Chapter 6

Right at that moment, a strong gust of wind kicked up huge waves. The yacht rocked violently, and Selene's voice was drowned out by the crashing sea and screams. Malcolm frowned and asked, "What did you just say? The wind and waves are too loud." She was just about to answer when Stella clung to Malcolm and said cutely, "I'm scared. It's too dangerous out here. Let's go back inside the cabin." The others quickly surrounded Stella and left with her. Selene followed behind. She turned to look back at the dolphins disappearing into the distance and smiled. Maybe it was all meant to be. They would never know that her wish was to never see them again. Just as they never valued her love, they wouldn't know she was about to leave their world for good. … The day Stella received an invitation to a socialite's gala, all four men were unavailable. "Our brothers are flying to Freon to bid on that pink diamond for me," Stella said sweetly as she waved the invitation. "Malcolm has a multi-million dollar business deal to sign. Selene, will you go with me?" She fluttered her lashes, putting on a pitiful look. "I haven't attended anything like this in five years. I'm afraid I'll embarrass myself." "I'm not going." Selene rejected flatly. But the four men didn't give her a choice. "Stella's not well, so stay with her," Alaric ordered with a stern expression. "You're most familiar with events like this," Alistair said, adjusting his glasses. "Just make sure Stella doesn't embarrass herself." Alexander shoved her straight into the car. "Take good care of Stella, and don't make a scene." The car door slammed shut with a loud bang. Selene looked at the worried expressions on the four men outside the window and found it laughable. They only ever worried about Stella's feelings, but never whether Selene was willing. … At the gala, Stella wore an attention-grabbing red gown. "Here, drink this for me." Stella shoved a glass of champagne into Selene's hand with a sweet smile. "If I go home drunk, what do you think they'll do?" Selene gripped the glass tightly, her fingertips turning white. She knew Stella was doing this on purpose, but she had no choice. If something happened to Stella, the four men would never let her off. One glass after another, Selene's vision began to blur. "Oh dear, are you drunk?" Stella asked in mock surprise. "Let me take you somewhere to rest." Selene struggled to push Stella away, but she was no match for the latter's strength. Stella half-dragged and half-pulled her out of the ballroom, taking her down a long hallway. At the end of it, Selene was shoved into an unfamiliar hotel room. "Enjoy yourself," Stella whispered in Selene's ear with a light laugh, then closed the door. Selene collapsed to the floor and saw an unfamiliar man approaching. He loosened his tie, and his face twisted in a disgusting smile. "Ms. Stella paid a high price to have me serve you," the man said. He reached out to tug at her gown. "You really are something else." Selene fought with all her strength, but her body was sluggish from all the alcohol. The man clamped his hands around her wrists tightly, and his hot breath on her neck made her want to gag. Just as the man pressed down on Selene, Stella's surprised voice came from outside the door. "Malcolm, what are you doing here? Didn't you have an important deal to negotiate?" "I was worried about you," Malcolm said. His voice came through the door, calm and composed as always. "I'm here to take you home." After a brief pause, he asked, "Where's Selene?" "She's in the restroom," Stella answered without missing a beat. Selene threw herself at the door with all her strength and shouted, "Malcolm! Help me!" Everything went quiet for a second outside the door. "Are you sure she's in the restroom?" Malcolm's voice turned colder. "Of course," Stella said, sounding hurt. "If you don't believe me, we can go check on her. But it's almost time for my medication… It's alright. I can take it later." Selene felt her heart sink. She knew Malcolm would choose to take Stella back for her medication first, just as he had done so many times before. After a suffocating silence, Malcolm finally spoke. "Never mind. I'll take you home for your medication first." The sound of footsteps faded. Selene felt an immense pain in her chest, so agonizing that it made it hard to breathe. In the room, the unfamiliar man had already torn open her collar. In her despair, Selene managed to grab hold of a crystal astray from the nightstand. She smashed it into his head with all her strength. The man let out a grunt and collapsed onto the floor with a loud thud. Selene scrambled to her feet and stumbled out of the room. The hallway was empty. She ran for her life. Her heels were long gone, and she ran barefoot across the cold ground, feeling no pain. She stumbled onto the road on a rainy night. Suddenly, blinding headlights appeared out of nowhere. With a loud bang, Selene flew through the air and slammed onto the road several feet away. "Malcolm, I think we hit someone!" Stella's panicked voice came from inside the car. "Should we check?" The rain obscured his vision. Malcolm frowned after a glance and said, "It's fine. I'll have my assistant take care of it." He stepped on the gas without hesitation. "Your medication is more important." As the car sped away, mud and blood splashed onto Selene's pale face. She lay there in a pool of her own blood. The rain washed it away, flowing into the drain.