Dylan is this ship's marine engineer, and he knows better than anyone how to render the lifeboats useless.

If the lifeboats are disabled, we will lose our only means of escape.

The once-raucous deck fell deathly silent, but the storm raging at sea did not cease, and the ship's hull continued to be battered relentlessly.

Dylan’s gaze swept across the deck. Seeing everyone visibly recoiling in fear, a satisfied smile spread across his face.

Finally, his gaze landed on me:

“Bennett, I never knew you could be so understanding. Don't worry, I'll be sure to treat you very well once we get back.”

“Our wedding won't be postponed any longer. We'll get married the moment we're back.”

“You know this, baby. My body and my heart will always belong only to you.”

In my past life, I fell for those very lies and was toyed with in the palm of his hand, time and time again.

This time, I swallowed back my disgust and forced a look of delighted surprise, nodding my head.

His scorching lips pressed against my forehead, the tip of his tongue lightly grazing my skin, as if marking his possession.

I lower my head, hiding the lucid indifference in my eyes.

Meanwhile, from the repeated impacts, the topmost deck of the hull was beginning to take on a massive amount of water.

The massive hull was also showing signs of fracturing and disintegrating.

Whichever came first, our deaths were certain.

Yet Dylan remained, fiercely guarding the gangway to the lifeboat, his gaze burning with anticipation as he awaited the return of the woman he worshipped.

I knew, deep down, that even if Isabella made it back, we wouldn't be able to escape on this lifeboat.

Because, in the collision just moments ago, the lifeboat's fuel system had been damaged.

Even if we managed to board it, the damaged system wouldn't have enough power to carry us safely back to shore.

The young men on deck had already clenched their fists, but deterred by the emergency hammer in Dylan’s hand, they didn't dare to step forward.

“To hell with this, I’m done waiting! If we wait any longer, we’re all going to die!” a muscular man exclaimed, rising to his feet.

Dylan didn't even flinch, instead glaring back at the man. “Done waiting? Then I’ll send you to your death right now.”

Just then, a soft, breathless voice called out:

“Dylan! I'm here!”

Isabella appeared before everyone, breathless and dragging a Louis Vuitton suitcase.

The case was stuffed so full that its zipper couldn't be completely closed.

Tiffany jewelry and stacks of cash spilled out from the gap, and her neck and body were draped in numerous diamonds and pieces of jade.

It was painfully obvious to anyone what she had been up to.

But Dylan seemed completely oblivious, rushing over to Isabella and saying urgently, "Isabella, you're finally here. I was worried sick."

Isabella boasted with a smug, triumphant smile, "It's a good thing I was quick, otherwise all these treasures would have been washed away."

She triumphantly flaunted her loot, her eyes sweeping over the crowd on deck before finally settling on me:

"Bennett, darling, thank you for waiting for me. But it seems all your things have been washed away."

Hearing her words, Dylan's expression tightened for a moment, but he quickly composed himself. "Bennett, Isabella is here now. We can get in the lifeboat and leave."

But just then, the man who had been pushed over earlier exploded:

"You made us all risk our lives just so you could wait for her to go loot her valuables?"

"And every single one of us had to leave all our valuables behind!"

His words immediately ignited the furious glares of the crowd.

Because some people had spotted their own Rolex watches and diamond rings in Isabella's suitcase.

In other words, she hadn't just packed her own jewelry—she had taken advantage of the chaos to steal from others.

Lower than any thief!

Dylan immediately picked up the emergency hammer from the floor and said venomously,

"One more word out of you, and believe me, I'll smash your head in right now."

Isabella cowered delicately behind Dylan, but when she looked at me, her eyes held not a trace of fear, but a flicker of provocation:

"Bennett, Dylan is the one who believes in me. Why would I ever take someone else's things? Don't you agree?"

I said nothing, my gaze fixed in the direction of the lifeboat.

Just then, someone near the edge of the deck suddenly yelled,

"Shit! I think it's Somali pirates!"

Instantly, a chorus of angry curses erupted from the crowd.

"Dylan, are you satisfied now?!"

The man who'd been pushed down earlier pointed at the approaching pirate speedboats and said furiously, "Because we waited for her, we've led the pirates right to us! No one's getting out of this alive!"

A mother, clutching her young children, sobbed, "My babies are so little... and now they're going to die, all because she wanted to steal some more jewelry..."

Looking as if she'd been deeply wronged, Isabella's eyes immediately reddened as she shrank into Dylan's arms:

"It's not my fault the pirates are here."

"I didn't take these things for myself. I was planning to donate them to a charitable foundation."

Dylan protectively pulled Isabella behind him, his heart aching for her. "That's right! This has nothing to do with Isabella. She's just too kind-hearted."

The deck erupted into chaos. Some people were screaming and crying, while others clung to each other in despair.

The pirates were getting closer. The sound of them firing their AK-47s into the air was so loud it drowned out the crashing of the massive waves against the hull.

I looked at the crowd and said in a low voice, "The first wave of pirates won't be large. If we escape now, we still have a chance."

"If I remember correctly, there's a small island ahead in the Caribbean Sea. We can go ashore and hide there."

After hearing my words, Dylan didn't hesitate any longer. He immediately took the lead and jumped down into the lifeboat.

The others quickly followed, boarding the boat in an orderly fashion.

Only Isabella remained, saying in a delicate, whining tone, "Dylan, it's so high up here. I'm too scared to jump."

Everyone glared at Isabella, their expressions a mixture of contempt and disgust.

But Dylan, without a second thought, immediately ran forward, swept her up in his arms princess-style, and carried her down into the lifeboat.

He cooed softly, "Easy now. I'll drive slowly so it won't be a bumpy ride for you."

I watched the two of them with cold eyes, not saying a single word.

Just then, I heard Dr. Mitchell's voice from behind me: "Ms. Carter, even if the lifeboat gets us to the island, without a rescue, the pirates will still find us."

"That's right. I'm afraid no one knows these waters better than the pirates themselves."

"Dr. Mitchell, please don't worry. I've already contacted the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. I'm sure they'll be here to rescue us soon."

After helping Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell get settled, I explained calmly.

"This US-Saudi medical partnership of yours is crucial, and I will absolutely ensure you arrive safely."

Hearing this, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

With the lifeboat moving at full speed, we successfully reached the small island.

Once on the island, I followed the memories from my past life and led everyone to a relatively hidden cave to hide in.

But what I hadn't expected was that Isabella had stolen far too much jewelry.

So even though she was clutching the box tightly, quite a few jewels still spilled out.

Those already precious Harry Winston diamonds were even more dazzling and brilliant under the sunlight.

Just then, someone near the entrance to the cave suddenly cried out in alarm, "It's over! It's the pirates, they've caught up to us!"