Chapter 3

Five minutes later, Jordan climbed back aboard with Jade in his arms.

Jade lay limp in his arms. Her face was deathly pale. Jordan looked at Yvette with undisguised disgust.

"Yvette, what did Jade ever do to you? Why would you go so far just to hurt her?"

"I told you I didn't do it! It wasn't me!"

She did not even know where the projector was connected. How could she possibly have done something like that?

"There are only four of us living in the villa! If you didn't do it, are you saying Jade did it to herself?"

Yvette was about to point out that Jade might have staged the whole thing herself, but Jordan cut her off before she could speak.

He shot her a cold look, then turned to the bodyguards nearby. "Throw her into the sea! Leave her there until I say otherwise. Nobody is allowed to bring her back aboard before then!"

Yvette struggled desperately, but she was no match for the bodyguards.

They pinned her to the deck, tied her hands and feet with thick ropes, and threw her overboard.

Her body slammed into the deep water. The freezing sea closed over her, and the bitter cold pierced her entire body like steel needles.

For a moment, Yvette thought she was going to die.

Then, the bodyguards pulled her up just far enough to keep her head and upper body above water, leaving her suspended over the side of the ship.

She struggled to lift her head. Jordan was already walking away with Jade in his arms. Despair washed over Yvette.

They left her hanging there for three whole days.

During those three days, waves splashed over her and left her exposed to the scorching sun. Her skin became painfully dried out, while her lower half remained submerged in the salty seawater until it grew pale and horribly swollen.

Her legs were covered in countless wounds from fish bites. The deepest wound was so severe that the bone was almost exposed.

The moment they finally lowered her onto the deck, she collapsed and lost consciousness.

She did not wake up until a day later. The sharp smell of disinfectant filled her nostrils.

Jordan sat by her bedside. When he saw her open her eyes, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Xander did go too far this time. I've already argued with him about it.

"But Yvette, how could you do something like that? Do you have any idea what's happening outside? The whole city is talking about Jade, and everyone's laughing at her.

"I've already told Xander that you'll apologize to Jade once you're discharged."

Yvette watched his lips move. She had thought her heart had gone numb, but a sharp pain tore through her chest.

She turned her head away and closed her eyes. Tears slipped down her cheeks, and her voice was barely more than a whisper. "Jordan, what's the point of all this?"

When he pretended to be Xander, he hurt her.

When he was himself, he still hurt her.

What had she ever done to deserve such cruelty from him?

Jordan assumed she was reluctant to apologize. His expression darkened, and his voice grew stern. "Yvette, be reasonable. Don't make things difficult for me."

Yvette let out a silent laugh and nodded slightly. "Fine. I'll do as you say."

Jordan was finally satisfied. He took out the eye drops. "That's my good girl. Come here. I'll put your eye drops in for you."

If Yvette had not already discovered the truth, she would have been deeply moved by his apparent concern.

Now, she only felt a chill deep in her heart.

She glanced at him but said nothing. She let him put the drops in her eyes.

After all, she had already replaced the eye drops with a different solution.

…

After three days in the hospital, Yvette returned to the villa.

Jade was in Xander's arms, crying her eyes out.

Jordan's face filled with sympathy. He grabbed Yvette and shoved her in front of Jade.

"Yvette, remember what we agreed? You're going to apologize to Jade."

Yvette fell hard to the floor. The unhealed wounds on her lower legs sent sharp, searing pain through her body.

A flash of satisfaction crossed Jade's eyes. She sniffled and sobbed. "My reputation is ruined. What good would an apology do?"

Jordan's voice softened involuntarily. The love in his eyes was impossible to hide. "Then, tell me what you want."

Xander gave a slight nod. "Jade, what do you want?"

A gleam of triumph flashed in Jade's eyes. She pouted and spoke in a sweet, childish voice. "I want Yvette's tiara."

The tiara had been Jordan's wedding gift to Yvette. It was an antique that had been passed down through generations of the family. It was priceless, and no amount of money could buy it.

A member of the Spencer family staff had once posted a photo of it online, and countless people had expressed their envy. Jade had had her eyes on it for a long time.

Without a second thought, Jordan ordered Yvette to hand it over. "Yvette, go get the tiara for Jade."

He expected her to refuse. After all, he had personally given her the tiara, and she had always treasured it.

He was already thinking of how to persuade her when Yvette spoke softly.

"Okay. I'll go get it."

Jordan froze. He watched her walk away. She seemed much thinner than before, and for some reason, a strange sense of unease crept into his heart.

He told himself he was just imagining things.