When my husband's childhood sweetheart fell overboard from my yacht, I had her pulled from the water immediately.

But instead of thanking me, my husband accused me of orchestrating the whole incident.

"You knew she was petrified of water, yet you steered us straight toward the rocks. That's cold-hearted!"

To get back at me for her catching a cold, he had me tied up on deck in the blazing sun, forbidding anyone from offering me even a sip of water or a bite to eat.

Sharks circled below, biding their time. Desperate, I pleaded with him, revealing my pregnancy to underscore the danger, but he just scoffed.

"Danger? The only danger in these waters is a captain who'd plot to kill out of jealousy!"

"Consider yourself lucky I'm not tossing you over to join the fish. Just bake here for a couple of days!"

He then cozied up to his sweetheart and vanished into the lower deck.

A shark burst from the water and clamped onto my legs, turning the deck crimson with my blood. My cries were lost beneath the revelry inside.

As dusk settled, he relented slightly, "Check if she's sorry yet and tell her to drag herself here to apologize!"

But by then, I was already gone. How could I possibly apologize?

——

David observed indifferently as his crew called out, probing if I had admitted my wrongs.

Silence met their calls.

The crew looked uneasy. "Could she have passed out? The sun was scorching today; she might have had a heatstroke."

My body had long been drained of blood, leaving nothing but a ragged mess from the sharks' feast.

"Heatstroke? Olivia was Special Forces, tough as nails. She's just ignoring me, that's all."

David grunted. "Fine, let her hang. She might handle the sun, but the night chill over the ocean? Doubt it."

He was hell-bent on making me suffer, even causing the crew to shudder. "Sir... moving ahead could stir more sharks. It'd be tragic if she got bitten..."

Despite their caution, David glanced at the radar and smirked.

"There's a small reef ahead, about sixty feet. Hit the gas, stir up some waves to soak her, then we'll pull her down once she's drenched."

Reluctantly, the crew informed the first mate.

Crash—

The ship jolted slightly, and a wall of water crashed onto the deck.

The sound of waves slapping against the deck filled the cabin, the imagery painful even in thought.

David's brow furrowed with annoyance.

Daisy was startled awake with a shriek, and David was by her side in an instant, "What happened?"

Panic still visible, Daisy clung to him, her eyes red, "I dreamed I was back in the water... sharks chasing me... it was so scary."

David soothed her, rubbing her back, a softness I'd never seen him show me.

Comforted, Daisy leaned into him, her cheeks flushed, "What if Olivia sees? I don't want to stir up more trouble. I hate being the reason for any spat between you two."

"Don't be upset with her because of me. Speak of which, where's Olivia? I've let go of the grudge about yesterday's mishap. Just a simple apology from her would smooth things over."

Apologize to her?

How could I, a mere specter now, trailing behind, unseen and unheard?

And why should I? I did nothing wrong!

And her mere accusation had me suspended all day long!

To dodge the sharks, I had to swing from side to side, utterly exhausting myself until one viciously snapped at my legs.

The agony was unbearable as it tore through flesh and bone. My screams echoed unheard.

As it thrashed, my bones shattered, and my flesh ripped away, sending pain all over me.

And my blood drew more predators.

More sharks surged from the depths, ripping into me repeatedly.

The pain knocked me unconscious, only to be awakened by another bite. Until the very end, pain was all I knew.

A long, red streak marked the water, even staining the deck.

Curious, I wondered how David would react when he saw it.

Part of me wanted to scream, to haunt him and his companions.

But as a ghost, all I could do was watch as David tenderly stroked Daisy's hair.

"You're too forgiving. She literally tried to kill you, and you're just letting it slide? What if she tries again?"

"She tricked you onto that deck, knowing the waves could sweep you over!"

Daisy, feigning concern, lowered her head, "But she's your wife, and as your sister, it's my duty to endure her wrongdoings."

David's eyes blazed with anger. "Don't talk about her! Did you hear what that woman claimed? She said she's pregnant. Ha!"

"I haven't been near her for months! Whose baby is she carrying, huh? She must be cheating on me!"

Daisy looked at him sympathetically, "I never thought she'd be that type. You've endured so much already."

The fire in David's eyes nearly leaped out, "Absolutely not. We can't let her off easy. She needs to learn the price of betrayal."

As a ghost, I clutched at where my heart would be, feeling a phantom grip tighten around it.

He was the one playing games, yet now he dared accuse me of unfaithfulness? It was beyond reason!

I was still suspended from the deck, and if one looked closely, they could see my abdomen slightly swollen, clearly showing I was far along.

The moment I was hung up, I spotted several sharks circling in the deep blue below.

Desperate to survive, I apologized profusely to David, but he was hell-bent on revenge for Daisy,

"Regretting it now? Too late! You need to suffer more than Daisy before I even consider forgiving you!"

I struggled fiercely, biting the rope until my mouth was bloody, nearly freeing myself.

But David said nonchalantly, "If that rope breaks, we'll just switch to chains. I'm curious to see how tough you really are."

He commanded the first mate to steer us into rougher seas, utterly indifferent to my sun-scorched condition.

As the storm hit and sharks breached again, I closed my eyes forever.

The yacht rocked, and watching Daisy sleeping soundly beside him, David murmured, "Enough. Let's lower her once we're in the danger zone. Make her kneel, apologize to Daisy, and then she can take the helm. If her attitude stinks, string her back up."

The crew responded in subdued tones.

Another sway of the ship caused Daisy to frown slightly, and David was quick to smooth her brow, saying,

"My sweet, even near death, you sleep so peacefully. Are you too naive or just too kind? Good thing I'm here, or who knows what would happen to you."

He watched her with sheer adoration, oblivious to the smug smile playing on her lips.

The renowned business mogul is just a puppet in a woman's hands.

Floating above, I watched coldly as my nominal husband made sure Daisy was comfy, ignoring his own discomfort.

They really seemed like a pair made for each other, thinking their love was unbreakable. Outsiders might even think I was the home wrecker.

But I was the real victim here!

Years ago, Daisy had left to chase her dreams abroad, leaving David to find solace in one drunken night with me.

I was unaware of their past and had no intention of clinging to him; I suggested we forget it ever happened.

But David insisted on marriage, even threatening my parents' business to get his way.

Cornered, I married him, which he misinterpreted as playing hard to get.

He lavished me with love, making me feel like the center of his universe as if he'd plucked the stars from the sky for me.

That ended abruptly when Daisy came back.

Seeing how similar I looked to Daisy, I finally understood why he married me.

Still, I loved him and stubbornly wanted to hear him say he didn't love me anymore.

Yet, David kept professing his love while simultaneously hurting me.

This trip was ill-advised from the start—I had warned against sailing in such bad weather. But at Daisy's whimsical desire to see the polar nights of the Southern Sea, David organized it without a second thought.

To ensure his safety, I had no choice but to accompany them.

And that's where my nightmare began.

Once aboard, Daisy provoked me when no one was looking, even calling me the mistress to my face.

In David's presence, though, she played the fragile damsel perfectly.

I thought David wouldn't believe her act, but when she fell overboard, I was hit with a harsh reality.

He jumped into the sea to save her without a second thought, forgetting he couldn't swim.

After her rescue, Daisy's unfounded accusations led David to have me restrained on the spot,

"I thought you were just jealous, but this is downright malicious. That was a life at risk!"

David ignored my captain's rank, stubbornly binding me and letting the novice first mate navigate, a reckless move!

I told him we were in unknown waters and the first mate wasn't experienced enough to ensure safe passage.

David scoffed, "Think you're indispensable? The world won't stop spinning without you. The first mate studied marine sciences abroad and knows these waters well. You think you, a mere ex-Special Forces, can outdo him?"

The crew obeyed, and I was bound tightly. "David! There's a storm coming tonight, I could die! Plus, I'm carrying your child, you can't do this!"

Daisy, feigning horror, covered her eyes, seemingly unable to watch.

David pulled her close, shielding her, "Don't worry, she's just making excuses to escape punishment. Storms, lightning, even if the world ended, she wouldn't die."

"Besides, I haven't been near her for months. Who's to say whose kid she's carrying?"

Ignoring my pleas, he had me hoisted up again.

As I watched them from the afterlife, recalling the agony of my final moments, I stared icily at the couple.

Daisy woke up slowly, their eyes locking in a moment full of charged intimacy.

David couldn't resist, pulling her closer and kissing her deeply.

Daisy weakly pushed him, panting softly, "Stop, David, you have a wife... we shouldn't do this..."

David, breathing heavily, countered, "Why not? If she's carrying someone else's child, there's nothing wrong with us having a moment, is there?"

Daisy murmured no, her protests weak and half-hearted.

I watched with a bitter chuckle. Pretending to resist?

Then what was her hand doing at his belt?

The hypocrisy was breathtaking.

Their passionate embrace was interrupted by a loud knock.

Bang, bang, bang—

David stopped abruptly, annoyed, and bellowed, "What is it now?!"

A trembling crew member from the other side responded, "Sir... the lady... she's dead!"

David's lust vanished, replaced by confusion, "Dead? How is that possible?"

The crew member's voice shook, "She's gone, sir... the storm... she's frozen..."

David stiffened, a look of shock crossing his face before it twisted into something more ruthless.

"Olivia dead? Impossible. She's ex-Special Forces, for crying out loud. She's either playing possum or she's just passed out. Douse her with cold water or jab her with adrenaline. That'll do the trick. Once she comes to, have her crawl here and apologize!"

The crewman at the door stuttered, visibly shaken, "But... sir..."

"But what? Just do it! Unless you fancy hanging there in her place?"

Scared witless, the crewman nodded quickly and hurried off.

Daisy frowned, her voice laced with feigned concern, "David, if something really has happened to Olivia, I'd feel awful. Maybe we should just let this go."

David scoffed, "Olivia's a temptress. She's got even the new guys wrapped around her finger pleading for her. Don't bother worrying; who knows how many guys she's charmed behind our backs?"

Daisy laughed lightly, "True, Olivia's always been a charmer. Wouldn't surprise me if the first mate or some of the others have already let her go."

David grimaced, "Charmer? She's nothing but a wanton harlot!"

Even as a ghost, rage made me shiver.

Moments before, I'd foolishly hoped David might be devastated by my death, perhaps even weep.

But his cold response was a harsh wake-up call.

How ridiculous I had been, expecting anything from such a man.

The man I had loved was nothing but a callous brute.

A tide of hatred swelled within me, the physical agony of my death resurfacing.

Outside, a storm raged, lightning slicing through the thunderous sky.

Daisy clutched David, her voice trembling, "Oh my gosh, is a storm brewing?"

David held her close, annoyance clear on his face, "They said no severe weather was expected! Why the sudden thunder?"

A crew member from an adjacent cabin responded, "Sea weather's unpredictable, sir. Visibility is low; it could be risky. We need the captain at the helm."

He was referring to me, yet here I was, deceased.

Daisy suddenly seemed genuinely frightened, "Quick, let Olivia steer, David. You hate water, and I don't want you in danger."

Moved yet stern, David ordered the crew, "Get her to the helm now!"

The crew hesitated, their unease evident. David's impatience flared, "Am I not in charge anymore? Or is she defying me deliberately?"

Without waiting for a response, David marched forward, striding directly to the deck.

As he flung open the door, he recoiled, covering his nose.

"What's this stench? Smells like blood. Did someone butcher something here? I told you before, no killing on board! How big was this fish?"

The crew stood frozen, their hands shaking as they administered adrenaline to my lifeless form.

Annoyed, David kicked one of them, "Cat got your tongue?"

His mouth fell open in disbelief, and he stumbled back until his back hit the wall, stammering,

"What in the world is this?"