Chapter 1

The roar of the crashing waves and explosions drowned everything out, and Zachary Warren could not hear my screams at all.

As the spray settled, Celeste Quinn's excited shriek rang out. "Wow! Zachary! Look at that! It's so spectacular!"

Zachary pulled her close and kissed her several times, his voice growing even more tender. "You like it? This is an exclusive ocean fireworks show just for you. As long as you're happy, forget a few water columns... I'd buy you this entire ocean if that's what it takes."

My heart sank, but I did not have time to process the pain. Blake was already trembling in my arms, his mind breaking from the terror. He shakily raised his wrist where his smartwatch was strapped, tapped on his father's contact, and stammered through tears into the device.

"Daddy... please... stop... I..."

Before he could finish, another torpedo exploded nearby.

On the other end, Zachary let out an impatient, mocking laugh. "Don't call me that! My son doesn't stutter like you, you autistic little brat!"

Celeste immediately chimed in with fake concern. "Oh, Zachary, don't be so harsh. But... that child will be okay, won't he?"

"Relax, he won't die!" Zachary's voice was cold, completely devoid of warmth.

Those words made my heart sink lower and lower.

On my first blind date with Zachary, I had been completely honest about having a son with autism.

Back then, he had said, "Ms. Harper, I have a son too. The two boys can keep each other company, and I promise I'll treat your son like my own."

In just three years, he had forgotten that promise entirely. But for all his scheming, he had failed to realize the child on this boat was the son he loved most.

I forced myself to focus and stumbled through the storage compartment, finally finding the backup emergency radio.

I pressed the talk button and screamed hoarsely, "Zachary! This really is Blake! Are you trying to kill your own son?"

"Shut up! How dare you curse my son! Penelope Harper, do you think I'm blind? I can see perfectly well that Blake is wearing a white tracksuit today! You think I'll fall for this pathetic act and rescue you two? You really underestimate me!"

His voice came through the radio, filled with contempt.

My whole body shook as I recalled that the boys had swapped clothes this morning. The boys had always been close, and they had been excitedly calling out at the door before we left, wanting to share their outfits, so I had agreed with a smile, thinking it was adorable.

I never imagined that an innocent gesture would become a death sentence.

"No, that's not it! He really is Blake. They switched clothes!" I explained desperately.

Suddenly, Blake Warren began convulsing in my arms from the successive shocks, white foam spilling from his mouth.

"Zachary! Stop! Blake is dying!"

"Don't try to fool me. If your son dies, then he dies. What does that have to do with me?" Zachary's indifferent voice drifted through the radio.

Another dull thud came, not from the ocean surface this time but from beneath our feet. The bottom of the boat had been blown open from the repeated impacts, and seawater was gushing in, causing the vessel to slowly start sinking.

I frantically checked on Blake's condition, only to feel something warm and sticky on my hand. I discovered in horror that his calf had a wound so deep I could see bone, and blood was pouring out continuously, soaking half his pant leg red.