Chapter 2

On the deck, Damon Taylor faced the sea breeze, every word laced with regret.

“Since Chloe chose my brother, all I can do is clear every obstacle for her. Ruining the Hartford family was just the first step. Consider the Hartford family's funds my wedding gift to them.”

“Scarlett is already tainted. A woman like that doesn’t deserve to bear my child.”

His friend beside him frowned, a flicker of pity in his eyes.

“But you also hired those men who dragged her into that cabin five years ago. Scarlett has been battling depression because of that incident for years; you’ve been by her side through all her treatments. You know exactly what she’s been through. Repeating the same cruel act—how will she ever recover from this?”

Damon’s face hardened. He reached for a cigarette and lit it.

Through the curling smoke, he spoke softly:

“Worst case, I’ll just keep accompanying her to treatment. Regardless, her child cannot be born.”

“I promised Chloe I wouldn’t let Scarlett pose any threat to her.”

“What about Scarlett? Does she deserve to be manipulated like this? She’s innocent, she loves you so much, how could you—”

Before he could finish, Damon cut him off coldly:

“Enough. I said, stick to the plan. Blame her for showing up at the wrong time.”

“Give me the medicine. I need to go back and watch her drink it myself.”

Seeing that he couldn't be reasoned with, his friend could only turn and leave.

Tears streamed down my face, uncontrolled.

The sea wind carried them away into the night sky.

I hugged myself, trembling uncontrollably.

Five years ago, Caleb Taylor ruined my family's company, taking all our money and fleeing abroad with Chloe Hayes.

My parents, hounded by creditors, were driven to such despair they took their own lives.

Alone, I went to the Taylor mansion, seeking justice.

But they drugged me and sent me to this very yacht.

I became just another lamb led to slaughter in their dark, high-society games.

Dozens of men dragged me into a private cabin, filming countless humiliating videos.

In despair, I crawled to the deck, ready to jump into the sea and end it all.

That’s when Damon Taylor suddenly appeared, pulling me into his arms.

He was my only warmth.

He gently wiped away my tears and blood, stroke by stroke.

He said:

“Wait for me. I won’t let a single person who hurt you get away.”

That night, screams echoed everywhere on the yacht.

My body developed a traumatic stress response, leading to nightmares every night.

He was the one who stayed by my side.

When I woke from a nightmare, he would gently caress my back and comfort me.

He said he couldn't control Caleb, but Caleb owed me.

He would repay it tenfold, a hundredfold.

To give me a wedding, he didn't hesitate to sever ties with the Taylor family and start his own life.

He declared his love for me to the world.

But in the end, five years of happiness were nothing but a mirage.

The man who saved me from the abyss was also the one who pushed me into hell.

I stumbled back into the private cabin.

Damon saw my pale face, his eyes flashing with concern.