Chapter 2
After everything that had happened, that was the only time I saw him truly alive.
The grief that had built up over so long collided with a sudden surge of joy, and I nearly
broke down in tears.
I rushed forward, grabbed his arm, and choked out his name. “Alistair…”
But he shook off my hand. His reply was cold and distant. “Do I know you?”
I swallowed the bitterness and tried to stay calm as I explained.
We had grown up together. Our families arranged our engagement when we were kids.
Three years ago, he had fallen overboard at a cruise gala.
Afraid he wouldn’t believe me, I took out a photo I had always kept with me. It was a
picture of him celebrating my birthday with me.
I tried to keep my voice steady, almost pleading.
“Come back with me first. Let a doctor take a look at you. I’ll explain everything,
okay?”
“Your leg is hurt. You need treatment right away.”
I was more worried about the slight limp in his right leg than his memory loss.
Before he could answer, a girl suddenly appeared. Her voice trembled as she spoke.
“Are you going to leave me behind?”
The hem of her dress fluttered in the sea breeze, and her long black hair cascaded
behind her–like a mermaid emerging from the waves.
This wasn’t my first time on this island. And it wasn’t my first time seeing her.
The day after Alistair fell into the sea, I had already come here, going door to door with
that same photograph in hand.
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Back then, she had blocked me at the door. She glanced at the photo and said, “I’ve never seen him.”
It took me a moment to realize I had been deceived.
Anger surged up, and I couldn’t hold back.
“You lied to me.”
She shook her head timidly, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked toward Alistair.
“I didn’t mean to lie. He was already hurt then, and I was afraid–what if you were here to hurt him? I’m sorry…”
Alistair stepped forward and shielded her behind him. Then he casually tossed the photo back at me.
“It’s just a picture. Why should I trust you?”
The sea wind was strong. Before I could catch it, a wave swept it away right before my
eyes.
His voice, now gentle, drifted over on the wind as he soothed her.
“I’m not leaving you. Not ever.”
So the one who would be abandoned could only be me.
To persuade him to come back, I had no choice but to stay on the island.
Every day, I tried to remind him of our past. I hoped something would come back to him.
But nothing changed. Alistair never reacted.
And because of Serena’s anxiety, his irritation with me only grew.
Finally, he gave me a cold warning, “Take your made–up stories and get the hell away from me.”
Two weeks later, I stormed onto his fishing boat and finally snapped, my voice raw as I
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demanded.
“Even if you don’t care about yourself, what about your grandfather?”
“Do you even know he had a heart attack when he heard you’d vanished at sea?”
“He’s still in the ICU. He’s been waiting for you to come home!”
Alistair’s hand paused on the net. His tone was flat.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“All I know is that right now, the only family I have is Serena… and the woman I love.”
Just then, a wave slammed into the boat, sending it rocking violently.
He grabbed Serena’s wrist without thinking.
Then he watched me lose my footing, tumble overboard, and vanish beneath the waves.
Seawater rushed in, pain erupting through every inch of me.
After days of stress, I was completely worn out. I ended up unconscious for three days.
When I finally came to, my assistant Julian rushed to my bedside.
“Ms. Harrington, Mr. Sterling and… that girl have already left by boat.”
“The bodyguards you asked me to arrange are ready. If we go now, we can still catch up
to them.”
I stared blankly out at the bright blue sky, the memory of being dragged under by the
waves still vivid like a nightmare.
Raised by my parents, I had long learned the art of using both carrot and stick.
If I couldn’t convince Alistair, then I would have him taken back by force.
It was a plan I’d already set in motion.
