Chapter 6

Alice had a long dream. She traveled back to the time five years ago when she first met Camden. Back then, she hadn't lost her eyesight yet, and her favorite thing to do was explore the outdoors. She stumbled upon him after he had slipped and fallen down a desolate mountain. He had broken a leg, was burning with fever, and was on the verge of death. She used up all the food, water, and medicine she had, and only then managed to keep him alive. Camden didn't wake until three days later, by which time Alice had already collapsed from exhaustion. It was he who cut open his own wrist and fed her his blood ten times to keep her alive until the rescue team arrived. When Camden pursued her, he said that their survival in the wilderness was proof of a bond left unfinished in a past life—a match made in heaven, a connection forged through life and death. But then the scene shifted to the moment when, to save Elena, Camden abandoned Alice to the wild beasts. Alice let out a startled scream and opened her eyes. Her hands and feet were tied, and a black cloth was wrapped tightly over her eyes, leaving her in complete darkness. She could only faintly hear voices around her. "Mr. Bennett, your family seized my family's land and drove us into bankruptcy. Shouldn't you pay a price for that?" "Hubert, how dare you kidnap me? You must have a death wish." It was Camden's voice. Hubert Wilkinson burst into wild laughter and said in a tone bordering on madness, "Even if I die, I'll drag you down with me. But killing you outright would be far too merciful." He stared at Alice for a moment, then suddenly curled his lips into a cruel grin and said with a chilling cheerfulness, "How about we play a game instead?" Camden clenched his fists, a dangerous gleam flashing in his eyes. "I've prepared three little punishments, and you'll get to personally choose whom to save," Hubert said to Camden. With a wave of his hand, Alice and Elena were forcibly dragged to his side. Elena writhed and whimpered in terror, but Alice only clenched her teeth and silently endured the sharp stones biting into her back. When Camden saw this, veins bulged across his forehead. "Let them go. Whatever grudge you have is with me. You don't need to drag them into it." But Hubert turned a deaf ear. "The first punishment is sea dunking." Camden's breath hitched. "I'll give you anything you want. Just let them go." "Enough talk!" Hubert's eyes gleamed with malice. "Since you refuse to choose, I'll just throw them both into the sea to feed the sharks." As soon as the words fell, both Alice and Elena were kicked into the icy seawater. "No!" Camden roared furiously. In an instant, the briny stench of seawater flooded Alice's mouth and nose, suffocating her completely. She thrashed beneath the surface, her lungs tearing with pain. Three times in a row, they were thrown into the water and dragged back up again. By now, Alice was barely clinging to life. Just as Hubert signaled his men to throw them in for the fourth time, Camden roared hoarsely with bloodshot eyes, "Hubert, stop! I'll choose!" "Oh? Who will you save? Alice or Elena?" Camden's eyes shifted uncertainly between Alice and Elena for a long moment before finally settling on Alice. "I choose…"