chat began to shift.

"Holy crap, this kidnapper really knows how to torture someone psychologically!"

"Yeah, Captain Sarah is a hero who's saved so many people. Now she has to personally decide her family's fate. This is too cruel!"

"I believe in Captain Sarah! She'll definitely find a way!"

The clown woman seemed enraged by the comments.

She ripped the tape off my husband's mouth.

Immediately, James's hoarse crying voice came through the screen.

"Sarah! Don't worry about me! Save Bobby! He's our only son!"

His face was streaked with tears, his eyes filled with the radiant glow of "noble" paternal love.

The citizens watching the live broadcast were all moved.

My father-in-law Richard was even more tearful, almost ready to kneel.

"Sarah, did you hear that! James is telling you to save Bobby! Hurry and tell the kidnapper!"

"Tell them? Tell them what?"

I lit a cigarette and slowly exhaled smoke rings.

"Richard, your son has already made peace with it. He's willing to sacrifice himself for his grandson."

"We... shouldn't let his noble intentions go to waste, should we?"

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