For a brief moment, I felt a glimmer of hope. However, the sailor smirked coldly and held up his phone as he pointed at the screen. "You almost fooled me, your lying bitch!"

On the screen, it was clearly shown that my TikStar account was being broadcast live. Seeing this, my mind went blank for a while. How could this be? I was here! Who is the person who is live streaming in my place?

“It’s a hacker!” I said earnestly. “Someone must’ve stolen my account and is replaying my old songs for profit!”

I purposely said it without hiding anything because I hoped they would believe me. However, the sailors had lost their patience.

The man who had hesitated earlier now frowned. His face turned gloomy and he grabbed a thick tree branch. Then without any warning, he struck me hard across my back.

The coarse wood tore into my skin and sent searing pain through my body. Then he said, "You’re clever, I’ll give you that. If it weren’t for Miss Shepard conveniently going live, I might’ve actually believed you.

"See, Jacob … didn’t I tell you? Women are all liars. Don’t get soft again, okay?"

"If the island's owner knows about this matter and knows that we don't know his future wife. I don't know how the island's owner will punish us."

Amidst the snickering of the other sailors, the man known as Jacob became a bit annoyed. He angrily grabbed my injured side arm, yanked me forward and dragged me into a room filled with the smell of blood.

I screamed as a sharp pain shot through my arm and it became numb completely.

One of them became annoyed, grabbed a wooden rod and swung it at me while yelling, “What are you yelling for? You almost got me in trouble!”

Each blow landed with brutal force. It felt like my spine would snap in two. I writhed on the ground as I tried to dodge the blow, but every move only worsened my injuries.

“I’m telling the truth! I don’t know who’s framing me, but I am Quilla!” I cried out.

The man wielding the rod smiled coldly and brought the rod down on me again while shouting, “Are you still not done with your nonsense? I’ll beat the truth into you! Do you think anybody can claim to be Miss Shepard? I dare you to say it one more time, I'll beat you up."

My head throbbed and I could feel warm blood trailing from my ears. I curled my body and shielded my head because I did not want to be beaten anymore. I whispered, “I won’t say it anymore. I won’t say anything,”

One of the sailors threw a garment at me and ordered, "Put this on!"

The outfit wasn’t a normal uniform. My hands froze as I realized what it was.

When he saw I hesitated and was about to refuse, the man who had beaten me waved the stick in his hand threateningly.

To preserve my life, I turned around, gritted my teeth and changed.

When they saw my obedience, several of them nodded approvingly.

“See? A little discipline does wonders. Keep behaving well, or you’ll regret it.”

Ad I listened to their discussion of how to do with me, their crude suggestions making me curl up. My adoptive parents were likely facing the same fate. This island was in international waters, beyond anyone’s jurisdiction, so who could possibly save me now?

Just as they were dragging me toward the door, someone burst in.

“The Island Master is here! Hurry up! Get ready!” he yelled.

The other sailors scrambled out and left me behind with only Jacob to guard me.

My heart brightened, feeling finally I found my chance. I figured as long I managed to get Travis to see, I would be saved.

Unfortunately, it seemed Jacob saw what I was planning to do because he narrowed his eyes and asked, “What’re you plotting to do?”

I looked down and shook my head vigorously then muttered, "Nothing."

Too bad, I did not manage to fool Jacob. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and dragged me to the corner of the room. “Are you still hoping to meet the Island Master? Well, too bad. It's impossible!"

I struggled desperately as my heart pounded in panic. My hand flailed and suddenly I grabbed something solid, so I swung it with all my strength to Jacob's head.

It smashed Jacob's head. The hit was hard enough that it drew blood.

He froze in shock. This gave me just enough time to dart toward the door. While at it, I snatched the wooden stick as I fled.

Jacob shouted curses from behind. I didn't dare to look back and kept running forward. I ran faster and faster.

A swan-shaped yacht was approaching from the distant beach. It was Travis's yacht!

I had once mentioned liking swans and he had a yacht custom-made for me.

The pain in my knees grew more intense. Using the wooden stick for support, I hobbled forward.

Seeing the yacht getting closer, hope surged within me.

Bang!

Something struck the back of my head. My mind went blank and I fell to the ground.

When I looked up again, darkness enveloped my vision. I couldn't tell if this blindness was temporary or permanent. Panic set in. I tried to get up and run but stumbled after a few steps.

"Jacob, you're suck! You can't even handle watching over a woman," a sinister voice sounded behind me.

"You wretch, you almost succeeded," Jacob's sinister voice sounded behind me. He snatched the stick from my hand and hit me a few times with indignation.

“How dare you hit me, looks like you haven't learned your lesson yet,” he shouted.

I convulsed in pain and murmured, "Stop hitting me ... let me see Travis. I'm Quilla."

Jason mocked, "If you are Quilla, I'm the King. You are like a dog dreaming of a bone. You want to meet the island master, huh? You think just anyone can see him?"

If someone hadn't reminded him that the island master was arriving soon, I have no doubt he would've beaten me to death.

"Alright, Jacob, deal with this quickly. The island master is coming; don't sully his eyes."

Reluctantly, Jacob put down the stick but didn't give me any mercy. He grabbed my leg and dragged me away.

The gravel and sand on the ground rubbed against my face, leaving behind drops of blood. My face was cut and the burning pain from it made me tremble.

Amidst the agony, I heard someone shout, "Island master."

It's Travis! This is my last chance!

Gathering my strength, I dug my fingers into the ground and crawled forward bit by bit. Even if I could only buy a little time, as long as Travis saw me, I could escape this predicament!

"Travis … Tra ...."

Before I could finish, Jacob clamped his hand over my mouth. I used all my strength to hit him, but his hand was like iron. It did not budge.

"Is there something wrong?" Travis's voice rang out. The sound was so close.

Travis! I'm Quilla! Please … save me!

My tears rained down without stopping and my hands flapped everywhere. However, Jacob's hand still clamped over my mouth and he even tightened his hand.

No matter what I said, others could only hear muffled whimpers.

Nearby, Jacob's cautious voice sounded, "Island master, she is just a disobedient island slave, who prone to babbling nonsense."

Travis seemed intrigued, "Oh? What is she babbling about? Let her speak."

Jacob hesitated before slowly releasing my mouth.

I was so happy. I fumbled a few steps toward Travis. When I touched his clothes, I grabbed them tightly.

"Travis! It's me, Quilla!" I said.

However, there was only silence; the surroundings were eerily quiet.

A somewhat familiar female voice suddenly spoke. It was the sound of that crew member, "Ha, you're mistaking someone else for the island master, yet dare to claim yourself to be Miss Shepard."

As if scalded, I released the fabric, hurriedly saying, "I was hit on the back of my head; I'm blind now."

Then I asked, "Travis, don't you recognize me?"

I could hear the sound of footsteps came toward me and stopped in front of me. Then I could fell someone scrutinizing me closely.

Even without a mirror, I knew I must be horrible. After all, some of my hair had been pulled out, my face smeared with blood, one leg was cripple and one hand was broken. 

In just a few second, the footsteps sounded again, but this time the sound was getting further away. Hearing thing, panic surged within me. 

Even if my face was unrecognizable, my voice hadn't changed, though it was now hoarse from a lack of water for a long time. I was sure he would recognize me, how wouldn't he?

Suddenly, someone seized my hands and feet. Then I heard Jacob's sinister voice in my ear, "Bitch, just give up already."

"No!" I yelled.

I can't let them drag me away like this!

While suppressing my chocking sobs, I began to sing a song. The same song that Travis claimed was the reason he was in love with me and could not free himself from me from that moment on. I was sure he would recognize this song.

The hand that dragged me stopped and a source of heat slowly came closer. It was Travis.

In hesitation, he asked, "Quilla?"

Hope sparked within me, but the next second, I was plunged into despair when a notification sounded, "Your channel of interest is being live."

Travis froze, took out his mobile phone and clicked the message. As soon as he pushed it, my singing voice sounded.

"Your voice does sound similar with her," he said. Then he added, "However, my Quilla's has just starting her live broadcast. How can you be her?" 

No! How could this be? Why the timing is so perfect? Why now, when Travis was about to recognize me?

A chill swept over me, followed by overwhelming despair. What else can I do now?

The female voice rang out again, "I'm almost getting Travis by this bitch. To think she'd stop at nothing to cling to the island master. Doesn't she know the island master despises anyone imitating Miss Shepard?"

With a cold voice, Travis delivered his judgment, "Destroy her voice."

After he said that, he turned around and left.

Jacob quickly fetched a pot of hot water. I clenched my mouth shut while shaking my head.  

My action irritated Jacob. He slapped me hard several times. The slaps were so hard that they even knocked the earring from my left ear to the ground.

Seizing the moment, I cried out in pain, scalding water was poured down my throat. As a result, I could no longer make a sound.

As they dragged me away, Jacob stomped on the earring and crushed it. At the same time, a sharp alert sounded, "The locator is damaged!"