Chapter 4

Cindy's smile stiffened.

Anger flashed across Cindy’s face, but she quickly put on a wounded expression.

"Please don't be upset. You're so much older than we are. I thought calling you Mrs. Quinn would only make you feel old."

"Besides, Simon and I have known each other since college. I've always called him Simon. It makes us sound closer."

Helplessness flickered in Simon's eyes, but he went along with her explanation.

"Cindy was my class representative in college. She helped me a lot. When you were sick, she even helped me deal with the pressure from the school."

A ringing filled Yara's ears. She couldn't make out anything he said after that.

Cindy helped him deal with the pressure?

What did that make Yara?

While she worked herself to exhaustion and saved every penny for him, he already had this "understanding" female friend by his side?

Simon seemed to want to make it up to her.

He walked her around the yacht and pointed out the view.

Yara barely reacted. She stared into the distance with empty eyes.

Guests kept coming to Simon, some to toast him and others to discuss business.

Again and again, they drew him away from her.

At last, only Yara and Cindy remained on the deck.

Cindy stood close beside her with a wineglass in hand. She studied the scars across Yara's face and spoke in a voice that sounded innocent but was full of malice.

"Yara, you're seven years older than Simon, aren't you? I've always wondered how you tricked him into falling for you."

Yara shook off Cindy's hand, which rested on her as though they were close.

Nausea surged through her.

"Cindy, stop pretending." Yara fixed her with a cold stare. "I know about the two of you."

Cindy was responsible for the deaths of all three of Yara's children. Even though Yara planned to leave, she refused to show fear in front of her.

It was the last shred of dignity she could hold on to.

Yara gave a cold laugh. "As long as I'm alive, your relationship will never see the light of day."

Cindy paused.

Her innocent expression finally vanished, and she laughed wildly under her breath.

"So what? How hard do you think it would be to kill you?"

She swept her gaze around the deck, vicious satisfaction in her eyes.

"You still don't know, do you? I asked Simon to throw this party. It's a secret wedding for us. Look around. All his friends, family, and business partners are here! Just like when you two got married."

Yara's heart lurched.

She remembered Simon's unusually formal suit and the way the guests looked at her, as though they were waiting for a show.

So that was it!

Cindy saw Yara lose focus.

A vicious look flashed in her eyes, and she suddenly screamed, "Yara, why did you push me?"

Before Yara could respond, Cindy seized her wrist and threw herself over the side of the yacht with all her strength.

"Ah!"

They both plunged into the icy sea!

The impact and panic overwhelmed Yara.

She couldn't swim, and seawater rushed into her nose and mouth.

Through the chaos, she saw Cindy pull a small knife from where it was hidden against her chest and swiftly slash her own calf.

Simon rushed to the side of the yacht. His expression changed the moment he saw them in the water.

The yacht stopped in an emergency, but its momentum carried it forward.

Simon barely hesitated. He shrugged off his suit jacket and leaped into the sea.

Yara's consciousness began to fade as her body sank deeper.

Then, through the blur above her, she saw Simon swimming toward her with all his strength.

For a moment, a faint hope stirred in her as she hovered on the edge of death.