Chapter 1

My husband, Jonathan Anders, snatched the satellite phone from me. He wanted to make another call to call off the rescue and prevent them from contacting the authorities.

Upon discovering that the phone could only be unlocked by scanning my retinas, he tried to pry my eyes open, his movements rough and forceful.

"Samantha York! Do you have to make such a huge fuss over something so insignificant? It's just a bottle of water! Did you have to go so far as to call for a rescue? And what's this about a robber on the team? You think you can bear the consequences if the expedition is delayed?"

I used all the strength left in my body to grip Jonathan's wrist tightly, all while keeping my eyes firmly screwed shut.

Waves of dehydration-induced dizziness crashed over me. At the same time, it felt like there was a ball of fire burning in my stomach. Even breathing was agonizing, as though glass shards were tearing me up inside.

In an attempt to relieve the discomfort, I licked the beads of blood seeping from my cracked lips, but it was all in vain.

Because of Jonathan, I had lost most of my strength. I had no idea how much more I could endure.

Madison Zink took a large gulp of the electrolyte-filled water, her eyes becoming half-lidded as she let out a relieved sigh.

"Sorry, Sam, but Jon was just acting out of the kindness of his heart. After all, I was severely dehydrated. What if I had died in the desert?"

Then, she even poured out some of the water to wipe her neck.

"Electrolyte drinks really do rehydrate one quickly. Luckily, you brought one with you, Sam. Otherwise, I would have had nothing to drink."

My nails dug into the car seat as hatred surged through me. I wished I could tear Madison to pieces right here, right now!

I had specifically prepared that bottle of electrolyte water for quick rehydration purposes.

Before we left for the expedition, I had suggested bringing more. However, Madison had deliberately contradicted me, saying I was spreading false information and that drinking normal water would have the same effect. In the end, I was the only one who insisted on bringing the electrolyte drink.

Yet, when I needed it at this critical moment to save my life, she had purposely wasted it!

Jonathan turned to fuss over Madison in concern, pressing a hand against her forehead before moving it to her neck.

"You don't need to apologize. You're already being very kind by leaving her other sources of water. She's the one who refuses to drink it."

With that said, he tossed the half-filled bottle of urine at me.

"Samantha, just who are you putting on this act for? Don't think I'm unaware that you've received several years of special forces training before. You're definitely not that weak or frail.

"Besides, if you really were so dehydrated, I bet you would be willing to drink anything that has water content in it, no matter how disgusting, let alone urine.

"Maddy has a weaker body, and that's why I'm paying more attention and care to her. Is it really necessary for you to be so hard on her?"

As if Madison had given me the urine out of good intentions; she had definitely done it to humiliate me!

At this point, my throat was so parched and hurt so terribly that I couldn't even waste my breath arguing with them anymore.