Chapter 5

Perhaps sensing Michelle’s change in attitude, Sigmund began sticking close to her over the next few days, hardly letting her out of his sight.

To make up for what happened that night, he booked a candlelit dinner aboard a luxury cruise.

The dining hall was decorated in a refined, old style, and beyond the windows stretched the endless ocean.

Just as the waiter brought over flowers and wine, Emily appeared, looping her arm around Sigmund’s with a delighted smile.

“What a coincidence, Sigmund! You’re here too?”

Michelle’s expression froze for a moment.

There was no such thing as coincidence.

This had clearly been planned.

No wonder he had suddenly suggested dinner on a cruise. He’d only wanted a chance to run into Emily.

“Miss Lowe, would you mind if I joined you?”

Michelle didn’t even have the chance to refuse. Sigmund had already pulled out a chair for Emily, looking more than pleased to have her there.

When ordering, Emily laughed teasingly. “You ordered all my favorite dishes again. Aren’t you going to ask Miss Lowe what she likes?”

Sigmund pushed the menu toward Michelle with a gentle smile. “Take a look. See if there’s anything you want.”

She shook her head. “You decide.”

Dinner felt endless, every bite tasteless. Emily and Sigmund chatted easily, completely absorbed in each other, while Michelle sat there like an unwelcome guest.

Feeling suffocated, she got up and stepped outside, wandering into another part of the ship.

As she passed one of the private lounges, someone suddenly grabbed her and yanked her inside.

“You look familiar,” a man sneered. “Since you’re here, why don’t you join us for a drink?”

“Weren’t you the high-and-mighty Miss Lowe? Never took an invite before. Guess now that you’ve fallen, you don’t mind drinking with us after all.”

Michelle frowned. These men had been chasing her for a long time and still held a grudge for the humiliation she’d dealt them before.

“Sorry, I’m allergic to alcohol. I can’t drink.”

She tried to leave, but in the next moment they blocked the door.

A wave of fear rose in her chest and a chill ran down her back.

“Michelle, I’d advise you not to refuse a drink. No one’s protecting you now. What, don’t tell me you are relying on your sugar baby? Behave, and you’ll suffer less. Otherwise, don’t blame us for getting rough.”

When one of them lunged, Michelle’s breath caught and she kicked him hard between the legs.

She grabbed an ashtray to defend herself. “I warn you… Don’t touch me, or…”

“Or what? I don’t believe you can stop us.”

A fist struck Michelle across the face, making her head swim. She stumbled and couldn’t keep her balance.

They shoved her to the floor; her forehead slammed into the corner of a table and blood spurted out.

The sight of blood only excited them more. They whistled and forced alcohol into her mouth.

“I’ll devour you tonight. You used-up whore. Don’t act so damn innocent...”

Before he could finish his sentence, the private room door flew open.

Someone had kicked it in anger.

Sigmund saw the scene and his eyes went blood-red as he stormed in and punched one of the men hard in the face.

“How dare you touch my woman? You’re asking to die!”

He went wild, beating the man until he was covered in blood.

Then, with one last kick, Sigmund crushed the man’s face under his shoe, forcing him to kneel and apologize to Michelle.

Only when the others stepped in to pull him back did he finally relent, scooping the blood-soaked Michelle into his arms and rushing her out.

On the way to the hospital, he carefully wiped the blood from her forehead, his hands trembling. “I’m sorry. I never should’ve taken you there. This is all my fault.”

Michelle no longer knew how much of what he said was real or just another act.

She only knew that none of this had happened by coincidence.

Among those men, at least one had clearly recognized Sigmund.

Otherwise, they never would’ve backed off so easily.

Her eyes reddened as she asked softly, “You picked a fight with them for me. Aren’t you afraid they’ll come after you?”

Sigmund pressed his forehead to hers, his voice low and strained. “I’m not afraid. Nothing matters more than you.”

If she hadn’t already known he’d been lying to her all along, she might have been moved to tears by that line.

But sadly, every word out of his mouth felt hollow now.

The car was silent until his phone rang, shattering the moment.

The change in his expression was instant. His body went rigid, his face darkened.

“Michelle, can you go to the hospital by yourself?”

She froze, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.

He pulled the car to the side of the road and hurried out. His figure grew smaller in the rearview mirror until it vanished completely.

Only then did Michelle start to laugh—softly at first, then through tears she couldn’t stop.

She remembered the voice she’d heard through the phone just moments ago.

“Sigmund, Emily’s in trouble. Please hurry back.”