The sky above Emerald Island was clear and blue as glass. The helicopter hovered over the glittering ocean like a vulture circling its prey. Inside the cabin, Sable’s hands were tied, the other end of the rope securely fastened to the chopper frame.
She clung to the door frame for dear life, screaming her lungs out.
“Vincent! You can’t do this to me! Please!”
But Vincent, wearing noise–canceling headphones like the cold–blooded bastard he was, ignored every desperate word.
When Sable lunged forward to yank off his headset, one of his bodyguards kicked her hard, sending her flying backward. And then the chopper lifted off.
–
For the next half hour, Vincent played a sick game with her life, dipping the chopper lower and lower until she was plunged headfirst into the icy sea, then pulling her back up at the last second. Over and over again, like she was nothing more than a yo–yo attached to a string.
Each time she was submerged, the water swallowed her whole. Every breathless second must’ve felt like she was drowning for real. And each time she surfaced, gasping for air, she barely had a chance to cry for help before the chopper yanked her under again.
Finally, after God knows how many torturous rounds, one of Vincent’s men spoke into the headset calmly.
After half an hour, one of the bodyguards finally spoke up. “Mr. Blackthorne, she miscarried.” They hauled her back into the helicopter and dumped her onto the shore like discarded trash.
Vincent stood over her lifeless body. “This child… was your payment for what you did to Andrea.”
But Sable suddenly started laughing, a bitter, hollow sound that chilled the air.
Even barely breathing, Sable managed to laugh, her voice cracked and bitter.
‘You’re such a pathetic piece of shit, Vincent. You really think torturing me is going to make Andrea come back to you?” She coughed and spat out the words like venom.
‘She was right, you know. Out of all the messed up people in this story, you’re the one who deserves to rot the most. You humiliated and abused her for years. And the second she walks away, you finally realize you love her? What a fool you are!”
Her chest heaved, voice cracking but relentless.
‘You deserve every bit of hell that’s coming for you. I hope you spend the rest of your miserable ife alone and die a miserable death!”
Every word she spit out hit Vincent right where it hurt, but surprisingly, he didn’t snap.
Instead, his voice dropped to a cold, flat tone. “You convinced me once to leave her all alone in this place. Now you’ll know exactly how that feels.”
And with that, the helicopter roared back to life and lifted off, leaving Sable sprawled motionless
on the shore.
That was the last I heard about them.
All of this came to me through whispers, rumors and bits and pieces from people close to
13
22 1
7:56 pm
Vincent.
The moment I heard it, I chose to wipe it from my mind, like erasing a bad dream.
“He’s absolutely unhinged,” Damian muttered next to me, arms crossed, his jaw tight. “With bloodlines like Vincent’s, the Blackthorne family’s going to collapse sooner or later.”
I thought that was the peak of Vincent’s insanity. But I was wrong.
In June, Damian finally proposed.
The bracelet his mother once tried to give me–the one he kept tucked away all this time–was finally clasped around my wrist.
“You know, most people propose with a ring, Damian. Not with a family heirloom.” I smirked as he fastened it carefully.
He smirked, completely unbothered. “This bracelet has been passed down for generations. It’s witnessed every marriage in my family. I figured it would be better to bind you to me.”
–
But then, before I could tease him any further, he reached into his pocket again – and this time, pulled out a ring.
“Don’t worry, I came prepared. My woman deserves everything she desires,” he added with a grin sliding it onto my finger.
The wedding was set for early July.
Damian handled every single detail with terrifying precision. From the custom invitations to the tiniest flower arrangements, he had it all meticulously planned.
The day itself was perfect. The sun blazed high, casting a warm glow on the pristine church draped in blush–pink mountain roses my absolute favorite. The soft melody of a live piano
—
filled the air like a gentle breeze, calming my nerves.
With no father to give me away, Damian was waiting at the entrance. He offered me his arm and together, we walked toward the altar.
Everything was going perfectly. Until it wasn’t.
Just as we reached the moment to exchange rings, a voice suddenly rang out from the back of the church, slicing through the serenity like a blade.
“You can’t marry him!”
