Chapter 3

Five minutes later, Caspian got Arianna to safety. Seeing her pale face pressed against him, he shot Megan a look full of barely concealed disgust. "Megan, what did Ari do to deserve this?" he demanded. "Why are you hurting her?" "I told you, I didn't! It wasn't me!" She didn't even know where the projector controls were, let alone how to pull off something like that. "There are only four of us in the villa! If it wasn't you, then who? Ari?" Megan was about to argue that Arianna might have orchestrated it herself, but Caspian didn't give her the chance. His dark eyes cut into her coldly, and he barked at the bodyguards, "Tie her up and throw her into the sea. No one is to pull her out until I say so!" Megan struggled madly, but no matter how hard she fought, she couldn't match their strength. The men pinned her to the floor, bound her hands and feet with rope, and tossed her over the deck. Her body crashed into the icy water, and the freezing waves swept over her, stabbing through her limbs like needles. For a moment, Megan thought she was going to die. Then, in the next instant, the bodyguards hauled back and tied her to the deck, leaving her half-submerged in the water. She lifted her head with great effort and saw Caspian walking away with Arianna in his arms. A heavy despair settled over her. She stayed bound like that for three full days. During that time, she endured freezing water and scorching sun. Her upper body had nearly dried out, while her lower half, soaked in the salty sea, swelled and turned pale. Her legs were covered with countless fish bites, some deep and raw. The moment they laid her on the deck again, she blacked out. When she woke, a full day and night had passed, and the sharp sting of disinfectant filled her nose. Caspian was at her bedside. When he saw her awake, he let out the faintest sigh of relief. "Cedric was definitely in the wrong this time, and I already argued with him. But Meg, how could you do something like that? Don't you realize the whole city is talking about it? Everyone is laughing at Ari. I already told Cedric that once you're out of the hospital, you need to go and apologize to her properly." The weight of his words cut straight through Megan's numb heart. She turned away, closed her eyes, and let the tears fall. "Caspian, is this fun for you?" she whispered. He had hurt her behind Cedric's mask. And even beneath his own, the pain he inflicted remained. What had she done to deserve such cruelty? Thinking she was only being stubborn, Caspian's eyes darkened, and he said firmly, "Meg, behave. Don't make this harder than it has to be." Megan let out a bitter laugh and nodded. "Fine. I'll behave." Only then did Caspian seem satisfied. He reached for the eye drops. "Well done. Here, let me help you with your eyes." If she hadn't already known the truth, she might have been moved beyond words. Instead, a hollow chill spread through her chest. She met his gaze silently and let him drip the drops into her eyes, knowing she had already switched them beforehand. … Megan spent three days in the hospital. When she finally returned to the villa, Arianna was leaning against Cedric, her face streaked with tears. Caspian frowned with deep concern as he pulled Megan forward, placing her squarely in front of Arianna. "Meg, you know what to do. Apologize to Ari." Megan dropped to her knees awkwardly. The still‑unhealed wounds on her calves sent sharp pain shooting through her. Arianna's eyes glimmered with triumph as she sobbed and sniffled. "My reputation is ruined. What good will an apology do?" Caspian's voice softened, the affection in his eyes obvious. "Then what do you want me to do?" Cedric nodded. "What do you want, Ari?" Arianna's eyes sparkled with triumph as she pouted and whined, "I want Megan's tiara." The tiara had been Caspian's engagement gift to Megan, a priceless heirloom treasured by the Stone family for generations. It had once been shown online by the Stone family staff, causing a wave of envy among the public. Arianna had coveted it for a long time. Without hesitation, Caspian commanded, "Meg, go get it for Ari." He expected Megan to refuse. After all, the tiara was given to her personally by him, and she had always cherished it. Just as he was about to figure out how to convince her, Megan muttered, "Fine, I'll get it." Caspian froze, staring at her frail figure. A strange, unsettling twinge prickled his chest, but he dismissed it as a trick of his mind.