The scalding temperature seemed to spread from the back of her hand to every inch of her body. Olivia was terrified.

"Ethan, the islanders are good people. They took great care of me, and they didn't hurt Connor—not even a little. Connor loves it here. The kidnapping was a misunderstanding. I can explain …"

She didn't try to break free from his grasp. Instead, she begged earnestly, "I'll go back with you, so please let them go, okay?"

With the cigarette between his fingers, Ethan caressed her head.

He said in a cold voice, "Liv, why are you always making me angry? If you were this obedient from the start, we wouldn't have come to this point."

Olivia suppressed her sorrow. She raised her pale face, forcing a smile as tears pooled in her eyes.

"Okay. I won't run away again. Ever."

"Is that a promise? What do we do if you run away again?"

Olivia silently looked at him. The tears in her eyes broke his heart.

Still holding the cigarette between his fingers, he held Olivia's chin. T