Chapter 3

As we checked in, the receptionist glanced at Patrick and Dolly standing side by side and smiled.

“You’re in luck! We have a complimentary upgrade available today—a beautiful honeymoon suite with an ocean view.”

The tips of Patrick’s ears quickly turned red.

He cleared his throat awkwardly and was about to explain when Dolly rose onto her toes and leaned toward his ear. Her voice was low enough for me to hear.

“Don’t be silly. Why turn down a free upgrade?”

Without hesitation, she took Patrick’s hand and smiled at the receptionist.

“My husband loves ocean views. Could we have a room overlooking the ocean?”

Then she turned and winked at me, silently mouthing the words.

“Yuna, I’m good, right? We got an ocean-view suite for free.”

I stood there, unable to smile.

It was only after we entered the room that Dolly let go of Patrick’s hand and sidled up to me, her voice soft and coaxing.

“Yuna, don’t be mad. I was only joking around and taking advantage of the free upgrade. Don’t take it the wrong way.”

Patrick immediately chimed in to reassure me.

“Dolly’s right. The suite would’ve cost a lot more. She was only trying to help, so don’t overthink it.”

I smiled and placed my bag on the nightstand.

“It’s fine. I’m used to it.”

The moment we set our bags down, Dolly eagerly pulled us out of the room.

“Let’s not waste time sitting around! Come on, let’s go jet-skiing!”

I had always been afraid of water and had never dared to try anything so fast-paced and thrilling.

But watching how carefree and excited they were today, I suddenly felt like giving it a try.

When we reached the water-sports center, the instructor finished checking the equipment and turned to us helplessly.

“Sorry, everyone. There are too many visitors today, and we only have one jet ski left.”

Dolly immediately clasped my hand, her smile bright.

“Yuna, why don’t the two of us ride it? You’ve always said you wanted to try. I’ll take you. I promise it’ll be perfectly safe!”

She led me forward, and once we were on the jet ski, I instinctively wrapped my arms tightly around her waist.

The jet ski sped farther and farther from shore until we were racing across the middle of the sea.

Just as I squeezed my eyes shut, Patrick’s panicked shout suddenly exploded beside me.

“Dolly, don’t be afraid! I’m coming!”

I opened my eyes in shock and realized that Dolly had already fallen into the sea.

Her life jacket had come loose and drifted away as icy seawater rushed down her throat. She thrashed helplessly in the waves.

Patrick leaped from the rescue boat without hesitation and quickly swam to her side, hauling her out of the water.

Once he had steadied himself, he turned sharply toward me. His eyes held nothing but cold fury and disappointment.

“Yuna, you knew Dolly couldn’t swim. How could you let her ride that far out?”

Soaked from head to toe, I was about to explain that I hadn’t known when Dolly weakly tugged at Patrick’s shirt.

Her wet hair clung to her face, making her look utterly helpless.

“Patrick… don’t blame Yuna. I was just being reckless…”

Dolly looked so weak and disheveled that Patrick instinctively tightened his arms around her.

“You’re still defending her after all this?”

He left me standing in the sea breeze and scooped Dolly into his arms.

“Go back to the B&B by yourself. I’m taking Dolly to the hospital to get checked out.”

I stood alone amid the noisy crowd by the shore, looking utterly wretched.

He had every reason to blame me, while she could always count on his protection.

I was forever the unwanted culprit.

I walked back to the B&B, then opened my chat with the future Patrick.

My fingers trembled as I typed.

[When did you two sleep together for the first time?]

This time, I waited from dusk until late at night, until every light along the shore had come on. Only then did my phone screen finally light up with a brief message.

The reply shattered the last of my hopes.

[The night I took her to the hospital.]