Chapter 111

Serena’s POV I handed Derek's phone back to him with trembling fingers, trying desperately to mask the panic coursing through my veins. Every move I made was under his watchful eye, that knife still glinting in the dim light. After weighing my options, I decided Maya was my best chance. "I'm putting it on speaker," I explained calmly, dialing Maya's number. "This is my business partner. She can transfer the money faster than anyone else." Derek's mouth twisted into an ugly smile as he inched the blade closer to my stomach. The message was clear - one wrong word and both my baby and I would pay the price. Maya answered after two rings. "Serena? Everything okay?" I kept my voice steady, choosing my words with extreme care. "Maya, I need to invest in a project right away. Can you transfer some money to an account I'm about to send you?" The line went quiet for a moment. I could almost see her furrowed brow. "This late at night? What kind of project is this? You never mentioned anything ab