Chapter 8

Isabella stayed in the hospital for another two days. As soon as she was strong enough to stand, she checked herself out of the hospital immediately.

The penthouse apartment that had once served as their marital home had also been sold off at a low price. She packed her things and headed straight to the airport.

She had just pulled into the parking lot and hadn't even managed to take her suitcase out yet when a sharp pain exploded at the back of her head.

The last thing she saw before she blacked out was Sofia standing right beside her and looking down with a gaze cold enough to freeze.

…

When Isabella woke again, the first sight that greeted her was a boundless stretch of ocean. The salty, damp sea wind slapped against her face, making her eyelashes tremble.

It was only then that she realized she had been taken aboard a cargo ship already underway at sea. Her hands were bound, and she was suspended high from one side of the deck.

And tied to the other end of the same rope was Sofia.

There were several men standing on the deck. The one in the lead was none other than Leonardo Vieri, who had once fought Enzo for control of the port trade.

Unlike Isabella's wretched state, Sofia appeared exceptionally calm at that moment. There was even a trace of eerie excitement in her expression.

When she saw that Isabella was awake, Sofia gave her an almost bloodthirsty smile.

"Isabella, I know after all those years with you, there's no way you don't still hold some place in Enzo's heart. At first, I just wanted you dead. But you're too damn hard to kill, and you cost me my baby. So, this time, I'm going to make Enzo choose and send you to your death with his own two hands."

Isabella hadn't expected Sofia to stoop to getting involved with a man like Leonardo.

She had just lifted her head when she heard the sound of a yacht cutting through the waves in the distance.

A speedboat was drawing nearer. Enzo stood at the bow with a black briefcase in his hand.

Seeing him appear, Sofia immediately burst into tears. "Enzo, save me! I'm scared!"

Enzo looked up at her, his expression taut to the breaking point.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here."

He quickly boarded the cargo ship and threw the briefcase in his hand onto the deck.

Leonardo's Soldato opened it. Inside, it was filled with neatly stacked cash.

"Take the money and release them," Enzo said icily.

Leonardo laughed and replied mockingly, "Of course, I'll take the money. As for the women, you can save them yourself."

With that, he took his Soldati and the money and boarded the smaller boat waiting nearby. In seconds, they were gone.

Seeing this, Sofia cried even harder.

"Enzo, save me first! My hands hurt so much! I'm so scared!"

Enzo was actually standing closer to Isabella. Yet, he moved right past her without hesitation and rushed toward Sofia on the other side. He grabbed the rope and immediately started pulling her down.

Isabella, suspended at the other end, swayed with the motion. But she never once cried out for help. Instead, she simply watched Enzo in silence, as if she had already known this would happen.

The moment Enzo saved Sofia and gathered her into his arms to soothe her, the rope's balance was broken.

The other end went suddenly weightless.

Enzo's expression changed abruptly, and he whipped his head around instantly.

"Bella!"

But it was already too late.

Isabella plummeted rapidly toward the sea below.

All the color drained from Enzo's face. He lunged toward her wildly, but Sofia suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Enzo, I'm in pain," she shouted through her tears.

"Get away from me!"

This time, Enzo didn't even spare her a glance. He flung her hand off viciously and threw himself toward the tail of the rope.

However, in those one or two seconds Sofia had delayed him, the end of the rope slipped right through his palm. He snatched his fingers shut but caught nothing at all.

Even in the moment she fell from that height, Isabella was still looking at him. There was no plea for help in her eyes. Instead, there was only a faint trace of sarcasm.

With a splash, the sea swallowed her whole.

"Bella! Isabella!"

Enzo rushed to the railing, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.

On the water's surface, nothing remained but widening rings rippling outward in slow circles.

Isabella clearly knew how to swim. Yet, she showed not the slightest sign of struggling to survive. Instead, she'd just let herself go under.

Enzo climbed onto the railing. He was about to jump in without a second thought when suddenly, a body pressed up against him from behind.

Sofia clung to him desperately, shrieking, "She's dead! Isabella's already dead! You can't jump! You still have me!"

Venomous fury surged in Enzo's eyes. He turned and hurled her off him with brutal force.

"Get lost!"

In the next second, he plunged into the sea without the slightest hesitation. Only one thought remained in his mind—Isabella could not die.

Meanwhile, beneath the surface of the sea, Isabella had untied the rope around her hands the very moment she hit the water. Holding her breath, she swam stealthily toward a small boat that had been lingering not far away the entire time.

Luca stood on the boat, his expression terrifyingly dark.

By the time Isabella reached the side of the boat, she was nearly out of strength.

The next second, a hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her straight out of the sea.

The moment her feet touched the deck again, and before she could even steady herself, Luca pulled her into his arms. His grip was impossibly tight, and he was trembling all over.

After a few seconds, he sank his teeth hard into her shoulder.

"Isabella, you're truly insane," he said through gritted teeth.

But Isabella only smiled. She still hadn't seen Riccardo and Elvira or made up for everything she owed them from her previous life, so how could she possibly let herself die?

Isabella turned and looked toward the cargo ship in the distance.

Enzo was still in the sea, searching for her frantically.

With a gaze as cold as ice, Isabella said, "Goodbye, Enzo. The next time we see each other, I hope you'll already be in hell."