Chapter 4

The woman wore a white dress with red flowers on thin straps.

Her makeup was exquisite, bright and beautiful.

She rushed into Sebastian's arms.

The moment she hugged him, she saw me standing behind him.

My expression didn't change. I didn't move either.

The woman's perfume hit me head-on.

She released her hands from around the man's back.

Step by step, she walked up to me.

"This lady looks so familiar."

She smiled and lifted my chin, leaning in close.

"Can't hide that beauty. No wonder he's been keeping you hidden."

The next instant.

A slap landed on my face.

"How was sleeping with my man, sweetheart?"

Sebastian instinctively frowned, pulling her from behind.

But she shook him off.

"He disappears for months at a time. You've got some skills, don't you?"

"Hooking him so he can't bear to leave you."

She crouched down to look at me.

"I thought you were living it up with savages on a deserted island. Turns out you stole my man."

"If I hadn't been monitoring his movements every month, I wouldn't have known what you've been up to."

I raised my head and looked straight at her.

"You'll get what's coming to you."

She acted like she'd heard the biggest joke.

"You seduced my husband, and I'm the one who'll get what's coming?"

"When I was pregnant, he still had to visit you from time to time."

"You know I've never been generous. Not throwing you into the sea is me being good to you."

I laughed mockingly.

The next second I lunged at her and pushed.

"I'm talking about you stealing my life!"

"My recommendation spot!"

"Stop playing dumb!"

She couldn't keep her balance and fell backward, screaming.

Then landed in Sebastian's arms.

He held Sienna tightly, comforting her softly.

"Are you okay, honey? Does it hurt anywhere?"

He lifted his foot and kicked me hard in the stomach.

Veins bulged on his forehead, his tone impatient.

"Jasmine! Can you have some conscience? You've had it so good on this island, you didn't have to marry a fisherman, didn't get beaten, had food and drink, even had a child."

"How can you be so unreasonable and dare to lay hands on her?!"

"Looks like I've been too good to you!"

I clutched my stomach, curling up in pain.

He carried Sienna and kicked the door open.

And I lay on the floor, watching their retreating backs.

Suppressing the nausea rising in my heart.

In this place.

Was the child some kind of blessing to me?

In seven years I got pregnant three times, miscarried twice.

The first time was Sebastian's first year pretending to be a fisherman.

He came back after three months at sea and forced himself on me at night.

I didn't know I was pregnant and was still diving for kelp in the sea.

I ended up hemorrhaging severely, nearly died.

He found an island doctor to see me, only saying:

"It's fine, you're still young."

The second time was winter of the second year.

He'd been drinking, too rough and urgent.

I bled for two months.

And he frowned, saying I was too delicate.

The third time was three years ago.

After pinning me down that time, he disappeared for half a year.

When he came back, he only saw me holding the premature baby.

How much I suffered.

Did he ever care?

I looked out the window.

A group of men in black guarded the door, discussing quietly.

"This is Mr. Hayes's mistress. She's got some nerve."

"Exactly. Got caught and still dared to lay hands on Sienna."

"Never seen Mr. Hayes treat any other woman well. What's special about this one?"

"Heard she's a beautiful scholar."

"Can she be more of a scholar than Sienna? Besides, on this deserted island, what good is being a scholar!"

"At most she's just a beauty, good in bed, made Mr. Hayes make an exception to keep her."

The physical pain hadn't eased. I crawled up and grabbed Sebastian's forgotten phone.

I crouched down, hands trembling as I dialed.

The call connected.

I grabbed onto it like a lifeline.

"Uncle, my mom is dead. I'm in this place. Save me!"

Without waiting for a response, I immediately hung up.

Quickly navigated the phone to send my location.

Then deleted all traces.

Put the phone back where it was, then sat against the wall.

Though I called him uncle.

I'd always hoped.

If only Mom had married him instead.

He was a student Mom had sponsored, climbed up from the bottom.

Pursued my mom his whole life.

But never got to protect her.

Footsteps approached outside the door. My nerves immediately tensed.

The moment he stepped in.

The phone I'd put back suddenly started ringing frantically.