Chapter 3

He pulled me into his arms, just as he always did, gently patting my back.

“What’s wrong, Scarlett? Did you remember something again? Don’t worry, I’m with you this time. Those men won’t appear again.”

“I specifically asked the doctor to bring your medicine before we came up. Drink it once the water cools down.”

Looking at his feigned gentle gaze, I said softly:

“Damon, I don’t want to take the medicine anymore.”

“My illness is cured. I want to go home.”

The warmth in his eyes dropped two degrees.

He reached out and playfully tapped my nose.

“Scarlett, be a good girl. Psychological issues are prone to relapse. Taking your medicine helps you recover faster.”

“Once you’ve taken it, you won’t have nightmares anymore.”

Before I could reply, he had already slipped the pill into my mouth.

The warm water went down, but I felt utterly cold.

As if certain I’d soon fall unconscious after taking the medicine.

Damon didn't stay with me.

He turned and quickly left the cabin.

I knew he was going to find those men from five years ago.

The shattered, nightmare-like memories surged back.

Cold sweat broke out all over my body.

I collapsed to the floor, rolling around helplessly.

As my consciousness blurred, a warm kiss landed on my forehead.

“Good girl, Scarlett. It will be over soon. I’ll wait for you when you come out.”

What followed was a tearing, agonizing pain.

Blood constantly gushed from beneath me.

A familiar sensation engulfed me.

Countless rough hands ran over my skin.

I don’t know how long it was before I heard Damon’s voice again.

“She miscarried?”

“Yes, she did. But Mr. Taylor, they didn’t quite hold back… it seems they were a bit rough. Miss Hartford might have trouble getting pregnant again.”

“Excellent work. Double your commission. You can collect your payment when we dock.”

When I opened my eyes again, it was five hours later.

Damon clasped my hand tightly in his, his eyes full of tenderness.

“I’m sorry, Scarlett… I didn’t protect you well enough.”

“It was those men from five years ago. They heard you were here and came seeking revenge. We couldn’t save the baby, and the doctor said you might have trouble getting pregnant again…”

“Don’t worry, this time I’ve rounded them all up. They’ll never bother you again. Please don’t cry. No matter what happens, I’ll be by your side. The baby is gone, but I only care about you.”

I stared blankly at the cabin floor.

I was so numb that I couldn’t even feel the pain.

I was the one who suffered the humiliation and lost a child.

Yet, he cried more sorrowfully than I did.

His acting was superb, and I was too numb to expose him.

After a long while, when he fell silent.

I slowly said:

“You must be tired, avenging me.”

“Damon, you should rest. I’m fine.”

Seeing that I wasn’t throwing a tantrum, he let out a sigh of relief, closed his eyes, and lay beside me.

His breathing gradually became steady.

I quietly picked up his phone.

Married for five years, this was the first time I unlocked his screen.

The passcode was Chloe Hayes’s birthday.

His social media app was still open in the background.

There was only one contact.

Labeled “Chloe.”

Clicking on it, I saw their daily "Good mornings" and "Good nights" had never stopped, from five years ago until now.

Chloe was abroad, but she sent Damon her schedule every day.

Whether she was shopping, drinking coffee, or at the office in meetings.

No matter what she sent, Damon never spoiled the fun.

One photo, ten thousand dollars as a reward.

Damon had been involved in her life like this.

Until ten thousand photos filled her album.

But when I shared things with him, his reply was always the same:

“Scarlett, I’m in a meeting. We’ll talk after work.”

To make Chloe happy, he’d go through great lengths to have gifts from back home delivered to her.

Auction house orders filled dozens of pages on the screen.

Many brands looked familiar.

Damon had given me a gift from one of them too.

But it was merely a complimentary item the auction house gave to Chloe.

The newest video in his album was from five hours ago.

The cover image showed me after I’d taken the medicine, sinking into unconsciousness.

Beside me stood dozens of familiar faces.

My fingers trembled, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t tap it open.

Finally, I helplessly pressed the delete button.

And turned off his phone.

Damon, if our beginning was a deception.

This time, let me end it with one.

Without hesitation, I sent a message to my best friend, Bella.

Asking her to have a lifeboat waiting on the other side of the yacht tomorrow night.

I also found a divorce agreement online, downloaded the electronic version, and added it to an email.

After doing everything, Damon, asleep, broke out in a cold sweat.

He kept mumbling:

“Scarlett… no, you can’t be in trouble.”

“Scarlett!”

The moment he opened his eyes, he pulled me into his arms as if I were a treasure he’d almost lost.

Our chests pressed tightly together, but our heartbeats were on different rhythms.

After a while, he snapped out of his nightmare.

“I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Similar scenes had happened many times before.

I used to believe it was deep love, that he felt my pain.

But now, it seemed, it was just an act.

Just brilliant acting.

I lowered my head, letting him hold and comfort me.

“Good girl, I’ll go get us some food. Wait for me.”

As soon as Damon left, I followed him.

He didn’t go to the restaurant but turned downstairs to a private cabin.

The moment he entered, a slender wrist immediately wrapped around his shoulder.