Thick gray smoke billowed, dancing above the small flames devouring lace fabrics. Loly's crisp laughter blended with the crackling of the fire, filling a corner of the backyard of a minimalist house that Jingga had renovated. Beside her, Gery smirked, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he watched the crumpled white wedding dress, once almost worn by Jingga, now turn to ash.

"Look, Gery." Loly leaned intimately against her husband's shoulder, pointing at the pile of items ready to be consumed by the flames. "Those clothes, those worn-out photos, those disgusting love letters from Jingga... Everything will vanish. Just like her, she will vanish from our lives."

Gery gently kissed Loly's forehead. "You're right, darling. She deserves this." His hand stroked Loly's still-flat stomach, as if reaffirming his decision. To him, Loly was a gem, and Jingga was a thorn in his side that needed to be removed. Hatred clouded all his reason, replacing the traces of affection he once had for Jingga.

A housemaid standing not far from them shifted awkwardly, uncomfortable with the scene before her eyes. Her master and mistress were enjoying the destruction of someone else's belongings as if it were entertainment. However, she dared not speak.

"Get the rest of the boxes from the storage room and throw them into the fire!" Loly commanded cheerfully, her voice filled with triumph. "Throw out all of Jingga's belongings in this house!"

The maid nodded and immediately carried out Loly's orders. The pungent smell of smoke filled her nose, but Loly seemed unconcerned. She kept laughing, enjoying one by one Jingga’s belongings. She imagined Jingga now lost, suffering, and helpless on the streets. This only increased Loly's happiness.

***

In a different part of the city, in a luxurious suite on an upper floor of a magnificent building, Jingga lay weak. She didn't know how long she had been unconscious, but when her eyes opened, her gaze was immediately met by an intricately carved ceiling and a crystal chandelier emitting soft light. Her body still ached.

"Are you awake, Miss Jingga?" a deep voice came from the corner of the room.

Jingga turned, and her gaze fell upon Alex Abraham, a man she didn't know at all. He sat in a luxurious leather chair, his back straight, with a cold, unwavering stare. An aura of power emanated from him, as if he were the master of the place.

Jingga felt her blood boil. She remembered what the doctor had said. Artificial insemination. A baby. And the man before her was probably the only one who knew what had happened.

"Who are you?" Jingga’s voice sounded hoarse. She tried to stand, but her body was still too weak. "What did you do to me? Why am I here?"

Alex calmly sipped his warm tea, his demeanor showing no reaction to Jingga's emotional outburst. He placed the cup on the side table, then looked at Jingga with a flat gaze. "I am Alex Abraham. And all I did was save your life."

Jingga laughed bitterly, her voice laden with pain. "Save me? You call this saving me? You kidnapped me, drugged me... Did you perhaps implant a seed in my womb without my consent? That's not saving, that's a crime!" Tears began to stream down her cheeks. She felt humiliated, treated like an object.

"You tried to end your life." Alex didn't flinch. His voice was cold and emotionless, as if he were discussing a business report. "I gave you a reason to live."

"So this is really your child?" Jingga gripped the blanket, her knuckles turning white as Alex smiled.

"A baby I don't want? From a man I don't know? That's not a reason for me to live."

"That baby is my heir," Alex interrupted. There was a slight emphasis in his words, as if he were asserting his ownership. "And you are its incubator. This is a form of repayment because I saved you from death. Your life now belongs to me."

The last sentence hit Jingga like a hard slap. Her dignity shattered into pieces. She felt nauseous, not just because of her pregnancy, but because of her disgust at the overly cold man before her.

"You think you can buy someone's life with money?" Jingga glared at Alex, her eyes red. "You think you can treat everyone like an object? I'm not your doll!"

Alex stood up, stepping closer. Each step felt heavy and authoritative, making the room seem to shrink. He stood by the bed, looking down at Jingga. His rigid face showed not a hint of emotion. "Not buying, Miss Jingga. This is an agreement. I saved you. In return, you must carry my child."

"I never agreed to that arrangement!" Jingga screamed, tears streaming down her face. "I will never agree, and this is an illegal act! I'm going to sue you."

"Go ahead, try if you can," Alex said.

"I'm going to abort this baby too!"

"What?! How dare you!" Alex snapped.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly changed. Alex’s demeanor became very cold. His sharp eyes gleamed, making his face look expressionless.

"Don't you dare touch my child," Alex said, his voice low and piercing. A threat was embedded in every syllable, making Jingga's hair stand on end. "Don't ever think about doing that, Miss Jingga. If you dare harm my child... I will destroy you. There won't be a single place in this world where you can hide from me."

Jingga gasped. The threat was no idle boast. She could feel an aura of death radiating from Alex. Although she didn't know the man, she knew he was serious. Jingga swallowed, fear beginning to creep into her heart. Yet, her pride refused to submit.

"You can't threaten me!" Jingga retorted, though her voice trembled. "I have rights over my own body! I'm leaving this place and I'm never coming back! You can't hold me here!"

A thin, cold smile played on Alex's lips. "You can leave. But remember, every step you take, every breath you draw, will be under my surveillance. And if my child is harmed even slightly... you will regret it for the rest of your life."

Alex walked to the window, looking out at the city below. The morning sunlight streamed in, illuminating his upright silhouette. "I will give you anything you want. Wealth, a home, security, a luxurious life you've never imagined. Provided you keep my child safe until birth."

He turned, looking at Jingga again. "The choice is simple, Miss Jingga. Give birth to my child, and I will give you whatever you want. Or... face my wrath, and no wealth or place in this world will be able to save you."

Jingga fell silent, her breath catching. That choice was no choice at all. It was a trap, an order she couldn't refuse. She had nothing now. Her home and family were all gone, even her job. She was a prisoner in a gilded cage, with a new life now growing within her womb, becoming the chain that bound her to this terrifying stranger.

Jingga wanted to scream and run away. However, her body felt stiff. Alex’s last words echoed in her mind, she had to make a choice.

Jingga found herself trapped in a terrible dilemma. Aborting the baby she didn't want and facing Alex's wrath, or keeping the baby for her own life and accepting the forced destiny. She looked down at her still-flat stomach, then back at Alex, who stood tall, as if he were a god controlling her fate.

"Who are you, anyway?"

Alex gave a pale smile. He looked at Jingga with a gaze that implied, 'Choose wisely, for there is no turning back.' The room fell silent again, save for the rapid pounding of Jingga's heart, as she faced the hardest decision of her life. She knew that from that moment on, her life would never be the same. Jingga closed her eyes, feeling tears of despair wet her temples. She had no choice, and she knew Alex wouldn't give her another. She was entirely in the man's grasp. A fate more cruel than the death she had sought.

"Just call me Alex."

"Alex Abraham?" Jingga read the business card Alex had given her. The name felt very familiar, the same as Gery's father. She had never met him. Jingga re-read the business card, which stated Alex's position as CEO of Prosperity Group. Jingga smiled, feeling her suspicion was correct.

"Marry me, then I'll carry this child to term."