The Mysterious Woman

Leoric went back to his seat. Emily went out, so Alec occupied her spot beside Leoric.

"Seriously, what do you want to do with that woman? If you don't like her, can I have her?" Alec said shamelessly.

Leoric glared at him, and he shrunk back. "Are you tired of living?"

Alec dared not utter another sound but uttered in his heart, 'Who gets tired of living?'

"She is my possession, and you know very well that I don't like to share," Leoric said sternly.

'Gosh, didn't you share her with us when you let her do the pole dance?' Alec mumbled under his breath. 

Leoric poured the wine into his glass and drank it without leaving even a drop.

"She is not Steve's daughter. She is not a Hart." 

"What?" Alec's eyes widened. "So, she was an adopted daughter? But doesn't that make her still a Hart? As she is adopted, she is still Steve's legal heir."

Leoric did not answer. He lighted the cigarette that he was holding and took a drag. The words spoken by father and daughter still lingered in his mind.

'You are a coward just like your father!'

'You are a coward! You target the innocent!'

...

Angel wrapped the torn cloth around her body as she went to her room to change quickly. Her room looked very cramped. There was only the narrow bed and nothing else. The space was so small that it was difficult to move.

Angel bent down to get her luggage under the bed.

"Ouch!" She cried out involuntarily as her butt hit the wall. After much difficulty, she got the luggage and placed it on the bed. She took out a white midi sundress with scattered prints of azure aster.

She had finished dressing when the door to her cabin was pushed open.

"O my! You look so pathetic. It must be difficult for you to sleep on such a hard bed in such a small room."

Angel ignored Emily. She closed the luggage and put it back under the bunk bed.

"So what if you married him? I am still the one who will spend the night with him, while you, Angel Hart, will become a plaything to his friends," Emily said gloatingly. She paused to wait for her to flare up and attack her but waited in vain.

The delicate flutter of Angel's eyelashes revealed the intensity of her emotions, hidden beneath a composed exterior. This small gesture silently conveyed the depth of her feelings, lending her an air of unnatural calmness as she faced Emily.

"Who wants to compete with you for someone who is a 'devil'? You're both equally matched, after all. Instead, how about you lend me a hand and help me get a divorce? If you do, I'll owe you a big favor."

Emily scrutinized her. Maybe she was mistaken in continuing to harp on her. It seemed as though she didn't have any interest in Leoric. However, the fact that Angel became Mrs. Graystone still annoyed her. She would make her pay a high price for it. Emily stared at her with a cold expression before turning away and departing.

Angel sat heavily on the bed. She rested her elbows on both thighs and hid her face in her palm. Was her husband serious about giving her to his friends?

'No! I will not allow them to control my life and ruin my innocence.'

Angel walked to the lower deck at the yacht's stern and held onto the railing with both hands. She gazed at the bright full moon against the dark night sky.

She looked down to watch the wave that formed at the bow of the yacht as it moved leisurely through the water. 

Angel turned her head and gazed at the serene sea. The moonlight reflected on the water, creating an eerie yet beautiful sight. However, for Angel, it was like the water was calling out to her to come closer, promising to welcome her with open arms.

Angel lifted her right leg, determined to escape from the clutches of Leoric and Emily, even if it meant her death.

"Isn't it ironic? Some people would go to great lengths to stay alive, yet here you are, wanting to end your life. Tsk... Tsk... You are so young and beautiful, yet you are being foolish." A soft and gentle voice was heard. From the sound of her voice, you wouldn't expect her to say such harsh words.

Angel was taken aback and stepped back. After recovering from the initial shock, she looked around and saw a woman wearing a white dress with a long skirt, long gauzy sleeves, an empire-waist bodice, and a silver belt. The woman was sitting lazily on the wooden platform used for diving. Her arms were wrapped around her bent knees, and her back was resting on the wall of the yacht.

'Was she a fan of Star Wars? How come her dress was a bit weird.' Angel thought.

"Who are you?"

The woman sitting on the wooden plank moments ago was suddenly standing beside her. 

'How did she move so fast?' Angel was amazed.

The woman looked ethereal under the moonlight. Her hair stopped below her waist, reaching her buttocks. Angel couldn't discern its color: was it red like hers, or was it like copper?

"My name is Tala." Her voice was like music that was refreshing to the ear.

"Tala? What a unique name. Where are you from?" Angel inquired, scanning the woman from head to toe. They met eye to eye, indicating that they were the same height: 162 centimeters.

"I came from a far-off land," she said solemnly. She looked dazed for a moment before her eyes focused on Angel.

"I don't have much time left. The poison in my body will soon erode all my organs, and I will die," she said, clasping both of Angel's hands and looking at her intently. "You should cherish your life and not waste it," she added with a mysterious tone.

"What are you saying? Hey...."

Before Angel could make sense of what she said, the mysterious woman swung her legs over the railings and jumped into the water.

Angel acted on impulse. She climbed the railing, awkwardly balancing herself with her butt on the railing and hands on the sides, ready to jump.

When the group of Leoric looked for her, this was the scene they witnessed.

"Stop!"

Leoric sprinted forward like an arrow, stretching his arm to catch her.