Chapter 3

"Miss Marina, we are indeed in the boat right above you. But Don specifically said no one can go down to save you before the wedding ends."

I kept shaking my head, gesturing to explain my tank was out of air.

The diving instructor thought for a moment:

"Logically, the tank should last until dawn. Just in case, let me send you some tanks."

"Don was worried about problems, so he had us prepare extras."

I let out a long breath of relief.

Touching my tight belly, tears of joy filled my eyes.

Baby, we're saved.

Just hold on a little longer.

Hold on until dawn, and Mom will take you away.

In no time, the tank was tied with a rope and slowly lowered.

Due to the current, the position was off.

I swam over with difficulty.

All thoughts of reducing movement and air consumption were thrown aside.

I joyfully took the tank, and my heart instantly sank.

The tank was empty!

I panicked and called the diving instructor.

He was more shocked than me:

"Wait!"

He quickly checked the remaining tanks, his tone confused:

"That shouldn't be. The other tanks all have air. Wait, I'll send you the rest."

But unexpectedly, the tanks lowered—the pressure gauges looked fine.

But there was no air inside!

I called again, and his voice dropped:

"Miss Marina, we're just workers. If we don't do what Don says, we'll be fired."

"My wife just had a baby. I can't lose this job. Can you not make things hard for us?"

Before I could reply, he hung up.

A second later, Dante called, suppressing his anger:

"How long are you going to keep this up! The instructor gave you three or four tanks, and you say they're all empty!"

"Are you determined to ruin this wedding?"

"If you keep this up, I won't come get you after the wedding either. You'll wait until dawn!"

I shook my head desperately, gesturing quickly:

"No, I'm not lying. The tanks really are empty."

"Dante, I'm begging you. I don't want anything anymore."

"Just let me out. I'm really going to die."

He froze.

Then my mother's voice came:

"Dante, hurry up and get ready. The ring exchange is about to start."

When Dante looked at me again, his tone was utterly exhausted:

"Marina, stop. Just wait a little longer. It'll be over soon."

The call was hung up again.

I broke down.

Why is it so hard to survive!

I refused to give up and kept calling.

But Dante's and the diving instructor's phones couldn't be reached.

I smiled bitterly.

They blocked me.

The gill ring lost power.

The tank was exhausted.

I held my breath, silently counting the last three minutes of my life.

Looking up, all was darkness.

The underwater starry sky was fake after all.

In my blurred vision, a dark figure seemed to swim slowly toward me.