Chapter 2

I put my right hand on my belly, eyes wet.

"Baby, it's okay, don't be scared. Mommy will get you out."

The special gill-ring phone on my wrist caught my eye.

My feelings were complicated.

When I first learned to dive, I had an accident in the practice pool.

Dante saved me.

Later, he gave me a special gill ring.

Even fifty meters underwater, it still had signal.

He said as long as the phone rang, he'd come.

I instinctively called Dante.

The video call connected.

At the wedding, cheers thundered.

No one noticed the bride had been swapped.

Dante seemed unaware the call had connected.

As he moved, the camera swept the venue.

The bride's photo had been changed to Bianca's.

The blue roses decorating the venue were replaced with her favorite lilies.

The haute couture wedding dress we'd waited a year for fit her like it was made for her.

Only then did I understand.

This wedding was never meant for me.

My best friend Giselle, who was supposed to be my bridesmaid, still wore the bridesmaid dress.

But she was affectionately holding Bianca's arm:

"Bianca, Dante took you to Malta to get your marriage license, and invited everyone. I thought you weren't having a wedding."

"After all, Marina's always petty and strong-willed. If she makes a scene, you're the one who suffers."

In middle school, when my best friend was bullied, I stood in front of her.

Gritted my teeth and protected her.

She said I was the only person in the world who was unconditionally good to her.

My sister casually tugged the veil, a smug smile on her lips:

"Actually, I didn't even want the license. But Dante was afraid I'd feel insecure. He heard Malta doesn't allow divorce, so he insisted on taking me."

"This wedding too—Dante wanted to keep a room for me in the bridal suite to live in long-term. Sister refused."

"That's how Dante came up with this idea—to knock Sister down a peg."

Dante's childhood friend Luca, in a groomsman suit, burst out laughing:

"If Marina knew the bet was just a cover—that no matter what, she loses—she'd flip."

A month ago, Dante's friend was driven to desperation by his family.

I took him in, helped him hide it from everyone.

Protected his fragile dignity.

My mother walked over, smiling:

"Marina's the softest-hearted. Just coax her after and it'll be fine."

She paused, a little reluctant:

"It's just hard on Bianca. To make way for her sister, she has to live abroad. Seeing her will be difficult."

Dante's hand naturally wrapped around my sister's waist, comforting:

"Mom, don't worry. Whenever you miss Bianca, I'll send you to visit her."

My heart felt like it was being crushed.

The pain stole my breath.

Even Mom knew!

Everyone was hiding it from me!

I trembled, forcing myself to calm down.

Evening my breathing, afraid to waste any air.

Tears streamed freely.

I frantically tapped the gill ring, sending a distress signal.

Dante finally noticed the phone. His body paused.

A flicker of panic crossed his face:

"Marina, you heard?"

It doesn't matter.

Nothing matters.

Right now, I just want to live!

I only beg him to see the baby's ultrasound photo and let me go.

I lowered my head to grab the waterproof bag.

Dante's soft sigh sounded in my ear:

"It's good you know. I've wronged Bianca too long."

"She's pregnant now. I have to consider her feelings."

My hand stopped. My heart twisted.

After falling into the ice pool, I never dared go into the water again.

Two months ago, he coaxed me back into diving.

Said he had to take me to see the underwater starry sky.

I slowly overcame my fear.

Endured the nightmare of losing my child.

But from the start, he was just helping Bianca get revenge!

So in his eyes,

Bianca's feelings could be comforted with my life.

Just then, Bianca quietly put the box in front of the camera.

This velvet box—I'd seen it countless times.

Inside was the silver amulet Dante had kept for five years.

His miracle had already been supplied by someone else.

I nearly broke down.

But I didn't dare.

Couldn't.

I trembled slightly, gently tapped the gill ring.

With a hint of pleading.

Two taps in 1.5 seconds, five times in a row.

Dante said two taps in 1.5 seconds was his heartbeat.

Five times in a row was my exclusive distress signal.

The last time I tapped this code was when I fell into the ice pool.

He took three minutes to get there.

Jumped into the freezing pool to save me, risking his life.

But this time...

He paused.

A flicker of hesitation crossed his face.

Bianca wiped her tears, crying beautifully:

"Dante, go save Sister. Before the wedding starts, she can be the bride."

"I don't need revenge. I just want the family to be harmonious."

Hearing that, the hesitation on Dante's face vanished.

His face darkened:

"The distress code is for saving lives, not for you to make unreasonable scenes."

"Bianca already agreed to go abroad after the wedding and never bother you. It's just one wedding. You'd better know when to stop!"

Seeing he was about to hang up, I kept shaking my head:

"I don't want the wedding. The air won't last. I'll really die."

Dante waved impatiently:

"If there's a problem, find the diving instructor!"

He ignored me and hung up.

The phone went dark.

The only light disappeared.

Darkness returned.

Tears fell uncontrollably.

Dante knew I was afraid of water.

When I practiced diving, he was incredibly anxious.

No matter how deep I went, a diving instructor had to be on standby.

Unexpectedly, he hadn't forgotten today either.

My emotions had been running high just now. The tank consumption increased.

Now it could last half an hour at most.

I calmed down and called the instructor.

The agreed tapping frequency distress signal.

The diving instructor answered, silent for a few seconds, then spoke helplessly.