Chapter 2

Eleanor's POV

I stared at him, unable to believe what I was hearing. Disbelief and despair crashed over me.

"Adrian, you had no right to sign a release on my behalf!"

His face twisted with anger.

"I'm your husband! Why wouldn't I have the right?"

I couldn't bear to look at his disgusting face any longer. I turned and walked straight back to the police.

"I'm the older sister of the yacht's owner. I do not consent to releasing anyone from liability."

"Please recover the black box as soon as possible and establish the identities of the victims."

The officers had witnessed the entire spectacle. They listened carefully and agreed to my request.

"Once the yacht is recovered, we'll analyze its onboard data. I'll also submit a request to let you observe the process."

"Thank you."

Then I remembered something.

Avoiding Adrian's attention, I sent my brother a message.

[Maeve crashed my yacht, and the people aboard went down with it. Get into the cloud storage immediately and retrieve the yacht's surveillance footage. Whatever you find, tell me right away.]

I put my phone away just as two bodies were brought ashore.

They were laid side by side on the sand, their remains covered in horrific shark bites.

Calling them bodies hardly seemed accurate. Only fragments remained.

Their limbs had been torn away, and most of the flesh was gone.

My stomach lurched, but I forced myself to approach them.

"Don't worry. I'll make everyone who hurt you pay."

At that moment, my brother's reply came through.

[What the hell?! My yacht was stolen, and now it's sunk? Someone's missing too? It has to be that bastard again!]

[Does Adrian know? What did he say? He better not have strangled Maeve in a fit of rage!]

I frowned in confusion. Before I could respond, Maeve's trembling voice came from behind me.

"Adrian, I'm scared. I can't look at them."

Adrian held her protectively, his voice gentle.

"They're pretty horrifying, aren't they? Come on, let's get you somewhere you can rest."

Maeve refused to leave his arms, though. She stepped forward and stopped just short of the bodies, giving them a careless little bow.

"I'm sorry…"

As she straightened, the corners of her mouth lifted. She lowered her voice to a cruel whisper.

"But you should be proud of the daughter you raised. She couldn't even keep her own husband's heart. And now her son-in-law has watched you die without lifting a finger. What a miserable way to go."

Something inside me snapped.

I lunged forward, grabbed Maeve by the neck, and forced her head down.

"If you have even a shred of humanity, get on your knees and apologize!"

"No murderer has the right to stand upright in front of the people they've killed."

Maeve's face reddened as she struggled to pull away.

"Eleanor, I only came to pay my respects! Why are you hitting me?"

"Adrian, help me! She's trying to kill me!"

Slap!

My face snapped to the side.

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

I turned slowly toward Adrian, whose hand was still raised.

My eyes darkened.

His chest heaved as he glared at me.

"How dare you lay a hand on Maeve?"

"They're dead! The rest of us still have lives to live. Stop making everything about yourself!"

"Maeve came here to apologize. That's already more respect than your mother and brother deserve. They're dead, Eleanor. Stop demanding so much from them!"

"They weren't my mother and brother!"

I glared at Maeve.

"You killed people, and you still have the nerve to say things like that? What kind of monster are you?"

Terrified that I might hurt Maeve again, Adrian lost what little restraint he had left.

"Maeve did nothing wrong! Your mother and brother died in an accident. I'll sign the release for you if I have to!"

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth.

The last shred of hope I'd held for Adrian finally died.

Looking at him made me sick.

"Adrian, I want a divorce."

He stared at me for a moment. Guilt and uncertainty flickered across his face.

"No. I won't agree to that."

"You're vindictive, Eleanor. Who knows what you'll do to Maeve once we're divorced?"

"I won't give you that opportunity."

With that, he bent down, lifted Maeve into his arms, and walked away.

He left me standing alone beside the bodies.

I sank to my knees and broke down in tears.