Twisted Ties of Love

As the attendants secured the safety bars and fastened the harnesses, Casey found himself to be the last one. Having never indulged in such adrenaline-pumping activities, he felt a tinge of nervousness. To divert his anxiety, he turned his attention to Izabella.

"Scared?" he asked.

Izabella shook her head, maintaining an even calmer facade than Casey. In truth, she had no idea how she would react to the impending thrill.

Looking up at the towering height of the ride, she found herself longing for the exhilarating sensation of free-fall. The height was roughly the same as the one from which her father had tragically fallen to his death.

Most people came to amusement parks for fun and relaxation, yet here she was, engulfed in such somber thoughts. Maybe it was the dream about Alan she had the previous night that made her overly sensitive.

An attendant's voice jolted her from her thoughts. "All set."

As the ride started, Casey tightly gripped the safety bars on either side and turned to look at Izabella, whose face was slightly pale. He softened his gaze and assured her, "I'm here. There's nothing to be afraid of."

Izabella glanced back at him, feeling an uncanny sensation. Something felt off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. As the ride slowly ascended, Izabella discovered the unsettling anomaly: Casey's harness hadn't clicked into place.

In an instant, Izabella's mind went blank, her heart pounding in her chest. She watched in horror as Casey's harness unbuckled. "Stop the ride! His harness is loose!" She screamed.

It was too late. The ride had already shot halfway into the sky before suddenly jolting upwards. Izabella's cries were drowned out by the howling wind and the screams of the other riders.

Casey heard Izabella's crying. He had sensed something wrong the moment his harness came undone. But at this height, fastening it back was impossible. He could only grip the safety bar as tightly as he could as the ride ascended and plunged downwards. The intense sensation of free-fall shifted him in his seat.

Without the security of the harness, it was easy for someone to be thrown off. Izabella looked at Casey, whose body was vibrating violently against the seat. His eyes were red and teary as the wind swept. Some people scream in fear. But it's not for Izabella. The more terrified she was, the quieter she became. Her face was pallid, her lips tightly pressed together as if she had lost her soul.

The sensation of falling from such a height was terrifying. Her body was cold with fear and her palms were sweaty.

Though she had seen people on this ride before, which seemed pretty quick. This time, however, it felt like an eternity.

Casey was saying something, but Izabella couldn't make out his words. Her mind was filled with one thought: Casey's harness was loosened, and he could fall just like her father did. When the ride finally came to a stop, everyone else unbuckled their harnesses and left. But Izabella remained in her seat, her face drained of color as if she had just had a near-death experience. Casey was the first to lift the safety bar and take Izabella's hand. "I'm okay. Don't worry. Nothing happened."

Though he was shivering, he was more concerned about Izabella. She was biting her lower lip so hard that it started to bleed.

Casey bent over, cradling Izabella's cold face and gently rubbing her ears with his fingers.

"Bella, look at me. I'm here right in front of you."

Izabella's unfocused gaze slowly

cleared and she burst into tears. Her cries were heartbreaking, drowning out the surrounding noise. She wrapped her arms tightly around

Casey's neck, trembling in his arms.

What if something had happened to Casey? What if he had disappeared right before her eyes?

The attendants came over to apologize, but Izabella could only glare at them with anger. A simple slip-up could have cost someone's life.

The on-site manager also came over, drawing a crowd of onlookers.

"What happened?"

"Seems like someone's harness wasn't secured properly. They're discussing compensation."

"I think they look like Izabella and Casey."

As more and more people recognized them, Casey decided to leave. He had finally managed to find some time for a date with Izabella, and he didn't want to spoil it because of this incident.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

The compensation the attendants were offering was minuscule in comparison to Casey's wealth. Besides, other than a scare, he hadn't been injured.

Hand in hand, Casey and Izabella left. As they walked away, Izabella kept glancing back at the attendants responsible for the ride.

They were professionals. It was

unlikely they would be careless

enough to forget to fasten a safety harness. Besides, she distinctly remembered the attendant

double-checking her harness giving

it a firm tug to ensure it was secure.

Could it have been intentional?

A cold shiver ran down Izabella's spine. The first person that came to her mind was Brett. Given his current situation, he was capable of anything. To him, it was merely a matter of finding a scapegoat.