Chapter 1 Abandoned

Someone untied my wrists and ankles. I pushed myself up, but Rachel Chandler flogged me. My stomach throbbed with pain, and I curled on the ground. When I looked up, I was met with Rachel's disdain.

She was an admirer of my stepbrother, Harold Shaw, and she was the one who suggested imprisoning me on this island. "You broke Harold's cup. You can survive here alone."

I clenched my teeth and looked at her. "Yvonne's going to kill you! Let me go home!"

Rachel laughed until she doubled over, and she looked at me with mockery in her eyes. "She's the one who gave us the boat that sent you here. She's not going to kill me."

I froze. As I watched Rachel leave, my eyes went red. I quickly fished my phone out and called Yvonne. The signal was bad, and when it finally went through, I was hit by Harold's cloying voice.

"Are you on the island already? Reflect on yourself, got it?"

"You'll go to hell for doing this to me, Harold!" Anger flared within me the moment that bastard's voice hit my ears.

"Enough!" said Yvonne coldly, and my hand shook. "You knew that cup was something his mother left him before she died, and you smashed it anyway. I can't believe you're this vile."

I stood frozen, and I hoarsely said something I had repeated forever. "I didn't do it, Yvonne."

"You're going to tell me you didn't just curse him?" she said angrily. "You lie, and you have an evil heart. You should stay on that island and reflect on your actions."

The sun was scorching, yet my body felt frozen solid. This woman was my fiancee. We grew up together, but she didn't trust me, only my stepbrother.

I felt myself choking up, and I couldn't say anything.

Then, the rustling from a nearby bush turned my attention away. A crocodile about seven feet long was crawling away, its tail swaying in the air, and its stench filled everything around it.

Sweat drenched my back, and tears filled my eyes. Urgently, I pleaded, "Please, let me go home, Yvonne! There are beasts here! I'll die!"

"I just want an apology, Christian! You'd rather lie than reflect on yourself?" Harold's voice was choking. I could even see the disgusting look on his face.

I clenched my phone tightly, as if I was waiting for a final judgment. "I'll let you go after Harold's not angry anymore."

The call ended, and my phone beeped.

I stared down at my reflection on the screen. My eyes were filled with helplessness, and I looked dejected, as if I was a pup who'd lost a fight for his home.

Yvonne hung up, frowning. She looked at her phone, and part of her heart felt like it was taken away. Harold sidled up to her and put on a sweet smile, then he tried to put an arm around her.

She sighed and stepped back, then patted his shoulder.