Chapter 15
“Go ahead and post it,” Zac said with a faint smile.
Xena lowered her head, trying to hide the wave of excitement that surged through her. “Okay… sure.”
Zac kept a slight smile on his lips, but his eyes remained ice cold.
If Liz wanted to play games, he had no problem showing her that the word “breakup” meant absolutely nothing to him.
Liz slept deeply and for hours. By the time she opened her eyes, it was already past eight in the evening.
She got up, washed her face, changed clothes, and headed out for a walk. She figured she could grab something to eat while she
was out.
The night in the Maldives was stunning. The stars shimmered across the dark sky like crushed diamonds, reflecting off the gentle waves that danced along the surface of the sea.
The sand beneath her feet was soft, almost like velvet. Each step sank in slightly, giving a soothing, comforting feel.
Waves rolled in and out, brushing the shore and leaving behind delicate, lace-like patterns in the wet sand.
A cool ocean breeze swept across her face. Liz found herself smiling. The heavy weight on her chest seemed to ease, and even her footsteps felt lighter.
On her way to the restaurant, she passed by a couple on the beach. The man had just proposed, and the woman said yes. He picked her up and spun her around in pure joy.
Their friends were all around them, clapping and cheering.
Liz stopped and looked toward the happy couple in the middle of the crowd. She smiled, but at the same time, an ache stirred in
her chest.
Back when Zac’s company had finally taken off, she had imagined his proposal so many times. But instead of a ring, what she got in the end was betrayal.
She drew in a deep breath, trying to keep herself from going down that road again. She lowered her head and walked away
quickly.
Still, the moment lingered in her mind. Her mood had shifted, and the beauty of the night no longer moved her.
Ten minutes later, she stepped into a small restaurant.
She ordered a few simple dishes, then flipped to the last page of the menu, which listed only drinks.
Her eyes lingered there for a while. After a brief pause, she ordered a bottle of red wine.
She knew her alcohol tolerance wasn’t great, so she took it slow. After just two glasses, she set the bottle aside.
Even with just two glasses, the wine brought a soft flush to Liz’s normally pale face, giving her the warm glow of a perfectly ripe peach. It was the kind of radiance that drew attention without her even realizing it.
Several men in the restaurant had been sneaking glances at her throughout dinner, their eyes lingering with thinly veiled intent.
After dinner, Liz followed the same path back, strolling along the beach.
As she reached a quieter, dimly lit stretch of shoreline, a group of middle-aged men suddenly emerged from the shadows and blocked her path.
“Well, hey there, beautiful. Here in the Maldives all by yourself? That’s not very safe. Why don’t you come hang out with us?”
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Liz’s stomach twisted. She instinctively stepped back, turned, and tried to run, but one of them grabbed the collar of her shirt. Another snatched the phone from her hand.
“Whoa, slow down, sweetheart. We’re not bad guys,” one of them said, his breath thick with alcohol.
The men had clearly been drinking. The nauseating smell of alcohol surrounded her, and their leering gazes made her skin
crawl.
They had noticed her earlier when she walked into the restaurant. Now, seeing her up close, they realized her skin was even more fair and delicate than it had appeared from a distance.
With that thought, one of the men reached toward her face.
Liz recoiled in disgust and turned her head sharply. “Don’t touch me.”
His hand missed, and he laughed, even more shameless than before.
“Feisty, huh? I like that.”
Their eyes stayed locked on her like a pack of wolves circling prey, filled with hunger and greed.
Liz’s heart pounded. She glanced around, but the beach was nearly deserted.
Fighting the rising panic, she forced herself to speak firmly. “Give me back my phone, or I’ll scream.”
The men burst into laughter, clearly amused by the threat.
The man who had stolen her phone waved it in front of her face with a smug grin.
“Come on, sweetheart. Say ‘please, handsome,’ and I’ll give it back. Sound fair?”
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