Chapter 4

The red light of the operating room stayed on for eight hours.

When I finally opened my eyes, my first feeling was actually disappointment.

The sleep I had last night was so peaceful. It made me feel like dying wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.

Unfortunately, I survived.

I propped myself up against the headboard, staring blankly at the clouds drifting outside.

After a long time, William pushed the door open. His eyes were bloodshot. It was clear he hadn't slept all night.

He stood there, hesitant to come closer.

I could already guess what he was going to say.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's all my fault."

"I will make it up to you..."

The usual empty promises.

So, I turned my head to look at him and spoke first.

"You promised to take me to the ocean today."

William lowered his head, his voice barely a whisper. "The doctor said your body is too weak. You shouldn't..."

I didn't let him finish.

I simply repeated, "You promised."

Defeated by the dead look in my eyes, William finally relented.

He had no choice but to bring his private medical team along with us onto his luxury yacht.

William stayed close to me, trying to start a conversation several times, but he always swallowed his words.

I stared at the endless blue sea. I didn't want him ruining the view.

I turned to him. "I want to be alone on the deck. Stop following me."

William hesitated for a long time, but finally stopped walking.

The wind was picking up, causing the yacht to sway slightly. I was studying the water, trying to figure out which spot would guarantee a quick death, when I heard footsteps behind me.

"You really are hard to kill. You actually survived all that pollen."

Nora’s poisonous voice echoed.

With William out of sight, she didn't bother playing the innocent victim anymore.

I turned around to look at her. "Why are you here?"

Nora walked closer, her eyes dripping with malice.

"I told William I felt terrible about the flowers and couldn't sleep without apologizing to you in person. So, he let me join the cruise."

"He even told me to have a private chat with you to help cheer you up."

I looked down at the crashing waves below. My heart was as calm as dead water.

"Do you want to kill me?"

"Now is your chance. Push me over. From this height, I’ll definitely die."

Nora scoffed, covering her mouth as she laughed, as if I were incredibly naive.

"You idiot. Why would I get my own hands dirty?"

"Though, I have to admit, I was annoyed when Julian saved your life three years ago. You were the one who was supposed to die in that car.

He just had to throw himself over you! But it worked out. Watching William hate you, and watching you live like a dog under my thumb for three years, has been highly entertaining."

The memory of the bright, cheerful young man who always smiled at me flashed through my mind. Grief pierced my heart.

I looked at Nora.

"Don't you ever feel regret? Julian was your husband. You had only been married for three months. You killed him without a second thought, and then you turned around to seduce his brother."

"Nora, you're a murderer."

Something about my words touched a raw nerve.

Her gentle facade shattered completely. She grabbed my arm with a violent grip.

"I don't regret it!" she shrieked, tears springing to her eyes. "I never loved him! I love William!"

"With Julian dead, nobody can stop me from being with William. If the pollen didn't kill you, the surgery will. You can't run from this. Your husband, your son—they will all be mine!"

"How can you possibly compete with me, Adeline?"

I looked at her hysterical face.

A soft smile spread across my lips.

"With... my life."

My whisper was swept away by the roaring wind.

In the distance, William was already walking toward us.

The waves were getting rough, and the deck was no longer safe. He wanted to bring us inside.

But before he could reach us.

A sharp, terrified scream pierced the air.

"Ah—!"

Using Nora’s grip on my arm, I threw my weight backward, letting my body tip over the railing.

Like a broken bird, I fell.

Plunging straight into the dark, freezing sea.

I didn't even make a sound.

In the distance, William's desperate, agonizing scream echoed over the water.

"Adeline—!"