Chapter 5

Malcolm and the Sinclair brothers were anxiously checking Stella for injuries. A small patch on her arm had been burned red. "Stella, are you okay?" "Let me see!" "It's a little bit red. Get the medicine!" It was a passing crew member who finally saw Selene. He ran over in a panic and quickly put out the flames on her body with a fire extinguisher. "Miss! Miss, hang in there!" he shouted frantically. Through blurred vision, Selene saw the four men rushing into the cabin with Stella in one of their arms. Not one of them spared her a glance. By the time Selene was carried into her room, she was in too much pain to speak. Large areas of her skin were burned, and even the slightest touch made blood and fluid seep out. The crew member ran to get a doctor, leaving her alone in the room. Suddenly her phone buzzed. "Ms. Selene, we still need a few more documents for the island you purchased." "I'll send them now," Selene replied through the pain, her voice hoarse. "Please settle it fast. I need to get on the island soon." Just as she finished speaking, she heard Malcolm's icy voice from behind her. "Who were you talking to?" "No one." Selene hung up and hid her phone under the blanket. Malcolm stood at the door, frowning slightly as if he sensed something was off. Just as he was about to question her, his eyes fell on the horrifying burns on her body. "How did you get burned like this?" He rushed over, his voice unusually flustered. "Why didn't you call for me?" Selene looked down and smiled bitterly. Why didn't she call for him? She had been screaming and rolling on the deck in pain. The flames scorched her hair, but he hadn't even looked back. So what was the point of calling for him? "I'm fine," she said softly. "The doctor will be here soon. Go stay with Stella. She needs you more." But expectedly, Malcolm sat at the edge of her bed. He said, "There are people taking care of her. I'll wait here while you get treated." He sat by the bed, brushing the hair from her forehead with his fingers. His touch was as tender as it used to be, but Selene simply looked at him calmly. Her gaze held none of the joy or excitement she used to feel. He was already married to someone else now. He was Stella's husband. Who would fall for a married man? From the moment he secretly got married to Stella, it was over between them. "Does it hurt?" Malcolm asked softly, his brows slightly furrowed. Selene shook her head lightly in silence. Did it hurt? Of course it did. But compared to the pain in her heart, the burns were nothing. The doctor soon arrived and carefully treated her wounds. Every touch was so painful that it made her break out in a cold sweat. Still, Selene bit down hard on her lip and refused to make a sound. "Malcolm!" Stella's sweet voice called from outside. "Hurry, come and look at the dolphins! They're beautiful!" Malcolm hesitated briefly, then helped Selene up. "Let's go have a look." On the deck, the setting sun dyed the ocean gold. A pod of dolphins leapt from the water in graceful arcs. "Hurry, make a wish! They say if you make a wish while watching dolphins, it'll come true!" Stella exclaimed. She pressed her palms together and closed her eyes to make her wish. Malcolm set Selene on a lounge chair. She looked at the absurd scene before her. The four men had never believed in such things, yet they actually closed their eyes, doting and indulgent. They looked like they were praying sincerely in church. She knew all their wishes had to be about Stella. Selene slowly closed her eyes, too. "Selene, what did you wish for?" Stella suddenly leaned in and asked curiously. The four men turned to look at her as well. Selene looked at them and said in a measured tone, "I wish that for the rest of my life, I'll never see Malcolm, Alaric, Alistair, Alexander, or Stella again."