Chapter 6

At that very moment, a fierce gust of wind churned the sea into towering waves, violently rocking the yacht. Karina's words were completely drowned out by the roar of the waves and the startled cries around them.

Nicholas frowned slightly. "What did you just say? The wind and waves are too loud."

Karina was about to repeat herself when Rowena whined, "It's too dangerous out here. I'm really scared. Let's hurry back to the cabin."

The others quickly shielded her as they made their way out one after another, with Karina trailing at the very back.

She glanced back one last time at the dolphins gradually fading into the distance and suddenly smiled.

Perhaps this was meant to be.

They would never know she had wished to never see them again.

Just as they had never truly cherished her sincerity, they would also never know she was about to vanish from their world forever.

…

On the day Rowena received the invitation to the debutante ball, none of the four men could spare the time to go with her.

"Clarence, Irving, and Luther are flying to Belport to bid on that pink diamond for me," Rowena said sweetly, waving the invitation. "And Nicholas has a 100-billion-dollar contract to sign. Karina, won't you go with me?"

She batted her eyes pitifully. "I haven't attended an event like this in five years, so I'm afraid I'll embarrass myself."

"I'm not going," Karina said flatly.

But the four men gave her no room for refusal.

"Rowena isn't in good health. You should go with her," Clarence commanded coldly.

"You're the most familiar with these events," Irving said, adjusting his glasses. "Don't let Rowena make a fool of herself."

Luther simply pushed her into the car. "Take good care of Rowena. Don't cause any trouble."

The door slammed shut. Through the window, Karina watched the four men's worried expressions and could only feel a bitter irony.

They only ever worried about whether Rowena might feel wronged but never once cared if Karina was willing to go.

…

At the ball, Rowena stood out in a dazzling red dress.

"Here, drink this for me," she said, pushing a champagne glass into Karina's hand with a sweet smile. "After all, if I go home drunk, what do you think they'll say?"

Karina's fingers tightened around the glass until her knuckles turned white.

She knew Rowena was doing this on purpose, but she could only do as she was told. If anything happened to Rowena, those four men would never let her off.

As she drank one glass after another, Karina felt the world begin to swim before her eyes.

"Oh dear, are you drunk?" Rowena feigned surprise. "Here, I'll help you to a room."

Karina struggled to push Rowena away, but she was no match for her strength.

Half-dragged, half-carried, she was led away from the ballroom, down a long corridor, and finally pushed into an unfamiliar hotel room.

"Enjoy yourself," Rowena whispered in her ear with a light laugh before closing the door.

Karina slumped to the floor, and through her bleary eyes, she saw a strange man approaching. The man loosened his tie, a nauseating smile spreading across his face.

"Ms. Fleming paid a high price to have me take care of you," the man said, reaching for her dress. "She wasn't wrong. You really are a rare beauty."

Karina struggled with all her might, but her alcohol-numbed body refused to cooperate. The man's hand clamped around her wrist like an iron vice, his hot, sickening breath hitting the side of her neck.

Just as the man was about to press down on her, Rowena's delighted voice suddenly sounded from outside the door. "Nicholas? What are you doing here? I thought you had an important contract to sign?"

"I couldn't stop worrying about you, so I came to take you home." Nicholas' voice came through the door, as cool and composed as ever. After a pause, he asked, "Where's Karina?"

"Oh, she's in the restroom," Rowena replied without missing a beat.

Karina mustered every last ounce of her strength and threw herself against the door.

"Nicholas! Save me!"

For a second, silence fell outside the door.

"Are you sure she's in the restroom?" Nicholas pressed, his voice growing colder.

"Of course," Rowena replied, her tone wounded. "If you don't believe me, we can go check the restroom right now. It's almost time for my medication, though… But it's fine. I can wait."

Karina's heart sank. She knew Nicholas would choose to take Rowena back first to take her medicine, just as he had countless times before.

After a suffocating silence, Nicholas' voice finally came through. "Never mind. I'll take you back to take your medicine first."

The sound of footsteps faded into the distance. Karina felt as though her heart had been carved out, the pain so sharp it nearly choked her.

Inside the room, the man had already torn open her collar.

In desperation, Karina reached for the crystal ashtray on the bedside table. With all her remaining strength, she slammed it against the man's head.

The man grunted and crumpled to the floor.

Karina staggered to her feet and stumbled out of the room.

The hallway was empty. She ran desperately toward the exit, her high heels long since lost. Her bare feet pounded the cold floor, yet she felt no pain.

In the rainy night, she rushed onto the road. Suddenly, blinding headlights swept over her.

A loud crash echoed as Karina was thrown into the air and landed heavily on the road several yards away.

"Nicholas, I think we hit someone." Rowena's panicked voice came from inside the car. "Should we get out and check?"

Rain blurred his vision. Nicholas frowned and glanced out. "It's fine. I'll have my assistant handle it."

Without hesitation, he stepped on the accelerator. "It's more important for you to take your medicine."

The car sped away, its tires splashing mud and blood across Karina's pale face. She lay in the spreading pool of blood as the rain washed it toward the roadside drain.