Now that I was married to Chris, I figured it was time to leave Owen's villa for good. He wasn't around when I came back to pack up.

I dumped everything that had anything to do with us—the jewelry he had given me, the scarf I had knitted for him, the oil paintings we had done together, the scrapbook full of our memories, and every photo from the nightstand and the walls.

In the end, I took off the wedding ring he had put on my finger and tossed that in the trash too.

I hauled my suitcase out and made a beeline for the door. But just as I was about to make my getaway, I ran straight into Owen. When he saw my suitcase, his brows furrowed, and he grabbed my arm.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I'm moving out."

"Moving out?" His voice spiked with anger, and his grip on my arm sent a sharp jolt of pain through me.

"Stop being so difficult, Mia. I told you—Monica's nothing more than a sister to me. I'll make it up to you with another wedding. Now, stop this and come home with me."

I tried to yank my arm free, but before I could, he had already told the bodyguards to snatch my suitcase. Then, he dragged me back into the villa and slammed the door behind us.

He flopped onto the couch and said casually, "It's Monica's birthday tomorrow, and she's throwing a party. You're my plus-one."

"Why on earth would I go?"

"She wants to apologize to you face-to-face. So yeah, you're in."

I said no in a heartbeat.

Owen's eyes turned to slits, and it made my skin crawl. He clamped his hand on my chin. "You go, or I cut off your mom's treatment."

I froze. Mom was seriously ill and receiving treatment at Anderson Hospital. Owen knew she was the only family I had left, and still, he used her as leverage against me.

I was shaking like a leaf. Finally, I nodded in despair.

"That's the spirit," he said with a smug smile.

Then, his eyes zeroed in on my bare left hand. "Where's the ring I gave you?"

"I tossed it," I said without batting an eye.

He thought I was making a scene and couldn't care less. "Whatever. I'll just get you another one."

The ring hadn't been worth much to begin with. But little did he know, I had no use for it anymore. I was already married to Chris.

Monica's birthday party took place on a cruise ship.

The whole ride over, Owen clung to my hand like a life raft, as if I'd take off running if he let go. But the moment his eyes landed on Monica, he ditched me, making a beeline for her and wrapping his arm around her waist as if he had every right to.

"Happy birthday, babe. This is your gift," he said.

He popped open a little box, revealing a sapphire necklace that took my breath away. I knew it right away. That was the one and only "Ocean's Heart". The sentiment it was meant to express was the giver's love being deeper than the sea.

I had mentioned to Owen that I wanted that necklace just a month ago.

He had scowled and gotten snippy with me. "Why are you so greedy? Haven't I bought you enough necklaces already?"

Now, I was watching him put that very same necklace on Monica with his own hands.

I couldn't handle it. I walked off and found a spot by the railing, letting the sea breeze wash over me.

All of a sudden, Monica's voice came from behind me. "Mia, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin your wedding yesterday."

I spun around to say something, but she suddenly grabbed my hand and went over the railing, yanking me into the sea with her.

I couldn't swim. I flailed helplessly in the freezing water, screaming my head off. Through the blur, I saw a figure jump down from the ship. It was Owen, but he didn't even give me a second glance. He swam straight toward Monica.

The saltwater was flooding my nose, and the sense of suffocation was crushing me. I thrashed my arms around, screaming for help, but all I could see was Owen pulling Monica out of the water and back onto the ship.

They didn't toss me a life ring until I was wiped out and about to go down for good. I clung to it with everything I had.

After a long struggle, I finally made it back onto the deck. But Owen just gave me the cold shoulder instead of checking if I was alright. He barked, "Why'd you push Monica? You'd better apologize to her right now."

I was drenched, shaking from the cold, and my lungs felt like they were on fire. "Push her? I didn't. She yanked me down with her—"

I couldn't stop myself from coughing.

Owen wasn't buying it. "Stop lying. Monica said you pushed her. I get that you're holding a grudge, but how could you stoop to something like this? You need to apologize to her right now."

I was in disbelief. I bit down hard on my lip and said nothing.

Owen whipped out his phone and called Anderson Hospital. "Pull the plug on Ms. Jones' treatment. Effective immediately."

I went white as a sheet. "No! I'll apologize. Just don't bring my mom into this!"

I was shaking as I walked over to Monica and lowered my head. "I'm so sorry, Ms. Morgan. I shouldn't have pushed you."

Monica wasn't having it. She held onto Owen's arm and whined, "Honey, she nearly killed me! She should be on her knees right now!"

I stared at Owen in shock.

He just gave a cold nod. "You heard her. Get on your knees and apologize to Monica."

My teeth were chattering, and I could taste blood from where I'd bitten my lip. In the end, I swayed on my feet and dropped to my knees.

"I'm sorry."

I had to do it for Mom. I had no other choice.

Monica had a look of pure victory in her eyes as she put on a generous act. "It's fine, Mia. You're forgiven."

I looked up at Owen. "Can you call off your order now?"

He met my dead-eyed stare and froze for a beat, a flash of something like worry crossing his face. He was just about to make a call when Monica latched onto his arm. "I'm freezing, honey. Come in with me while I change, will you?"

The second she said that, Owen tucked his phone away, scooped her up, and walked away.

I tried to follow, but his bodyguards blocked my path. "Nobody gets into his cabin without his say-so. Mr. Anderson's orders."

I begged and yelled, but they wouldn't budge. I finally gave up and frantically dug for my phone, only to find it soaked and totally dead. I was about to lose it, but thankfully, a kind lady who'd seen the whole thing lent me her phone. I didn't know the hospital's number, and my calls to Mom went straight to voicemail.

Suddenly, Chris' face popped into my head. I remembered seeing him write down his phone number when we registered our marriage, and I had memorized it. The call connected almost instantly.

My voice was all shaky and teary. "Chris, please, my mom's at your family's hospital, and Owen's trying to cut off her treatment..."

His calm, steady voice came through the line and somehow calmed me right down. "I hear you. I'll call the hospital right now. Take care of yourself."

After I ended the call, my body gave out, and I slumped to the floor.

The nice woman looked at me with a worried face and gave me a handkerchief. "You need to dump that guy. He's a total jerk to you."

I froze for a second. Then, the waterworks started. I was a mess of emotions—pissed, heartbroken, and totally humiliated.

Through the tears, I shook my head. "It's fine. I'm already married. Just not to him."

Even with Chris on the case, I still had a knot in my stomach. Mom was hooked up to a bunch of machines just to survive, and if they pulled the plug, she wouldn't last long.

The idea that Chris might not make it in time was killing me. I was so antsy I couldn't sit still. I asked the crew when we could get off, and they told me I needed the green light from Owen or Monica.

I made my way back to their cabin, but as I got closer, I heard a loud moan through the door. "Owen, take it easy..."

Then came his heavy breathing. "Babe, you're all wet. Damn, you look so hot like that..."

I stood there, frozen and feeling utterly absurd. So, this was what Owen meant when he said he only saw Monica as his sister? Who the hell hooked up with their own sister?

I felt a rush of disgust. Who knew how many times they'd been sneaking around in the ten years Owen and I were together?

I was so pissed off, I hammered on the door. Everything went silent inside.

A second later, Owen yanked the door open, looking furious. "I told you not to bother me—"

He froze the second he saw my face. The collar of his shirt was gaping open, and his neck was covered in bright red hickeys.

"Mia... do you still need something?"

I stared at him, deadpan. "I need to get off this ship."

It was as if he finally realized what was happening. A flash of panic crossed his face, and he grabbed my wrist. "Let me explain. This is just a misunderstanding—"

"I need to get off this ship. I'm going to see my mom at the hospital," I cut in, repeating my demand.

He must've felt a pang of guilt, because he finally gave in, but he still wouldn't let go of my wrist. "Okay, don't be mad. We'll have another wedding next month. No more screw-ups this time, I promise."

I just wanted to make a quick escape, so I nodded and went with it. He finally looked relieved and said he'd take me off the ship personally.

But then Monica's voice rang out from the cabin. "Owen, my back is killing me. Come and give me a rub."

His eyes darted to me for a split second before going back to Monica. "I have something else to deal with, Mia. I'll have the bodyguard take you."

I was so over it. I just wanted out of this disgusting place.

As soon as I hit the dock, I flagged a cab and went straight to the hospital.

Chris was already there in Mom's ward. Seeing her lying there, safe and sound, was a huge relief. It felt like a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Chris' expression went all serious the second he saw me. "What happened to you? You look like you've been through a war."

That was when I realized how bad I looked. I was soaked from head to toe, with tear tracks all over my face, a bloody lip, and scraped knees. I was a disaster.

I figured he'd be grossed out, but he took off his suit jacket and put it on me. "You should get changed before you get sick."

I felt like I was going to cry again.

He took me to his villa, drew me a hot bath, and left a clean dress out. When I was finally ready, he sat me down and started patching up my cuts and scrapes.

"There's a banquet the day after tomorrow. My dad's making it official that I'm the new CEO of Anderson Group."

My jaw dropped for a second. "You mean he picked you over Owen?"

A small smirk played on Chris' face, and he gave a little nod.

It wasn't even a contest. Everyone in the business world knew Chris was in a whole different league from Owen. He was more handsome, more competent, and a much better person.

"I want you to be there with me as my wife."

…

The night of the banquet, I walked in with my arm around Chris'. His father, Hank, pulled him away, probably to talk business, leaving me to hang out in the ballroom by myself.

Suddenly, a gasp went through the room. I turned around and saw Owen, with a giant bouquet of roses, heading straight for me. His bodyguards set off confetti blasts, and he got down on one knee.

"Mia, I screwed up. But now, for the 100th time, I, Owen Anderson, am asking you to marry me. I swear I'll give you a wedding that'll blow all the others out of the water. Will you marry me? Will you be my wife?"

He whipped out a diamond ring that was more beautiful and refined than the last one.

The crowd went nuts, screaming, "Say yes!"

But without even thinking, I backed up a few steps.

Owen scowled, looking annoyed. "What's the deal? You're still jealous? I told you it was a misunderstanding—"

He cut himself off.

I felt a solid arm wrap around my waist from behind. It was Chris. He held me tight, acting like he owned me, with a look in his eyes that was all hostility and possession. "Sorry, Owen. She's your sister-in-law now."