chapter 6

On the island, the sun, sandy beaches, over-water bungalows, beach villas, and coconut trees—everything was incredibly relaxing.

It was a scenery I'd never seen before. I loved sunbathing; the warm sunlight seemed to dispel the darkness and pain deep in my heart.

Even if it was just a fleeting moment, I yearned for the light, hoping to be redeemed.

Since Rebecca had rented out the whole island and everyone there knew each other, there was no need to worry about disturbing others.

Rebecca's party lasted from dawn till dusk. Party poppers were sprayed into the air one after another, and the chefs and staff were on standby 24/7.

These young kids, free from their parents' constraints, were venting their emotions without a care in the world.

Without my expectation, someone broke the boundaries first, and the others quickly followed suit.

Rebecca took advantage of being drunk more than once to snuggle into Barry's arms.

Barry would always say softly, "You're drunk."

The look in his eyes when he gazed at Rebecca was so intense that Rebecca misinterpreted his feelings and clung to his neck even tighter.

Barry just grinned wickedly, then picked her up and tossed her into the azure sea.

Rebecca coughed awkwardly and complained about Barry's rudeness in a coquettish tone.

Hiding in the shadows, watching these people standing so openly under the blue sky and the sea, I had an urge to drag them all into the darkness.

Just then, Barry turned around and looked at me with a bright smile on his face.

Maybe, in this life, I could also stand freely under the sun.

In the middle of the night, I was sound asleep when suddenly someone pinned me down on the bed and covered my mouth forcefully.

"Don't move. Don't make a sound," a voice hissed.

It was Ethan Morrison. He was the one who rammed into me from behind, making my ribs hit the desk. I had suffered from the bruising pain for days.

I gradually calmed down and started to analyze the situation and Ethan's motives.

Seeing that I stopped struggling, Ethan said, "Sevyn, you're really beautiful. It's just a pity that you've got such a bad temper. I know the girls are jealous of your looks, and the guys want you. Since you'll have a boyfriend sooner or later, why not be with me? I'll protect you."

How ridiculous! Ethan's family was just a nouveau-riche family. How could he protect me under the nose of the multi-generational wealthy Wrenley family?

Ethan reached out to strip me of my clothes. I fought like a cornered wildcat, but he overpowered me easily. He pinned me down so firmly that I was immobile.

Yet, I didn't yield an inch. For a while, Ethan couldn't have his way.

Just then, there was a loud "Bang!"

Suddenly, the crushing weight on top of me vanished. Ethan was on the floor, clutching his head and howling in agony.

Barry rushed over, grabbing my shoulders and pulling me off the bed. "Sevyn! Are you okay?" he asked anxiously.

Seeing my clothes were still in place, he let out a relieved breath.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Ethan dove into the sea and made a run for it.

Barry was about to give chase, but I held him back.

I said, "Barry, forget it. He didn't get what he wanted. And I don't wanna stir up more trouble. I know you came here to watch my back, but... we've got bigger fish to fry."

Under the silver moonlight, Barry clenched his fists. He looked at me with a pained expression and asked, "Do you really have to keep swallowing this crap?"

I stared back at him steadily and said, "You joined hands with me because I can take it, right?"

Barry hung his head. When he looked up again, his face was calm. "You're spot-on. The Wrenley family is our target. We can't afford any distractions," he stated.

The following day, I moved from the over-water bungalow to the beach bungalow. It was a no-brainer; both the front and back doors of the beach bungalow could be locked up tight.