"Only by staying behind to watch her can I ensure she never escapes the island and competes with Miss Collins for the family inheritance."
"Even if I have to play the role of a wild man for a lifetime, it doesn’t matter."
I clenched my fist as I listened to him. I thought our fateful encounter was destiny. But from beginning to end, I was nothing more than a pawn in his elaborate scheme for someone else.
A tsunami swept across the island, and I leaped into the waves.
Even if I were to die, I would never want to see him again.
——
"Jaren, it was a good idea to set up that trap on Reese’s only escape route, making her break her leg. Otherwise, she might have actually managed to flee the island."
A different voice came through the phone.
The moment I heard it, I recognized her—Suzzette, the fake heiress who had stolen my identity and lived a privileged life for twenty years.
She was gloating, proudly praising Jaren’s intelligence.
Jaren replied in a crisp, articulate tone, devoid of the rough accent he had always used around me. "Miss Collins, if she hadn’t insisted on coming back to take what belongs to you, I wouldn’t have had to treat her this way. She brought this upon herself."