ANMELDENDuring a maritime rescue, my in-laws were trapped aboard a sinking vessel. I personally led my husband, Adrian Cole, captain of the rescue team, straight to their location. They were seconds away from launching the operation when Vanessa Tate looped an arm around his neck and said with a smile, “I heard there are two very important people on that ship. If I’m the one who brings them out, I could earn a second-class medal.” She leaned closer, half teasing, half coaxing. “Help me out this one time. Do that, and I’ll call you Daddy for the rest of my life.” Adrian raised a brow and let out a laugh. “You’d better mean it. Because I’m taking you up on that.” Then, without a moment’s hesitation, he ordered the rescue boat to turn around. I froze, then shouted after him, “Adrian, Mom and Dad are still trapped in there. Are you seriously leaving them to die?” He shoved me aside, his expression turning cold with impatience. “Claire, think about what matters most. Your parents can swim and hold on a little longer until another team gets there. But if Vanessa misses this chance, she may never get another shot at that medal.” My blood ran cold. Yes, my parents could swim. But the people trapped inside that vessel were not my parents. They were his. And they were the two “important people” Vanessa had been talking about all along.
Mehr anzeigenAdrian had cut his hair short.His whole face looked worn down, nothing like the man I used to know.The moment he saw me, his dull eyes lit up.He softened his voice, using the same tone he’d once used when he pursued me.“Claire, thank you for coming.“I wanted to apologize to you properly.“I failed you in every way.“I didn’t see Vanessa for who she really was. Because of her, I kept ignoring your feelings.“We had so many good days too.“Claire, can you forgive me?”I looked at him quietly.His words stirred nothing in me.“Adrian, we’re divorced.“We’re strangers now.“Forgiveness doesn’t matter anymore.“I came because of Richard.“If you have something to say, say it.”His expression stiffened.Then he forced out an awkward smile.“Claire, I know you’re still angry.“I never wanted to divorce you.“The fact that you agreed to see me means you still have feelings for me.“Vanessa and I went too far before, but you always forgave me.“You’ll forgive me this time too.“I never mea
Adrian’s eyes went blood-red.Rage burned through the last of his sanity, and he lunged at Vanessa like a rabid dog.A few hard slaps left her face swollen.Vanessa fought back with everything she had.Soon, Adrian’s face and neck were covered in scratches.He grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head against the floor.Again.And again.Blood spread beneath her.“You bitch.“You bitch.“This is all your fault.“If it weren’t for you, my parents would still be alive.“I’ll kill you.”Vanessa’s frantic struggling grew weaker.It took several people to drag her out from under him.By then, her eyes had rolled back, and she had passed out. She was rushed to the hospital.Adrian was still screaming and fighting.Richard looked at the grandson who had disappointed him beyond words.He struck his cane against the floor and snapped, “Enough.”“Look at yourself, Adrian.“How did the Cole family produce someone like you?Only then did Adrian seem to come back to himself.When he saw the offi
I was so furious I laughed.Then I looked him straight in the eye and spoke slowly, word by word.“Adrian, when I begged you to save them, did I tell you they were your parents?“You left anyway because Vanessa wanted a second-class medal.“When I was handling their bodies and begged you to see them one last time, did I tell you they were your parents?“You were busy letting her ride on your shoulders.“When I begged you to come sign the cremation papers, did I tell you they were your parents?“You refused because she said one sentence.“Adrian, now you want to blame me?“Ask yourself who really caused this.”Adrian had no answer.His entire body trembled.Every single time, I had told him clearly.He simply hadn’t believed me.Not once.When Adrian and I first got together, there had been trust between us.Real love.Otherwise, I never would have married him.But over the years, Vanessa and those so-called friends had worn him down.Or maybe they had only revealed what had always been
Adrian went completely still.Even his voice cracked.“What are you doing here?”Then realization struck.He spun toward me, his voice ripping out of his throat.“Claire, didn’t you say they were dead?“What the hell is going on?“If they’re standing right here, then who died?”I looked at him and smiled coldly.“Adrian, how many times did I tell you?“The people who died were your parents.“Your mother. Your father.“The people who gave you life, raised you, and became first-class national heroes.“The people trapped inside that ship while you turned your back on them.”Adrian staggered back.“No… no, that’s impossible.“My parents were overseas recovering. They were supposed to stay there for years. How could they have been on that ship?“Claire, you’re lying. Don’t try to fool me. I don’t believe you.”I stared at him and destroyed the last of his denial.“Listen carefully.“Your parents were on a classified mission. After receiving their first-class medals, they took a cruise home.


















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