Chapter 11 Crocodile Tears.
The next morning, Natalie moved methodically, her fingers skilled as she administered needle therapy to Christopher.
When the session ended, she reached out before he could storm off.
“Chris, I’ve got a gift for you, she said, her voice light, almost
playful
She clapped her hands, and a servant stepped into the room, carefully placing toys on the table
Transformer figures, remote–controlled cars… the kind of things every boy would dream of.
The night before, Natalie had put her thoughts together, turning over her options. It was time to change tactics.
Before she could salvage her marriage, she needed to deal with her son.
If she didn’t, he’d make her life unbearable.
“These are all carefully chosen just for you. Do you like them?”
Lame”
“These are clothes and shoes I bought for you..” She tried again, more hopeful.
“Ugly, Cheap.
It was no use. Whatever she gave him went straight to the trash.
Frustration bubbled inside her. She was stuck. The only person who could help was Gianna Natalie quickly dialed her number.
“Chris is the little prince of Regalia. He’s got everything he could ever need, but he’s missing something–emotional support. That’s what he needs.
The amusement park was alive, a whirlwind of chaos and joy. Screams and laughter mixed in the air, creating a strange symphony of excitement.
To every child, it was a piece of paradise.
Natalie just knew it could excite any children, even the most precocious and calm.
Her bratty, sharp–tongued son?
She’d have him eating out of her hand in no time. She was certain of it.
They came to the amusement park.
ཨན
Christopher perched on a caterpillar–shaped chair, his small fingers flipping through a calculus textbook as though he were studying for a board meeting.
Natalie couldn’t help but see her son as a younger, miniature version of Jonathan.
He had all the seriousness of a grown man, yet none of the playfulness or joy a child should possess.
“Chris, how about we hit the mini roller coaster? Or the bumper cars? Maybe the carousel?”
Without even raising his eyes from his book, he flipped another page. “Stuff for kids. Boring”
Natalie stared at him, her brow furrowing
But you’re a kid as well.
Chapter 11 Crocodile Tears
“What do you think is fun, then? I’ll take you to it, she offered, trying to pull him out of his shell.
Christopher snapped his book shut, an air of finality in his actions.
+8 Pearls
Minutes later, they stood at the foot of a massive vertical roller coaster, its steel skeleton looming above them like a predator.
Tm riding this one, Christopher declared, his voice cool, determined.
Natalie’s heart skipped a beat. She stared up at the towering coaster, the scream of the wind, the drops, the sheer height of it sending a shiver down her spine. Her scalp tingled.
She wasn’t afraid of much, but heights? They made her stomach twist.
Christopher turned, sensing her hesitation. “If you’re too scared, don’t make promises you can’t keep
“Hold on,” she said quickly, her voice sharper than she intended. “It’s just a roller coaster. I’ll ride with you. But can you even handle it?”
After all, there were height restrictions. At five years old, Christopher wasn’t exactly the right size for something this extreme.
But before she could voice another doubt, a staff member appeared, bowing low and directing Christopher toward the VIP entrance with a smooth, practiced politeness.
“Mr. Christopher, this way please.”
Natalie blinked, momentarily stunned.
Oh, right. Rules are flexible when you are important enough.
She looked up just in time to see her five–year–old son seated in the very front row of the coaster, looking as confident as a seasoned thrill–seeker.
“If you’re scared, you can still back out.”
Im not scared!”
Natalie’s heart tightened, but she sat down beside him, forcing as much dignity into the moment as she could manage.
From the front row, the view was overwhelming. The rollercoaster track loomed ahead, a towering wall of steel, stretching impossibly high into the sky.
Natalie took a deep breath, forcing her nerves to settle.
A Dragonia woman never backed down. It was in her blood. And especially now, as a mother.
“Chris, if you’re scared, just hold my hand….
But before she could finish, she saw Christopher beside her, undoing his safety harness. Then, without warning, he slipped away, disappearing from her side.
The coaster lurched forward before she had time to react.
As it gained speed, she glimpsed Christopher standing by the track, waving at her with that damned mischievous grin of his- the one that always meant trouble.
The coaster began its climb to the highest point.
Natalie’s legs dangled freely, the ground shrinking beneath her, the distant crowd and buildings looking like toys, too small to matter. Her heart raced as her breath caught in her chest. It felt as though something had tightened around her throat, suffocating her.
And then, with a deafening rush-
The coaster dropped.
Chapter 11 Crocodile Tears.
+8 Pearls
It was a gut–wrenching plunge, her stomach lurching upward. Her body was yanked into weightlessness, and she couldn’t hold back the scream that tore from her throat.
Finally, the ride screeched to a halt.
The other riders had already disembarked, leaving her alone.
Natalie fumbled with the safety harness, but it wouldn’t unlatch..
Panic set in as the staff rushed toward her. Just then, the coaster jerked to life again, without warning.
It sped up, looping and twisting without a pause.
The staff, assuming a malfunction, scrambled to contact a technician.
“Ma’am…
“Hold on
“Hang tight
“We’ve
“Called for help.
“They’re coming…
“Soon…
Natalie’s head whipped back and forth with each loop, the relentless motion making it hard to focus. The staff’s frantic voices barely registered.
She could only catch snippets of their words as the coaster whirled on, faster and faster.
After what felt like endless spins, she finally heard the full sentence.
Christopher sat on a bench, a perfect view of the chaos unfolding before him.
One hand gripped his phone, the other casually held a carton of milk. He sipped it slowly, watching Natalie’s desperate struggle with the malfunctioning rollercoaster.
Yvonne came back, cotton candy in hand. Her eyes darted between her mom, stuck on the coaster, and her brother, lounging nearby like he was watching a show.
“Chris, you caused that coaster malfunction, didn’t you? How could you do that to Mommy? That’s messed up!”
She knew Chris was a genius, especially with computers. But using that skill to hurt their mom? That was a low blow.
With a casual flick, Christopher tossed the empty milk carton into the trash, the shot perfect. “What I’m doing now? It’s nothing compared to what she did to us back then.”
Yvonne’s hands balled into fists, her anger bubbling up. “Mommy’s changing. She’s getting better.”
Christopher scoffed, unimpressed. “A person’s heart is dark. That’s the truth, no matter what. All her so–called ‘changes‘ have an agenda. Wait long enough, and she’ll show her true colors.”
They’d learned that lesson too many times before. This time, he wouldn’t fall for it.
Back at the rollercoaster, it jerked to life; its malfunction suddenly fixed.
Natalie staggered off, her legs weak, barely holding her upright.
Her world spun, nausea churning in her stomach.
Her teeth ground together as the image of Christopher’s smug grin flashed in her mind.
9:55 AM 다
Chapter 11 Crocodile Tears
He had set her up, his own mother. He’d pay for that.
G
+8 Pearls
“We’re very sorry, ma’am. We had no idea why–Just as the staff started to apologize, a frantic shout cut through the air.
“Help needed! There’s been an accident at the carousel–two dead, 12 injured! Two of the victims are five–year–olds!”
Again and again Natalie called her children, but no matter how many times she dialed, the robotic voice on the other end remained the same.
“Sorry, the number you’ve dialed is currently unavailable.”
Her calls to both her son and daughter went unanswered.
Panic seized her chest. The dread that gnawed at her heart intensified as she pushed forward toward the carousel.
When she arrived, the scene was pure chaos. Rubble and dust filled the air, rides twisted and crushed.
Some people stood in shock, others were clutching their injured children, sobbing uncontrollably.
Natalie’s sharp eyes caught two small arms sticking out from beneath the debris.
“Eve… Chris…she whispered, voice tight with panic.
She ran. Her legs felt like they were made of lead, each step more draining than the last. When she finally reached the arms, her knees gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.
The children, buried beneath the wreckage, didn’t respond.
Her hands trembled as she reached for their cold, stiff wrists.
The realization hit her like a punch to the gut–their pulses were gone. They were dead.
