MasukAnd yet, to Adriana Adler, the days felt even harder to endure now that Chris had arrived."Are you planning to keep us drifting out here on the ocean for the rest of our lives?"Chris didn't answer right away. He pulled a photograph out of the bag he'd brought and held it out to her."Once some time has passed, we'll go live on this little island."Adriana didn't look at the photo. She turned her head toward the sealed glass window instead.She could never go to that island.But Chris trailed after her like a lingering ghost, day and night, his breathing always somewhere close by, never quite far enough away. She couldn't do a thing.For a while she'd managed to hold herself together, but in the few short days since Chris had arrived, her emotional state had started to crack. Her mind felt empty of everything; even her children's faces were starting to blur.She suddenly lost every last shred of hope, and with it, the will to keep fighting.One night, she walked alone into th
Adriana slept fitfully all night. Nightmares clung to her like thick, tangled seaweed, dragging her again and again into some darker depth. Each time she jolted awake, she'd see Chris sitting in the shadows at the foot of the bed. She couldn't make out his expression, but she could feel his eyes on her, just like in the dream, clinging to her skin, cold and dark.Morning finally came. Outside the window, the sky was a blinding blue, and sunlight spread across the sea.She stared into that brightness and said coldly, "I want to go up on deck for some air."Chris sat at the edge of the bed, his face blank in the morning light. "You can leave this room. Just not the deck. Not yet."He got up and knocked three unhurried times on the door. It opened from the outside.This was the first time Adriana had seen any other part of the ship since she'd been taken aboard. Outside was a corridor lined with bright windows on both sides. The sunlight poured in, making the wooden floor look even
Adriana's patience finally ran out. A blaze of anger rose up from her chest, her voice thick with fury she could no longer hold back."I never once thought about getting back with Francesco! All I wanted was to live my own life, and besides..."She stood beside the bed, looking down at Chris, her eyes as sharp as icicles in the dead of winter."Who I choose to be with has nothing to do with you, Chris. We had a five-year marriage once, and you were the one who destroyed it. The one you should be punishing is yourself, not me!"Chris lay flat on his back, listening to her rage without a flicker of expression crossing his face. He'd braced himself for this before he ever came here.Dean had been right. If he wanted Adriana, he had to accept her hatred along with her, and this was exactly what he deserved."Adriana, this state I'm in now, neither fully human nor fully ghost, that is me punishing myself."Adriana froze for a moment, then sank back down into her chair. Her temples th
"Adriana. It's been a while."Chris stepped in from outside and pulled the door shut behind him, as if afraid she might slip out."Why?"She hadn't spoken in so long that her words came out stiff, dragged up from somewhere deep in her throat, hoarse and rough."To protect you."Chris reached out a hand, wanting to touch her pale cheek.Adriana turned her head away, the line of her neck drawn tight, like a swan on alert."This isn't protection. This is harm. Please, let me go."His hand hung in the air for a moment, fingers curling in, before he slowly drew it back and clenched it into a fist at his side. He sat down at the foot of the bed and looked around the room, at the drawn curtains, the few books on the table that had been flipped through. Finally, his gaze settled back on her face.Seeing the disgust and fury in her eyes, something in him twisted, sharp and painful. That look shouldn't belong to his Adriana."Don't worry. I'll let you go someday. Just not now."Adrian
In truth, some deep part of Dean felt a little lighter about Chris's choice to leave. Sending his brother off felt, in some strange way, like setting down a burden.Chris murmured his thanks. He was genuinely grateful to Dean, even though he knew this was all part of an elaborate scheme.Deep in the night, Alex came into the hospital room and woke him."We're heading out."He handed over a white coat and a mask he'd prepared in advance. "I'll personally escort the official to the recovery facility. Just stay close to me."Chris knew Alex had changed his own schedule for his sake. No words could express how grateful he was. The only thing he could do, probably, was never bother him again.He put on the white coat in silence, pulled on the mask, and followed close behind Alex, boarding the helicopter without a hitch.The aircraft lifted off, carrying them further and further from the sleeping city. Looking down at the dim shape of Heatherton City, Chris felt surprisingly little re
Chris looked into the eyes of his old friend, and a wave of panic suddenly rose in his chest. He clenched his own hand tight, as if something vital were slipping silently through his fingers no matter how hard he tried to hold on.The hospital room fell into silence.After a long while, Alex seemed to understand something, and let out a soft, faint laugh."Chris, why not look back at who you used to be?""The old me is already dead."There was no emotion at all in Chris's voice. He didn't dare look back, and he didn't want to, either. The past didn't mean anything anymore.He lifted his eyes to meet his friend's. "Alex, help me one last time."Alex met that pleading gaze, shattered and cold, and felt his heart sink slowly into despair."Chris... I can't do this."Chris begged, his voice hoarse. "Just this once, the last time. Unless you want to watch Adriana and me die."Alex felt a bone-deep chill spread through his chest at those words. He could heal Chris's body, but he co
"I can keep investigating for you, if you'd like," Charlie offered.In truth, he could have followed the trail and uncovered whoever was behind it. But the matter might involve Adriana's privacy, so he chose not to pursue it further.Adriana thought for a moment. "Then I'll trouble you, Charlie. C
Until the end of the next workday, Adriana hadn't received a reply from Chris.She had dinner with Oliver, and on the way home, she saw Joan and her son on a video call in the living room."Chris, I want a toy.""Alright. Tell your mom what New Year's gift you want."Chris's voice was clear, tho
Francesco was supremely confident, moving without a shred of protective gear.Adriana tightened her grip on her sword, testing him with two tentative thrusts—both easily dodged by Francesco.His reflexes were lightning-fast, and soon he returned a strike of his own. Adriana couldn't evade it in ti
Daisy studied Edward, a flicker of something unusual passing through her eyes. The boy looked far too much like a member of the Slater family."Mhm, I gave birth overseas," Joan said.She gently nudged Edward toward Daisy. "Edward, hurry up and say hello to Daisy.""Hello, Daisy.""So adorable,"







