Marina could feel everyone's gaze even though she couldn't see. She cried for help, "Ethan! Dad! Help me! You have to save me. I don't want to die."Olivia wasn't feeling good. She had yet to eat breakfast, and her stomach had been aching for a while. Her forehead was covered in sweat, making the ocean breeze feel more chilly.She didn't have the energy to call for help like Marina. The rope around her waist made it hard for her to breathe. She was sure the outcome would be the same either way. Ethan chose Marina a year ago, and she knew his choice wouldn't change. She wasn't disappointed because she never had any hope to begin with.As she was in despair and thinking of her chances of escaping, she heard some noise. The audio from the audience's side was being broadcasted to them. Chloe's weeping was especially loud. "Marina, Olivia, are you two okay?"Olivia slowly opened her lifeless eyes. She tried to look toward Chloe's voice even though she was blindfolded. Chloe's vo

If the kidnappers were after money, the Carltons and Millers could easily fulfill their demands. Ethan feared that they might want something even more precious than money. Otto was in his wheelchair. His hands gripped the armrests so tightly that his veins were popping. Chris had a severe expression. The on-lookers might not know, but they did. Money was not an issue, but they could not risk exposing Ethan's true identity. Even if they had to give up on Marina, they had to protect Ethan's secret. Otto and Chris looked each other in the eye and instantly came to an agreement. Even though their family member's life was still at risk, they had no choice. They had to keep the secret at all costs. Chloe didn't know anything. She kept weeping and said, "Tell us! Please tell us what you want. We'll give you any amount of money you want." "Mrs. Carlton, your tears are truly touching. Even a stranger like me can't help but feel moved," the person said. Although the words were spoken w

Marina was facing the camera. It was as if the person was trying to be considerate. She adjusted the camera to give the audience a close-up view of Marina and Olivia. Everyone could clearly see the state Marina and Olivia were in. The diamonds on Marina's fancy dress reflected the sunlight and created a dazzling glow. The black blindfold on her face was soaked by her tears. The makeup she spent so much time putting on was ruined by her tears. Marina no longer cared about how she looked. She just wanted to live. On the other hand, Olivia was the complete opposite. It was impossible to tell how she felt since most of her face was covered. Her lips were pursed. She didn't call for help from the beginning. She didn't even say a word. Some people thought she had fainted. Others noticed the sweat on her forehead. They thought it was weird that she sweated but didn't cry. Olivia didn't have any makeup on, but her complexion was ashen. Even her lips were unnaturally pale.

Life or death didn't matter to Olivia anymore. All she wanted was for Chloe to show that she cared about her before she died. She wanted to know that her waiting had not been for nothing, that she wasn't alone in this relationship.What she wanted was actual proof of maternal love from Chloe, not just empty words of love. Olivia couldn't see Chloe's expression because she was blindfolded. She began to feel uneasy. She had already lost to Marina once. She didn't want to lose a second time. The person in the panda suit got impatient as Chloe didn't reply for a long time. He said impatiently, "Why is it so hard for you to pick between your daughter and stepdaughter? Since that's the case, I'll decide for you. Cut both the ropes!""No! I choose Marina," Chloe shrieked. The guests were dumbfounded."Did my ears deceive me? She actually chose the stepdaughter?" "So there's actually a mother who doesn't love her daughter? My eyes have been opened.""You youngsters know nothi

All eyes fell on Ethan after the person said that. Marina was still calling for help.Otto said coldly, "There's no need for hesitation. Tell her that you choose Marina." Chris patted Ethan on the shoulder. "Make your own decision. I won't blame you, no matter who you choose." The person in the panda suit displayed an hourglass on the screen and said, "You have one minute to consider your options. "If you don't make a choice when the time's up, I'll choose for you." The sand in the hourglass fell quickly. Time began to slip away. Ethan didn't speak. He looked at the two women quietly. Marina was still crying for help, while Olivia was utterly silent.Ethan was sad that Olivia didn't say anything to him.At least when Chloe was asked, Olivia had begged to be chosen. Ethan suddenly recalled the winter of last year. It was snowing heavily that night. Olivia and Ethan both fell into the ocean. The first thing that came to his mind was Kurt, who sacrificed himself to save h

Even Olivia, who had held no expectations, was shocked. She had expected Ethan to abandon her like he did before. The person in the panda suit didn't expect this answer either. It disrupted her original plan. Ethan pulled a knife out of nowhere. He looked at the camera and said calmly, "I don't know why you kidnapped them. But if someone needs to die today, let it be me. "Let them go. I'll kill myself.""Are you out of your mind, Ethan? Stop him!" Otto yelled angrily.Ethan remained expressionless and said, "Keep them away from me." Brent and Kelvin weren't the only ones who heeded his call. His four male secretaries also came out of the crowd and helped to keep Otto's men at bay.Ethan stood among the six men. He pointed the knife at his chest. "Ethan, what are you doing? Let Olivia die! She deserves to die." Marina was panicking. The person's tone changed slightly, "Don't try to fool me. Do you think I'd believe that you'll hurt yourself?""Is that right?" Ethan smi

There was a lot of noise, but Olivia could still make out Ethan and Chloe's voices. She could feel the irony. Her mother wanted her dead, but the man she hated was willing to trade his life for hers.What expectations could she have for a mother like that? She used to sit at the entrance of her home and stare at the road Chloe drove off on. When she had a falling out with Ethan, she would do that too. She remembered that she would keep reheating the food that got cold and wait while sitting on the doorsteps.She would wait through the four seasons year by year, but the person she waited for never showed up. It was like her whole life was a joke. Olivia grunted and said slowly, "Mrs. Carlton, I don't want you in the next life. Even if there is a next life, I never want to cross paths with you again.""Liv, I don't have a choice. I really don't have a choice …"Chloe was crying profusely. She didn't want to make that choice, either. But she loved Chris so much that she cou

"Who the fuck said you could hurt her?" Before Olivia fell into the water, she could hear a man shouting over the loud ocean breeze. She wondered who the person was and if he was talking about her. Olivia grasped her knife tightly. It was her only chance at survival. She cut away all the ropes that bound her as soon as she was in the water. Through today's incident, she was able to confirm that the person was a woman and that the woman didn't want to hurt Ethan physically. Even Marina was a decoy. Olivia knew that she was the woman's only target. The woman wanted to torment her. But Olivia couldn't figure out how she brought such trouble onto herself. That woman was behind everything that happened to her and her family. Olivia couldn't accept that. Only one thought was going through her mind: she had to survive, even if she was beaten and bruised. Olivia wanted revenge, even if it meant she had to bring the woman down with her. She wanted her to have a taste of the

Olivia could almost feel the person's intent to kill. She was very meticulous and alert. Olivia knew she had to hide. The boat she got on was quite shabby, but it was large enough for her to hide in. Olivia figured the person couldn't search too thoroughly because they didn't bring many people here. She quickly snuck into the boat's cabin. The boat was partially submerged. The water within the boat was dirty. It smelled awful. Olivia knew she couldn't rely on anyone to save her this time. She could only save herself. No matter how hard the road ahead was, she no longer had the option to back out of it. She slowly walked toward the foul-smelling water. Soon after, she heard footsteps on the boat. Olivia pinched her nose and submerged herself in the water. She was in a blind spot. Her pursuers wouldn't see her if they didn't enter the water. Olivia's heartbeat quickened as she heard the footsteps getting louder. She hoped that the person searching wouldn't jump in

Olivia exited the water, holding back her fear and trying not to vomit. She looked at the body cautiously, hoping to find something that could identify the body. The clothes on the body were expensive. It was the high-end product of some luxury brand. The diamond earrings she had on glittered dimly under the light. There was also a sapphire ring on her finger. It looked like it would belong to some wealthy person's collection. Evidently, her murderer wasn't after money, or else her jewelry would've been gone. There also weren't any signs of sexual abuse on her clothes. There was a gunshot wound on her chest. The cause of her death was likely the shot to her chest. Olivia could tell that the body came from money. But she hadn't heard about any missing heiresses recently. She sighed helplessly. She decided to inform the authorities after she got out of there. She wanted the body to find her way back to her family. Olivia felt pity for the body. Olivia suddenly heard t