Chapter 3 Artemis' Retort

I sighed. They were probably talking about me. The incident had already passed, but my body still had not been found. Then again, I was devoured by sharks. Of course they could not find me.

Queenie used her authority to shut down the reporter's question. Everyone knew she was one of the few female captains in the nation.Her skill was highly respected, and Queenie was proud of her position as captain.

While the interview was still going on, I drifted around the company and saw Zach waiting on the first floor. He was holding a bouquet of roses, standing in front of the reception like a peacock.

I looked down and sighed. This guy did not know Queenie was allergic to roses. That was why I always bought baby's breath for every single important day. Back then, Zach had laughed at me for not knowing the first thing about romance.

Now I could mock him for never understanding Queenie, but I underestimated how much Queenie loved him. She took the roses despite the itchiness. Though spots of rashes were appearing on her face, she still held the bouquet tightly in her embrace.

The roses got a lot of attention, and her colleagues said she was popular with men. After all, I had always picked her up from work, and now a handsome man had come to bring her flowers.

The moment someone mentioned my name, Queenie shot that person an icy glare. Her lips curled downward. "Like I wanted him to! Don't put us in the same sentence. I would never fall for a petty man who would risk someone else's life just to save himself."

Something invisible slammed into my heart. So that was how she saw me.

Zach put an arm around Queenie, looking all blissful. If I had not been Queenie's husband, perhaps I would have given them my blessing.

One of our colleagues sighed and said it was a shame my long courtship ended in failure.

Queenie heard that and swiveled around. "What are you pitying a fake, petty man for? If I ever fell for someone like him, I'd rather die!"

Every word she said sliced through what remained of my heart.

The company was having its third anniversary celebration. Queenie brought Zach to the team building event as well. Everyone raised a toast for the future of the company. When they wished all the captains and crew safe sailings every single time, someone mentioned me.

"I still haven't seen Mr. Dutchman. Did something happen? Can anyone call him?"

Artemis Hengefort, my junior, volunteered to call me. But no one picked up.

I watched them trying and trying to call, and I sighed. Unless this was some kind of fantasy world, the dead could not answer phones.

After a few failed attempts, Artemis suggested that Queenie make the call. She said I would never miss Queenie's calls.

Queenie's face fell, but with everyone watching, she could not refuse. Suppressing her anger, she dialed my number.

The phone kept ringing. With each unanswered beep, her irritation grew. Finally, she snapped, "I don't care if he doesn't show up. This show can still go on without him! I hope he never comes! He annoys me!"

I held back the urge to start a big fight. There was no point fighting with her, not when I was already dead. I died in the deep blue on our anniversary.

Artemis shot up from her seat and retorted, "How can you say that about him? Do you even have a heart? He gave you the chance to escape that tsunami, and you left him behind while taking your lover with you. And you still call yourself his wife?"

That caught everyone's attention. All eyes turned toward Queenie, waiting for her answer. Beside her was Zach. Queenie glanced at him, then stood up as well.

"That's nonsense! He didn't need my saving, not when he's a rank one seafarer! He just hates Zach. I know him too well!"

Artemis sneered. "You know him? You don't even know who saved you in the Southern Sea. You don't know who dragged you back to shore. He nearly lost his life saving you. If help had come any later, he might never have woken up. He has thalassophobia. Did you know that? No, of course you didn't. You were busy flirting with your lover! I was the one who took care of him!"

At first, Queenie only scoffed at Artemis, but slowly, that arrogance turned into disbelief. "What?"

Her voice trembled faintly. "He has thalassophobia?"