Chapter 3

So I turned to our mutual friends.

Every last one of them dodged my questions and told me to stop making trouble and enjoy my time on the island.

I had nowhere else to turn. Under cover of night, I stole a fisherman's boat and tried to row back to the harbor.

But every time I reached shore, someone knocked me out.

When I woke, I was back on that lonely island.

Again and again.

Who else in the entire harbor could have that kind of power except the Hargroves?

Looking at Spencer's face, which made it clear he thought I was an idiot, I didn't even have the strength left to explain.

I only said, "Spencer, it's fine if you don't want me, but you can't abandon the children."

"They really can't take much more."

I held the weakest of the three, the youngest, closer to the camera.

His little face was sunken and flushed a frightening red.

His cries were so faint and weak they were barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.

Just then, Vanessa cut into the livestream.

The moment she spoke, her tone turned accusatory.

"Celeste, haven't you made enough trouble?"

"Why would you sneak off the island and pull a stunt like this just to make Mr. Hargrove feel sorry for you?"

I froze at her words.

Act? What act?

Vanessa immediately shared a video on the livestream.

In the video, there I was, sneaking out of a villa on a luxurious island and climbing aboard a speedboat.

The shot then switched to the villa's nursery, where three plump, fair babies slept soundly.

Vanessa's face was clouded with hurt and disapproval.

"I told you long ago, Mr. Hargrove has been swamped with work preparing for the launch of his new ship."

"You not only ran off on your own, you even found three sick babies somewhere and used them to play the victim?"

Spencer's brows furrowed deeply.

"Is all of this an act of yours, Celeste?"

The tourist who had spoken up for me a moment ago went pale.

He frantically waved both hands at the camera.

"Mr. Hargrove, please don't come after me. I was just doing a job for money. I don't know anything!"

I stared at him, stunned.

"Before today, I had never once laid eyes on you!"

The man kept backing away, looking absolutely terrified.

"Mrs. Hargrove, don't drag me into this, and stop making a scene. Just hurry back with Mr. Hargrove and live a proper life."

Spencer's face turned icy.

"Celeste, stop acting. Is there no end to this?"

"What exactly are you hoping to accomplish with this stunt?"

"If you want so badly to stop being Mrs. Hargrove, then once I'm finished with the new ship's launch ceremony, I'll come to the island myself and divorce you!"

The instant he finished, the livestream was cut off.

The screen went black.

I stared blankly at the screen as my last shred of hope vanished.

The child in my arms let out a faint cry. I reached out and touched his forehead. He was even hotter than before.

That tourist looked at me impatiently, urging me to hurry up.

"All right, everyone's gone, nobody's watching now. Stop the act and give the kid back to whoever he belongs to."

My eyes burned with tears as I stared at him, my voice trembling.

"Why did you lie?"

He looked at me as if I were the one pretending.

"Didn't you pay me a couple of days ago to come out here and help you put on this show? Otherwise, who'd come to a godforsaken place like this?"

I was completely bewildered.

Just then, his phone rang.

He answered, said a couple of words, then held the phone out toward me.

"It's for you."

On the other end was Vanessa's cold voice.

"Celeste, that man was hired by me. I just wanted you to stop looking for help outside the island once and for all."

"These past few months, I've nearly lost my mind covering up all your escape attempts."