Waves of Fate

Out of nowhere, a tourist cried out, “Look! There’s someone else out there, drifting in the ocean! We’ve got to save her!”The rescue team sprang into action, their radio crackling with urgent commands: “A person in distress spotted nearby. Move out for immediate support.”As Ethan and Aria’s boat docked, a crowd had already formed, buzzing with speculation.A fellow passenger approached Ethan, giving his shoulder a light tap. “Maybe you should check it out? They say someone just died over there. I’m worried…”Ethan remained unfazed, casually waving off the concern. “No way. She’s an ace swimmer—used to compete when she was younger. Plus, she’s got her life jacket on. She’s probably just waiting for the next boat. She’s fine.”Right then, a rescue squad passed by, carrying a stretcher draped in white. The onlookers murmured among themselves, their voices tinged with shock and grief they couldn’t quite conceal.“They say the woman they found was in bad shape,” someone whispered. “

The live stream chat exploded:[Can you believe it? Aria’s still playing the innocent card.][She looks so fake, being all “woe is me”—it’s disgusting!][Man, she’s a pro at blaming others. Doesn’t own up to anything!]Aria continued, her voice trembling in what appeared to be raw emotion. “It’s tough for me too, you know. I never wanted any of this mess. Hurting people? That’s the last thing on my mind… None of this is my fault, for real…”Aria nailed the victim act. Her tears fell on cue, perfectly timed to make her look like the one most hurt by all the drama.Ethan stared at the screen, disbelief etched across his face.Was she seriously dumping all the blame on him?His mind reeled, unable to process what he was seeing.He had thought of himself as her knight in shining armor, enduring the storm of public outrage, standing tall against all the hate hurled their way. And now, here she was, throwing him under the bus without hesitation.His phone nearly slipped from his ha

Ethan very quickly realized just how wrong he had been.Walking into the office, he was met with a wall of silence and piercing stares that branded him an outcast, a pariah in everyone’s eyes.That day, the big shots at the company summoned him to the boardroom.The atmosphere was tense, the company’s top brass sitting around the table with grim expressions. The air was so thick you could cut it with a knife.The head of the legal department, seated across from him with a stone-faced expression, cut right to the chase. “Ethan, the company can’t bear the fallout from your scandal any longer. The mess you’ve dragged us into has severely tarnished our reputation. The higher-ups have unanimously decided—you’re out. Effective immediately.”Ethan’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly masked his shock, straightening in his seat. “Out? After everything I’ve done for this place? This scandal won’t even leave a dent in the company. Why am I the one being thrown under the bus?”The legal h

Aria’s career had evaporated. Partnerships with brands dissolved, and her once-glittering achievements had become a tarnished memory.On social media, she endured a relentless barrage of insults and ridicule. With no income and credit card debt piling up like a looming mountain, she was on the brink of eviction.Back when Ethan had been her rock, she had breezed through life’s challenges with ease. Now, left to fend for herself, every step felt like trudging through quicksand.One night, as she stared out of her tiny, rented room into the dark void beyond, a desperate idea struck her—she should seek out Ethan. Maybe he would still lend her a hand.She clung to the hope that their history might sway him, that he hadn’t fully moved on and would spare her some cash in her time of need.The following day, she dressed plainly, aiming for an appearance of vulnerability, and made her way to Ethan’s place. Her heart raced as she knocked, half-expecting him to melt at the sight of her as h