Chapter 5

Vincent did not understand my sign language, but he could tell where I was pointing.

His expression softened slightly, and for once, he spoke to me gently. "Don't worry. I won't send you back there. Once we pick Asher up, we'll all go home. Everything will be better, then."

I could barely make out what he was saying anymore. All I could tell was that he shook his head.

I remembered reading in a book that a person's senses would gradually fade as they neared the end of their life.

The ringing in my ears had grown deafening, and I realized that I no longer had the strength to dive into the sea again. But I still had not saved enough money to bring Asher's remains home.

After thinking it over, I reached into my clothes with trembling hands and pulled something out.

"Take this and exchange it for money. Will that be enough?" I signed.

This time, Vincent seemed to understand me. Shock flashed across his face before his expression darkened.

"Don't be ridiculous. You used to treasure this ring more than anything."

I looked down at the butterflyfish diamond ring on my palm. When I loved him the most, I polished it three times a day. Even when I went diving, I kept it tucked as close to my heart as possible.

I held it out a little farther and signed again, "Will it be enough?"

Hannah turned to Vincent, who was already visibly displeased.

"Vincent, don't be mad at Lena. Unlike me, she's never had to live through such hardship. So, it's only natural that she'd have some resentment."

Those few words were enough to ease the furrow in Vincent's brows.

He scoffed and said, "Selena, are you still trying to spite me? How could you be so selfish that you make Asher continue suffering with you?"

"Exactly. Lena, even if you won't think about your child, you should at least go back and pay your respects to your mother."

While Hannah chimed in, she stepped closer as if she was trying to persuade me. But the words she whispered into my ear sent a chill through me.

"You don't have to go back. After all, I've dumped that wretched woman's ashes into the sea. They've probably drifted somewhere around here by now. You can stay here with her and rest easy."

A deafening roar filled my head.

My head jerked up, but before I could even grab Hannah's collar, she suddenly fell backward. She clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.

"Lena, even after ten years, you still won't forgive me? I can't lose another baby. Must I beg for your mercy before you'll finally leave me alone?"

As she spoke, she clasped her hands together and began pleading desperately.

Before I could react, a powerful shove sent me stumbling backward.

Vincent glared at me with fury.

"Selena, you haven't changed one bit! Since you're determined to keep this up, you can spend a few more years in that psychiatric hospital."

Caught completely off guard, I fell hard to the ground. My body, which had been barely holding on for so long, finally gave out due to the force. Excruciating pain swept through every bone in my body.

I trembled uncontrollably and suddenly coughed up blood. My consciousness could no longer hold on, and everything slowly began to fade…

At that very moment, Vincent's phone rang.

"Mr. Felker, the child you sent us to retrieve from the psychiatric hospital… died ten years ago…"