Chapter 1 Chapter 1

The lifeboat had only two seats left. My hands were clammy, and my heart pounded with rising panic. Without thinking, I grabbed Ethan Gibson’s wrist. “Please, don’t leave me,” I whispered. He jerked his hand away, shooting me an annoyed look. There she was—Aria York, the girl of his dreams—standing beside him with a perfectly practiced worried expression. “Aria can’t swim. I need to get her to safety first. Wendy, this isn’t the time to pick fights over nothing. You’re not really jealous, are you?” he chided. His words hit me like a bucket of ice water. Jealous? His voice turned icy, almost scolding. “What else do you want from me? Isn’t it enough that I gave you my life jacket? You can swim, can’t you?”“I... I can’t. Not really. I’m pregnant, and I’m scared...” My voice broke as I tried to explain, my plea barely audible. He dismissed me with a wave. “That’s enough! You’re always making a scene, and now you’re lying too? Grow up, Wendy. Why are you putting on such an act?” Aria remained silent, watching the drama unfold. Instead of intervening, she gently took Ethan’s hand and murmured, “Let’s not fight, Ethan. I can wait here a bit longer. Take Wendy first.”“No way. It’s not safe for you here.” Ethan pulled Aria close, his expression full of tender concern that shattered what was left of my heart. “Come with me. I’ll keep you safe.” I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. Before I could muster the strength, he was already leading Aria to the lifeboat, never once glancing back. Left behind, I felt the cold seawater lapping at my ankles, the chill seeping deeper into my bones. I touched my belly instinctively, tears mingling with the saltwater, blurring my vision. The person on the boat glanced back at me, their eyes flickering with a hint of sympathy. “Maybe you should give her a hand?” someone suggested to Ethan. Ethan shook his head, his tone cool and detached. “Forget it. She’s faking it.” A heavy silence followed. Nobody said another word. The lifeboat drifted away, taking my last shred of hope with it. I scrambled into my life jacket, struggling to keep my panic at bay. If no one would save me, I had to save myself. The tide was rising fast, making the shoreline rocks slick and treacherous. I took a deep breath, but my thoughts were a jumbled mess. All my survival instincts felt useless. Desperation drove me toward higher ground, clinging to the faint hope of rescue. However, luck wasn’t on my side. Out of nowhere, a massive wave slammed into me, sweeping me off my feet. I crashed into the sea, the icy water flooding my mouth and throat with its salty sting, leaving me gasping for breath. “Don’t freak out. Just stay calm...” I repeated to myself, clawing for control. I tried to swim away from the jagged rocks, but my belly slammed into one, its sharp edge slicing through me like a knife. Pain exploded through my body as blood billowed into the water, turning it crimson around me. I sucked in a sharp breath, my body limp and floating. Once upon a time, I had been Ethan’s “one and only.” I still remember the summer day he wandered the streets to find me a simple seashell necklace for our first anniversary. “It’ll bring you luck,” he said, smiling as he placed it around my neck with affection and warmth. I had cherished that necklace, clutching it like a precious treasure, believing it symbolized our love and the memories we shared. However, on another day, I saw Ethan pick out a dazzling diamond necklace for Aria. It cost a small fortune, and he clasped it around her neck himself, chuckling as he said, “Only the best for you.” I used to believe in the innocence of our shell necklace, thinking it represented our love and shared moments. Now, I see the truth. It was just me, holding on to a dream that only I believed in. To him, that necklace—and I—were insignificant. Not even worth a second thought.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Out of nowhere, a tourist cried out, “Look! There’s someone else out there, drifting in the ocean! We’ve got to save her!” The rescue team sprang into action, their radio crackling with urgent commands: “A person in distress spotted nearby. Move out for immediate support.” As Ethan and Aria’s boat docked, a crowd had already formed, buzzing with speculation. A fellow passenger approached Ethan, giving his shoulder a light tap. “Maybe you should check it out? They say someone just died over there. I’m worried…” Ethan remained unfazed, casually waving off the concern. “No way. She’s an ace swimmer—used to compete when she was younger. Plus, she’s got her life jacket on. She’s probably just waiting for the next boat. She’s fine.” Right then, a rescue squad passed by, carrying a stretcher draped in white. The onlookers murmured among themselves, their voices tinged with shock and grief they couldn’t quite conceal. “They say the woman they found was in bad shape,” someone whispered. “Her face was all torn up… She was young and had a deep cut in her belly. Looked like she was expecting, and the baby...” Even hearing that, Ethan didn’t flinch. His stride remained steady. His attention was solely on Aria, his voice soft with concern. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?” Aria looked up at him, shaking her head. A sly glint of pride flickered in her eyes. As they stood there, a familiar object tumbled out from under the white cloth on the passing stretcher, landing with a soft plop in the mud. A seashell necklace was at their feet, its delicate tinkling sound cutting through the murmurs. Ethan paused for just a moment, his gaze flicking to the necklace. Then, he steadied Aria and moved on. The necklace lay abandoned in the dirt, its true owner never to return for it. As darkness settled, there was still no sign of me. Ethan, clearly frustrated, fired off a voice message. His voice was sharp, each word spiked with irritation. “Wendy! Where on earth did you vanish to?! It’s way too late for you not to be home! Are you off sulking somewhere? Was it really that bad to ask you to wait a bit longer? Do you always have to overreact like this?!” He gripped his phone tightly, his annoyance clear. Aria placed a gentle hand on his arm, her voice sweet but insincere. “Ethan, relax. Wendy didn’t mean to disappear. She’s probably just mixed up or something. She’ll turn up soon.” Just then, Ethan’s phone buzzed to life. “Hello? What’s up?” he barked into the phone. “Whose relative?” The voice on the other end mentioned my name, and Ethan exploded, barking into the phone. “Wendy Larson? Did she pay you to pull this stunt? She’s nuts! Tell her to stop messing around and get back here, pronto!” He ended the call with a sharp click, his expression stormy. When the phone buzzed again, Ethan’s lips twisted into a cold smirk. Without hesitation, he hit “decline” and blocked the number. “Wendy, you think you can pull this stunt on me? You’re expecting me to come crawling back? I can’t wait to see how you keep up this act.” He scoffed under his breath, his eyes flashing with unmistakable scorn. Moments later, he sent another voice message, his tone harsh and jarring. “Wow, Wendy, you’ve really outdone yourself this time—roping someone else into your little drama! Let me make this clear: I’m not coming after you. If you come back now, all meek and sorry, I’ll let it slide like nothing happened. However, if you don’t, then just stay gone for good!” Deep into the night, Ethan’s phone buzzed again. He scowled at the screen. He was clearly not in the mood to answer, but it was his dad calling. With a reluctant sigh, he picked up. The moment he did, his dad’s furious voice roared through the speaker. “What the heck are you doing?! Where are you? Get back here, now!” Ethan’s face twisted in annoyance. “Why? It’s late! I was sleeping, for crying out loud! I’m exhausted!” His dad’s voice was thick with frustration, brimming with anger and grief. “Sleeping? How can you sleep at a time like this?! Wendy’s gone—she’s dead!”

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

The room reeked of disinfectant, a stark contrast to the warmth it once held. A chilling white sheet covered what had once been a living, breathing person. Ethan’s eyes were hollow, refusing to accept the grim reality before him. “No way... This can’t be happening…” he whispered, his voice heavy with denial and trembling despair, as though trying to convince himself—or anyone who would listen—that this wasn’t real. He stood frozen, unable to take a step closer. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned ghostly white, a faint tremor betraying the anxiety coursing through him. “It’s gotta be a hoax, some kind of sick joke… She can’t be…” His gaze shot upward, his eyes ablaze with a mix of doubt and rage, as though searching for signs of an elaborate trick. “Do you really not see the truth?!” His parents stormed toward him, their anger cutting through the room like a blade. His mother, her face streaked with tears, cried out, “Look at her! Look at your wife! What did she ever do to hurt you? Why would you believe Aria’s lies over her?”“What did Wendy ever do wrong?” His father’s voice, raw with emotion, lacked its usual commanding tone. “How much has she sacrificed for you? Is there any part of your heart left for her? Can you see anyone besides Aria? Do you even acknowledge your own wife?” Their words struck deep, slicing through Ethan like a knife. Yet Ethan remained rooted to the spot, his mask of indifference barely hiding the storm raging within. He bit back his emotions, unwilling—or unable—to face the truth. “Enough! Aria isn’t the person you think she is!” he finally burst out, his voice shaky but laced with stubborn resolve. “She’s innocent! This must be some kind of mix-up.”“Mix-up?” His mother’s fury only grew hotter. “Aria’s innocent? Then tell me, what terrible thing did Wendy do to make you mistrust her? Even now that she’s gone, you refuse to defend her?” Ethan fell silent. His lips parted, but no words came out. His gaze clouded over. Deep down, he knew. He had spent years neglecting Wendy, allowing doubt to build a wall between them. And yet, even now, he couldn’t stop himself from defending Aria, as if she were the one who needed his protection. His father’s voice was filled with disappointment, his frustration evident in every word. “You’re still standing up for Aria? When are you going to see clearly? Wendy is gone—she’s not coming back! How can you defend Aria and not feel even a shred of guilt?” The words hit Ethan like a ton of bricks. He swallowed hard, but no excuses came. He stared at the lifeless body before him, the silence around it chilling and accusing. It was as if it demanded that he finally face the truths he had been running from. No matter how much he wanted to deny it, he knew then that the truth was inescapable. Word of the incident spread like wildfire across the internet. Tourists on the boat had captured every detail on camera and blasted it across social media. A tidal wave of outrage erupted, thrusting Ethan and Aria into the harsh glare of public scrutiny. The comments were relentless, each one a dagger to the heart: [How could he be so heartless? His own wife was pregnant, and he left her? And he still defends his mistress?] [What kind of upbringing leads to this kind of behavior?] [That mistress has some nerve showing her face!] Ethan’s life unraveled under the weight of public scrutiny. Everywhere he went—from the streets to the bars—people whispered about the scandal. His phone became a constant source of torment, buzzing incessantly with calls and notifications. Each glance brought a new flood of insults and blame, the words suffocating him. Ethan and Aria’s names dominated trending topics, with rumors and fresh scandals surfacing by the hour. Despite the chaos, Ethan clung to his belief in Aria. He convinced himself that their love was mutual, true, and unshakable. However, life had other plans, ones he never saw coming. One exhausting evening, as he dragged himself home, his phone buzzed with a notification. It stopped him in his tracks. Aria was live streaming. Confused and weary, he opened the video. On-screen, Aria stood in a plain white dress, her tears brimming and her expression vulnerable, like a lost kitten.