Chapter 5

Julian instantly lost it, but I reached out to stop him.

"Don't move."

Thomas watched Julian being held back by me and laughed even more brazenly.

"I said I'd give you two hours to think it over. You didn't want them, so I had to come in person."

Phoebe walked forward from behind him in high heels, her face full of grievance and sorrow.

"I know you must think we're being unreasonable."

"But that's my daughter. My Alice is only twenty-three, and she's been down there for fourteen hours..."

Her eyes reddened as she turned her head and took Thomas's arm.

Thomas patted her back, then looked at me with cold eyes.

"Fifty million. I'll transfer it immediately. Put on your equipment and go down right now."

"I told you, I can't take this job."

"You're negotiating with me?"

He tilted his head.

"Fine. Name your price. A hundred million? Two hundred million? I've seen plenty of people like you... just price gouging. Fine. I'll pay it."

"It's not about money."

"Then what is it about?"

He stepped forward, bringing an intense sense of oppression.

"You say it's not about money, then what? Do you have some grudge against me? Have I even met you before?"

I looked into his eyes—those eyes that had once looked at me with such affection now held only impatience and indifference.

"Never met."

"Then there's no reason."

He waved his hand, issuing a final ultimatum.

"I don't care who you are or what kind of attitude you have.

Alice is down there waiting to die... and right now you're the only person who can save her. You choose: either take the money and dive now, or..."

He turned to look at Julian.

"She's just an intern without even an offshore operations certificate. If there's an accident, it won't even count as a workplace injury."

Julian's face went white.

"What do you mean?" Julian's voice trembled.

"Nothing much."

Thomas looked at him coolly.

"I just want you to know that people fall off drilling platforms into the sea every year. Especially those... inexperienced newcomers."

"You're... you're threatening me with Clark's life?"

Thomas didn't answer, only looked at me.

"And you all—if Clark doesn't survive, then when you work in these waters in the future, you'd better pray nothing happens."

Phoebe stepped forward, her eyes very sincere.

"Samuel, I know this isn't right. But you're also a woman. You should be able to understand a mother's feelings, right?

My Alice is down there... she must be so scared and cold..."

She reached out to take my arm.

I stepped back. "Don't touch me."

Phoebe's hand froze in midair. A flash of annoyance crossed her face, but she quickly adjusted.

"I didn't mean to offend you... I'm just so worried..."

Thomas pulled her back to his side, his gaze sharp as he looked at me.

"Last time. What's your answer?"

"I won't dive."

He laughed—that brazen laugh again.

"Fine."

He pulled out his phone and made a call.

"Hello, the platform... have that new intern work the night shift inspection tonight. Yes, alone. The whole deck perimeter."

Julian couldn't control himself anymore and rushed forward.

"No! You can't!"

A bodyguard shoved him back, and Julian's whole body slammed into a shipping container.

"Samuel!"

Julian crawled up from the ground and knelt before me, face covered in tears.

"Samuel... please..."

Thomas hung up and looked at me.

"You see. This could have been so simple, but you had to make it like this."

I looked at Julian with blood trickling from his temple, kneeling on the ground trembling.

Then I looked at Thomas with that same self-righteous expression.

Ten years ago it was like this. Now it's still like this.

Other people's lives had always been nothing but bargaining chips to him.

"You think I'm afraid of you?"

"Being afraid doesn't matter."

He shrugged.

"If you don't go down, your partner's daughter will become a number in a maritime accident report tomorrow, and before long you all will become an accident too. Do you think it's worth it?"

"For a salvager's pride, sacrificing Clark and your future accidents?"

Phoebe stepped forward again to comfort me. "Samuel, you only need to make one dive and then it's all over.

We'll still pay you, and we can even fund your operation. Clark will be safe and sound. Why not?"

She smiled, her tone unbearably gentle.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"I can't save someone who caused Alvarez's death."

"If you insist on making me go, I'll finish her off myself and rest there forever."