Chapter 7

A week later, Keith came to pick Julia up from the hospital. He brought a formal dress with him and said, "Jules, there's an auction on a cruise ship tonight. Come with me." … The cruise ship was brightly lit, packed with elites and celebrities. As the auction got underway, Keith raised his paddle and won a blue diamond necklace worth a fortune, drawing gasps from the crowd. Julia froze for a moment and instinctively turned to look at him. She wondered if it was for her and if guilt was the reason behind it. But the next second, Keith leaned in and whispered, "Wait here. I'm going to the restroom." And just like that, he never came back. Julia waited a long time before finally stepping out to the deck alone for some air. The night breeze was cool, and the sound of waves echoed around her. The moment she stepped out, the sharp click of heels rang out behind her. Catherine's voice was sugary yet grating. "Well, isn't it Julia?" Julia turned around, her gaze landing squarely on Catherine's neck. The blue diamond necklace shimmered brilliantly where it rested on her neck. "You didn't actually think Mr. Carson brought you here to buy you a gift, did you?" Catherine smugly ran her fingers over the necklace. "Today marks 100 days since Mr. Carson and I met. I told him it wasn't necessary, but he just wouldn't take no for an answer." She tilted her head, smiling with a mix of innocence and malice. "This is what they call a sense of occasion, right? Mr. Carson used to have that with you, but it's been a while, hasn't it?" Each word was aimed straight at Julia's heart. Catherine expected to see heartbreak or fury on Julia's face, but there was nothing. From start to finish, Julia's expression remained unchanged. It was as if none of this mattered to her. And honestly, it didn't. The moment Keith walked away and never came back, Julia had already seen this ending coming. When Catherine didn't get the reaction she wanted, anger surged through her. Overcome with emotion, she lost control and shoved Julia hard. Julia hadn't expected the sudden outburst. Caught completely off guard, she staggered backward. Standing at the edge of the deck, she lost her balance and tumbled over the railing, plunging into the endless sea below. She didn't know how to swim. Seawater rushed over her face, pouring into her nose and mouth. Her survival instinct kicked in, and she began thrashing wildly—but it only forced more water into her lungs. Panic and terror overtook her mind, and all she could do was scream for help. "Help… Help me!" Catherine stood frozen in shock, clearly not expecting it to come to this. She glanced around, but instead of calling for help, she turned and fled when she saw no one had noticed. The icy seawater drained the heat and strength from Julia's body. Despair crept in as she began to sink deeper. Just when she thought it was the end, someone finally passed by and spotted her flailing in the water. "Someone's overboard! Call for help!" Julia had no idea how much time passed, but eventually, she coughed out the last mouthful of water and her awareness slowly returned. After thanking the people who had saved her, the crowd began to disperse. Only then did Keith show up, with Catherine by his side. Seeing her soaked to the bone and utterly disheveled, his face went pale. He hurried over and asked, "Jules, what happened? Why do you look like this?" Julia's lips curved into a bitter smile. Her voice was hoarse. "Why don't you ask the one standing next to you?" Catherine's face instantly turned pale. She clutched Keith's hand and burst into a tearful explanation. "Julia, are you saying I pushed you? I know you've always hated me because of Mr. Carson, but you can't just slander me like that!" Julia was wrapped in a blanket from the crew, her lips tinged purple from the cold. She couldn't be bothered to argue anymore. Instead, she pulled out her phone and, without hesitation, called the police. She reported everything, her tone clear and steady. "Hello, 911? I'm on the cruise ship 'Oasis.' Someone deliberately pushed me into the sea. I'd like to file a report—" Before she could finish, Keith snatched the phone from her hand.