Chapter 7

After the wedding vows were over, the guests mingled around during the reception, clinking glasses with each other. The surrounding chatter grew boisterous, and almost gratingly so.

Asher took advantage of the situation and quietly slipped out of the wedding venue.

There was a stretch of beach behind the hotel. As the sea breeze washed over him, his chaotic thoughts began to settle, and he felt a growing sense of calm.

Suddenly, Cody's voice rang out from behind him, "You know, I was actually prepared to let you go, but you just keep showing up time and time again, Asher."

Cody then lunged forward, pressing a stun gun firmly against Asher's side. "You got yourself 'drunk' on purpose so Regina would have to take care of you, and now you're here at the wedding, feigning heartbreak. Aren't you just trying to wring some pity out of her so you can get back together?

"Well, let me tell you that you'll never have that chance again!"

In the next instant, he activated the stun gun, and a sharp, crackling hiss of electricity filled the air.

Asher felt the current surge through every inch of his body. Every single pore on his skin burned with agony. He tried to pull away and break free, but Cody seemed to have expected it and clamped a tight grip on his arm from the back.

"Don't even bother struggling, Asher. I've come well-prepared for this," Cody said, letting out a manic laugh, his eyes devoid of even a shred of humanity. "There's no escape for you. This will be your final day on earth!"

With that, he cranked up the intensity of the stun gun.

Before long, the electrical currents turned Asher's mind into mush. His body convulsed uncontrollably, and his legs gave way, leaving him completely limp. Eventually, he passed out.

When he finally came to, he found himself far out from the shore, trapped inside a square iron cage and rendering his ability to swim entirely useless.

Looking up toward the light filtering through the water, he could vaguely make out Cody's face and hear the sound of his voice.

"You're no match for me, Asher. You may be smart enough to discover the truth, but you lack the courage or ruthlessness to expose it—or perhaps you're just too soft-hearted, afraid that Regina would be devastated if she found out.

"If you intended to keep the truth buried, you really should have left long ago. But since you keep showing up, I have no choice but to kill you. After all, only dead men tell no tales.

"Once you're gone, I'll finally be able to marry Regina. We might even have children of our own! No one will ever remember you. Everyone will only remember me, Cody Gleason. Even the woman you love will only remember me!"

Cody then cackled loudly as though he'd already had everything within control. He glanced at his watch and offered a mock-kind reminder, saying, "The tide will be coming in soon. Even if you can swim, you won't last long. And when that happens, everyone will just assume it was an accidental death.

"Feel free to enjoy the demise I've so carefully designed for you, loser."

With that, Cody turned to leave.

…

Meanwhile, Regina searched everywhere for Asher and Cody after having not seen them for a while. Finally, she finally spotted Cody by the shore and hurried over to him.

"Cody, have you seen Asher?"

For some reason, a sudden, inexplicable panic had washed over her, as if something vital was slowly slipping away from her life.

When Cody saw that she was still concerned about Asher, his earlier elation plummeted instantly. Yet, he was determined to keep his plan on track, so he feigned a calm demeanor and replied, "I haven't seen him. It's getting quite windy here, Regina. Let's head back.

"Besides, Asher's not a toddler anymore. It's not like he's going to get lost, right? Also, you two are divorced now. You're under no obligation to look after him anymore."

His words effectively discouraged Regina from continuing her search.

After all, Cody had a point. Asher was no longer the childhood friend who used to rely on her for everything. Even apart, he was more than capable of taking care of himself.

Regina chided herself silently for her habit of worrying about others a little too persistently.

She turned away from the beach and left the shore with Cody.

By this point, Asher was already running out of oxygen under the water. He clung to the very last shred of his consciousness and cried out desperately, "Regina! Save me!"