The Mafia Don Left Me To Die, But Now Regrets It

Everyone called Mia a shameless whore. However, the one trailing behind her was the youngest don of the Yorick family, James. He hand-washed her lace camisoles, broke three ribs for her, and even with his face covered in blood from a beating, he could still smile at her. One night, after too much drinking, the underboss he trusted most leaned down beside him. His face was full of disdain. “Boss, Mia is a disgrace to all of us! A woman like that, how could she ever be worthy of you?” James suddenly laughed. His eyes went terrifyingly blank. The cigar between his fingers glowed faintly in the dark. “Back then, before I secured my position, I was young, greedy for power. To get my sister-in-law that antique necklace she wanted, I took advantage of Mia being drunk and took pictures of her myself… “Ten dollars a copy. I sold thirty thousand of them. Things blew way out of control… I owe her.” James took a long drink of whiskey while his Adam’s apple bobbed. “Thankfully… she will never know. I will spend my whole life making it up to her, treating her twice as well.” He did not see the private room door quietly close the moment he said those words. Mia turned around with a blank expression on her face and walked into a small clinic on the corner. She laid down on the operating table. He would never deserve to know that he had once been a father, if only for a moment. That whole lifetime he planned to spend making it up to her, she did not want it anymore. Chapter 1 There was no anesthesia. Icy instruments plunged into Mia Sanders' body, ripping away the fragile life that had just begun to bloom. Mia remembered how drunk and unconscious she was at a college party six years ago. When she woke up, her world had turned upside down. Her nude photos had spread to every corner of the internet. Her father spat a mouthful of blood onto the table and never woke up again. On the third day after the funeral, her mother dragged her to the rooftop. “I wish I had never given birth to such a shameless thing! Why don't you just die?!” Then, her mother jumped in front of her. They were on the nineteenth floor. Her mother was shattered, broken into pieces. Mia was dragged into the restroom. Urine and feces rained down on her. Her hair was pulled, her face pressed onto the filthy tile, and something disgusting was shoved into her mouth, forcing her to bark like a dog. James Yorick was the only one. It was only James who stood between her and them, covering her in his coat. His eyes were red as he whispered, “Don’t be afraid.” She clung to that sliver of light like a life raft, gasping for life. In a cruel twist, the light she held onto had been sparked by the one who burned everything down. She had even ridiculously fallen in love with him. Mia forced herself upright and dialed a number. “Mr. Thompson, this is Mia. I have carefully considered the overseas position you mentioned before, and I’ve decided to accept it.” The voice on the other end sounded surprised, then hesitant for a moment. “Mia, your abilities are beyond doubt, but will your husband, Don Yorick, allow you to leave…” She cut him off. Her voice was flat and unshaken. “We will get a divorce.” When James returned home, Mia was curled in the corner of the sofa. Her face was as pale as paper. He took off his coat, carrying the chill of the night with him, and approached her with furrowed brows. When his hand touched her icy ankle, he immediately wrapped her entire body in his suit and lifted her into his arms. He did not kneel. He just sat beside her, pressing her frozen feet against his chest and arms, warming them with his body heat. “Why can’t you ever take care of yourself?” His voice was low and unreadable, betraying no emotion, yet his fingertips traced the top of her foot slowly. It was a touch that carried undeniable control. Mia, looking at his hollow tenderness, felt nothing but disgust, her stomach churning as though it might make her sick. She instinctively swung a hand, almost gagging as she struck him. The sharp smack left them both frozen for a moment. James quickly came back to his senses, pressing her reddened palm to his lips, blowing softly. “Babe, what did I do?” His heated fingertips traced up her calf, cupping the curve of her rounded hip. His Adam’s apple rolled as lust darkened his gaze. “Or… is it because we haven’t been intimate in so long that you want to do it this way…?” Click. The sound of a key turning in the door lock cut through the tension. James jerked back as though he was burned, almost reflexively pushing Mia out of his arms. Mia’s lower back slammed against the sofa arm, and a muffled groan escaped her lips from the pain. However, James did not notice. His gaze was already on Zinnia Jones. Zinnia held a thermal food box. She was dressed in designer clothes with flawless makeup on her face. Mia had always known that her sister-in-law, Zinnia, was the most special person in James’s world. After his parents died, Zinnia, who was seven years older, protected him during family chaos, guiding him to the don seat. She held the highest-level access card, able to come and go at any time, like a true Donna of the house. Zinnia criticized Mia’s cooking, scolded her for not taking care of James properly. She dictated how often they could be intimate, claiming that James's work was exhausting. Zinnia told Mia she needed to be sensible and not indulge herself, as it would drain James's energy. Sometimes, she would even knock late at night, giving instructions through the door on how Mia should position herself to please James most effectively, with every detail bluntly described. Mia never imagined that it was all just because Zinnia wanted a necklace. James could so effortlessly ruin her entire life. Now, Zinnia’s eyes swept over Mia’s disheveled clothing. A hint of displeasure crossed her face, but her smile remained gentle. “James’s home? Look at you. Why are you dressed like that? You’ll catch a cold.” She turned to Mia. Her voice was soft yet demanding, “The family needs an heir. You’ve been married three years, and Mia hasn’t conceived. “So, I hired the most renowned fortune-teller in Sicily. Mia had been unable to conceive all this time because her soul had been tainted by the mark of an ancient demon.” She retrieved a sealed glass vial from the thermal box. Inside, the dark red liquid shimmered strangely under the light. A pungent, iron-like stench filled the air. “This was the heart-blood of a pure black male cat, captured at a crossroads on a full moon night, mixed with holy salt and wormwood. The fortune-teller said it must be drunk by the one who has been tainted in order to purge the demon’s mark.” Zinnia handed the bottle to Mia. Her voice carried the weight of a merciful judgment. “Mia, drink it, for your future and James’s, and also for the sake of the family’s heir.” Chapter 2 Mia stared at the thick, dark-red liquid in the bottle. Her stomach churned violently as she stepped back. “No… take it away! I do not want this cursed thing!” Her voice was hoarse as she raised a hand to push it away. “Be good. This is for your own good, for the good of the entire family.” Zinnia’s expression darkened, carrying the authority of an elder. In the struggle, the bottle slipped from her hand and shattered against the marble floor with a loud crash. The dark blood splattered everywhere. The metallic stench filled the room. Zinnia froze for a moment. She stared at the mess and her eyes instantly reddened. She knelt slowly, using a silk handkerchief to painstakingly wipe the blood from her shoes and the floor. Her shoulders trembled as her voice broke with heart-wrenching sobs, “I just… I only wanted what was best for you both… wanted the Yorick family to have a proper heir. “Even if you don’t like it, there's no reason to trample on my feelings and disregard the family’s well-being.” The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she became. Tears streamed down her carefully maintained face. James’s eyes darkened as he watched the tears fall. The cold, ruthless aura of the don enveloped him. “Mia, apologize to Zinnia!” His voice was low, but sharp as ice. He stepped forward in long strides, clamping a hand around Mia’s slender arm, dragging her from the sofa without giving her the chance to resist, while his other hand grabbed the bottle opening with only a little blood left. “James! Let go of me! No!” Mia struggled violently as her nails raked across his arm. “Drink it. Only then will the demon leave.” James’s voice was flat, unyielding. He gripped her jaw and, ignoring her gagging and kicking, pressed the bottle opening to her lips. “Cough… gag…” Mia choked violently as the dark-red liquid dripped from the corners of her mouth and down her neck. It was a shocking sight. James released her jaw, watching her curl up on the carpet in agony. A flicker of emotion flashed across his eyes, but it was quickly swallowed by deep indifference. He knelt beside her and patted her back. His tone shifted into a rehearsed, gentle calm. “All done. Purification complete. Zinnia did this for the family. You have to understand.” Zinnia finally wiped her tears, rose to her feet, and spoke with calm authority, “Not a drop of the sacred blood used for purification can be wasted, or the demon will return.” She glanced at James; her eyes filled with encouragement and unwavering expectation. James’ body stiffened for a moment. Mia suddenly lifted her head. Her bloodshot eyes blazed as she shouted, “James! Are you crazy? What kind of dark magic is this? If you force me again today, we are done for!” James avoided her gaze. His Adam’s apple rolled. After a long pause, he reached out, pressing the back of her neck. His voice was low and hoarse, “Mia, don’t throw a childish tantrum. Listen to Zinnia and clean it up.” Mia’s pupils constricted. A cold wave ran through her veins. “No… James… you can’t do this… you said you owed me a lifetime… ugh…” She shook her head desperately, trying to break free. Finally, he pressed her neck down with absolute control. His voice came out hoarse and husky, as though he was heaving a long sigh. “Mia, do not be difficult. Do as Zinnia say. It is for our future.” He increased the pressure, holding her down over the half-congealed blood. Humiliating tears mixed with the remaining liquid blurred her vision. Mia trembled as her face pressed into the iron-scented blood, coughing violently as saliva and mucus smeared across her features. “The ritual is complete. God will bless you.” Zinnia walked over to James, gently adjusting his collar. "James, don't spoil her too much," she advised before leaving the room in chaos and the stench of blood. James's eyes followed her, and only after a long moment did he remember Mia. On the cold floor, Mia's body was curled up, completely still. A dull ache stabbed her lower abdomen again, and a warm liquid seemed to seep from beneath her, mixing with the urine on the floor. She was bleeding heavily. “It hurts!” Chapter 3 James’s pupils contracted sharply. His gaze locked on the bright red before him. His face went pale in an instant, and he nearly fell to his knees. “Why are you bleeding? Did you cut yourself on the glass? I-I didn’t mean to…” His words tumbled out incoherently. His face etched with genuine panic and anguish. It was as though the man who had pinned her down moments ago was not him at all. “I’m sorry, babe, I’m so sorry… I am a bastard, I deserve this! We’ll go to the hospital immediately. Now!” He scooped Mia up in his arms. Her body was cold and limp, utterly powerless, letting him do as he pleased. James ran out of the house, pressing his lips repeatedly to her sweat-dampened forehead. He opened the passenger door and carefully placed her inside. As he bent over to buckle her seatbelt, a folded slip of paper slipped from Mia’s pocket, floating lightly to the floor. “What’s this?” James instinctively bent to pick it up. The moment his fingers touched the paper, a sudden, unexplainable pang seized his heart. Mia tried to snatch it back, but her fingers lacked any strength. He glimpsed the hospital’s red stamp and the words [Medical Report] on it. He frowned as he reached to unfold it. Then his phone rang sharply. The screen flashed Zinnia’s name, instantly seizing all his attention. He immediately answered, not even bothering to secure the paper, shoving it into his coat pocket instead. “James…” Zinnia’s voice trembled with tears. There seemed to be a faint sound of wind behind her. “I… I twisted my ankle while walking… it hurts so much… I can’t move…” “What?! Where are you? Don’t move, I will be right there!” James’s voice shot up, brimming with unmasked panic and urgency. He even turned instinctively as though he was about to run in the opposite direction of the car. “No, no, James, don’t come. It’s too much trouble. I can handle it myself…” Zinnia’s voice grew weaker and pitiful. “What nonsense!” snapped James, leaving no room for argument. “Stand still and send me your location! If you move on your own, just wait and see how I… punish you.” He hung up and gripped his phone. His panic over Mia’s bleeding was already replaced by concern for Zinnia. It was not until the thick, metallic stench of blood reached him that he finally snapped back to reality, looking into the car. Mia remained curled in the exact position he had placed her. Her face was ghostly pale, almost lifeless. Dark-red blood had already soaked through the light fabric of her skirt, dripping onto the floor, one drop after another. A flicker of hesitation crossed James’s face. “Mia, Zinnia twisted her ankle. I’m her only support. I can’t ignore her. “I’ll have Carl take you to the hospital. Just hang on a little longer.” Hang on? Had she not endured enough over these three years? “And if I don’t agree?” James did not pause in carrying her out of the car. “Don’t be stubborn.” He placed Mia by the roadside, thoughtfully draping his suit jacket over her. Then he sped off in the car. The engine’s roar soon disappeared around the corner, leaving only the dead silence and the thick scent of blood. Mia let out a low, bitter laugh. It was worse than any sob. “James… you will burn in hell.” She waited so long. She waited until her consciousness faded and her entire body trembled uncontrollably. A black sedan screeched to a stop at the roadside. Carl slammed the door. His face showed no concern, only undisguised annoyance, and contempt. He had long resented Mia. The infamous woman who only brought chaos and scandal to the don and the family, now was lying there half-dead, holding everything up. “Trouble, as always.” Carl muttered under his breath. He grabbed Mia’s arm like she was a piece of trash and shoved her into the back seat. The car lurched forward. Each jolt intensified her pain. Mia curled up on the cold leather seat. The faint scent of James lingering on his jacket wrapped around her. It was sharp and crueler than any knife, slicing away the last shred of her miserable awareness. ‘James, I will never love you again.’ Chapter 4 Mia lay in the hospital bed for three full days. The doctors mentioned she had lost a lot of blood, and her uterus had suffered severe damage. They said it might be really tough for her to conceive again. James appeared once after she woke. His eyes were shadowed with bruises. He tried to hold her hand, but she pulled away. He stayed silent for a long while before finally speaking in a hoarse voice, “Zinnia… Her ankle was seriously injured that day. I had to take her. How are you? That day… Did you cut an artery? How did you bleed so much?” The medical report sat on the bedside table, but he did not even glance at it. Mia said nothing, turning her head to the side. “Get out.” James froze for a moment. There was a hint of offense in his eyes. After that, he did not come again. However, the hospital bills were paid on time. A private suite, the best medication, the most meticulous care. This, apparently, was his version of making up to her and being kind to her. Just then, her phone lit up. A silent notification appeared at the top of the lock screen. It was a flight booking confirmation. The departure would be three days later, two o’clock in the afternoon. It was the only fragile thread of hope she could grasp. On the day of her discharge, Mia returned home carrying the printed divorce papers. However, she stumbled upon a scene that made her blood run cold. On the large bed, Zinnia, clad only in a thin silk slip, was locked in a kiss with James. The heavy, ragged sound of their breathing stabbed into her ears like needles. Her surgical wound in the lower abdomen flared as if it had split open again. A piercing pain shot through her, sharp enough to make her dizzy. James, hearing a stir at the door, turned around to look. “Mia? You’ve been discharged? Why didn’t you say anything? I could have picked you up.” His tone was casual. It was as though the utterly scandalous scene unfolding before her was completely normal. She had just endured a hemorrhage that nearly took her life, lost her unborn child, and bore deep scars on her womb. Yet her husband, while she hovered between life and death in the hospital, was in bed with another woman at home. Zinnia’s eyes locked with Mia’s empty stare, and her lips lifted in the faintest of smirks. She rose and brought a cup of hot cocoa. “Mia, why do you look so pale? Haven’t you recovered yet?” Mia looked up, noticing the fresh, red hickeys on Zinnia’s neck. She didn't answer. The next moment, the cup clattered to the floor, scalding hot cocoa spilling all over Mia’s hands. “Ah!” Caught off guard, Mia jolted as the scalding heat seared through her. Pain spread instantly through her body. “Mia!” James jumped up. “The cup was too hot, I… I didn’t hold it right… James, check if Mia’s okay! It’s my fault, I’m so clumsy…” James roughly wiped the cocoa from her face and neck. After a few swipes, he paused for a moment, looking at her reddened face and hollow eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly reached out, gently cupping Mia’s reddened cheek in his palm and rubbing it lightly. His voice lowered, tinged with barely noticeable guilt. “You didn’t even try to move out of the way.” Mia turned her head sharply, dodging his hand. James’s palm hung frozen as his expression darkened. At last, seemingly to shatter tension in the air, he spoke to Mia, “Your birthday’s tomorrow. I’ll make it a big celebration. Consider it an apology, and a way to chase away bad luck.” Mia finally lifted her eyes and glanced at the bedroom drawer. "No need to wait for my birthday," she said with a dry and hoarse voice. "There's something you need to do right now." James raised an eyebrow. “What?” Mia pulled out the documents she had prepared and handed them to him. James signed the papers without even looking at them. “Why go through all this trouble? Jewelry? Property? Just have my assistant handle it. You’re my wife. There’s no need for this hassle. “The birthday party goes on as planned.” He returned the signed papers to her. His tone regained its usual controlling edge. “Let’s have a proper celebration. Whatever you want, you’ll get it that day.” Mia took the seemingly weightless papers that carried the weight of a thousand burdens. She stared at his familiar signature. She did not look at anyone else and turned around to leave the room. In three days, she would finally be able to leave this place for good. Chapter 5 On the night of the birthday party, the villa was ablaze with light. Mia wore an expensive custom gown, like a porcelain doll without a soul, tightly held by James at her side. He was unusually patient and gentle today. His gestures were intimate, as though they were a perfectly loving couple. Only Mia could feel the iron grip of control in the hand resting on her waist. “Tired?” James noticed her stiffness and leaned down, asking in a low voice, “Just a little longer. Once we cut the cake, it’ll be over. I ordered it specially for you. You’ll love it.” Cake? Mia had long since stopped expecting surprises from James. This so-called birthday celebration felt more like a corporate meeting. The enormous three-tiered cake was rolled out, extravagantly decorated with delicate sugar roses. James grabbed her hand, guiding her over the knife as they cut the cake together. At that moment, the guests barely forced out their congratulations to Mia. Suddenly, a scream echoed from a corner of the hall, followed by the shrill crash of broken porcelain. A middle-aged guest clutched his mouth. There was crimson bleeding between his fingers. He staggered backward and knocked over a champagne tower behind him. From the other direction came more gagging sounds, and a noblewoman, whose face was ghostly pale, fell to her knees, spewing pieces of cake. “Something’s… something’s wrong with the cake! “It’s poisoned! Someone poisoned it!” “Quiet! Stay calm!” James’s voice cut through the chaos. He yanked Mia behind him, eyes sharp as a hawk, scanning the room. His face was stone. His gaze moved through the panicked crowd until it landed on Zinnia’s instantly pale face. He remembered clearly that all the arrangements for this birthday, especially the cake, had been volunteered by Zinnia herself. Still, only for a moment did his eyes linger. Then, they shifted slowly to Mia. Mia felt as though she had fallen into an ice pit. “My apologies, everyone, for the scare.” James's calm voice was steady and commanding, carrying an authority that brooked no opposition. “Tonight’s incident will be thoroughly investigated. The Yorick family will compensate tenfold for any medical expenses and damages. “As for this cake…” His tone turned cold. “It was Mia’s responsibility.” Mia felt like she was struck by lightning. She looked up at him in disbelief. “No… it wasn’t me…” rasped Mia. Her voice was dry and hoarse. However, no one cared for her explanation. “So, it was her…” “How could Don Yorick marry such a venomous woman?” Each whisper and murmur was like a poisoned arrow striking her heart. She looked at James. He knew! He knew Zinnia was responsible! Yet he chose to sacrifice her, to protect Zinnia. “James…” Her lips trembled, forcing out words with all her strength. “It was clear…” “Shut your mouth!” James’s voice cut through sharply. He turned to his waiting aides and said in an icy tone, “Take her to the basement holding room and let her calm down. No one lets her out without my order.” The words basement holding room struck Mia like a thunderclap. She had severe claustrophobia, and James knew it! The memory of being locked and tortured in an abandoned restroom years ago had left deep psychological scars. Yet he intended to lock her in there?! “No! James! Don’t put me in there! I’m scared! I swear I’m not lying! There’s something in the cake! It’s Zinnia! She did this!” Mia completely panicked. “I don’t want to go there! I’ll die! Please!” James bent down and peeled her fingers away one by one. His gaze was ice cold, stripped of even a trace of warmth. “Babe, listen. You need to calm down. “Take her away!” Two black-clad aides advanced, showing no mercy as they hoisted Mia off the ground and dragged her from the hall. James loosened his tie irritably as he watched her disappear down the corridor. Zinnia approached. Her voice was soft, tinged with guilt. “James, it’s my fault. If it weren’t for me…” “It’s none of your business, Zinnia.” James patted her hand. His tone softened. “She was just too reckless. Come on, let’s go calm the guests.” He put his composed, polite smile back on and, together with Zinnia, walked toward the whispering crowd, as though the earlier incident had never happened. Chapter 6 Mia curled up in the cold corner, trembling all over. The sting on her face was still fresh, but what terrified her more was the endless darkness and the suffocating confinement. Childhood shadows and the nightmare from six years ago crashed over her in waves. Her breathing grew shallow. It was like her heart was clenched by an invisible hand, nearly jumping out of her chest. “Let me out… please… let me out…” She pounded helplessly on the heavy iron door. Her nails scraped bloody scratches into the wall. Her throat was so hoarse she could barely make a sound. She had no sense of how long time had passed until a soft click of the lock sounded and a beam of light cut through the darkness. Her eyes brightened. She scrambled toward it. “James, let me out! I-I know I was wrong! Please…” Her voice died as she saw who had come. Zinnia stood at the doorway, elegant and composed, looking down at her in utter disarray. She leaned slightly forward. Her delicate fingers flicked over the lavish sapphire necklace at her throat, seemingly without a thought. “Pretty, isn’t it?” Zinnia’s voice was low. Each word was laced with poison. “James gave it to me. He said the color suits me. “Thirty thousand of your nude photos got it for me, I hear.” The scars she had long buried, the wounds that had numbed her with pain were ripped open by James’s own hand. This necklace, now on another woman’s neck, was flaunted to crush the last shred of her dignity into dust. Zinnia crouched, lifting Mia’s chin with a fingertip. “Did you really think James loved you? You’re just a stray dog he picked up on a whim. He plays with you when he’s amused, discards you when he isn’t. No matter what I do, he will always be on my side. “No woman by the Don’s side should be as pathetic as you, shrieking and sobbing at every little thing. “You… are simply not worthy.” Mia’s pupils dilated. She had no strength left to argue; only endless despair and numbness remained. Then, outside the holding room, a series of sharp thuds and the crash of heavy objects rang out. A few masked, armed men broke through the perimeter without warning, storming into the underground area. Their movements were precise. It was as though they knew every inch of this place. “Don’t move!” Cold gun barrels were pressed against Zinnia’s and Mia’s temples. They were pinned down with brute force, cloth forced into their mouths, hands cruelly tied behind them. “Don Yorick’s women? Perfect timing!” Mia’s mind went blank. She could not understand what was happening. She only felt the darkness swallowing her completely. … Then, she opened her eyes again. She was in an abandoned warehouse at the dock. The masked men shoved her and Zinnia to the center. Across from them stood James, whose face was dark as iron. “Let them go.” From the shadows, a man in a crisp white suit stepped forward, calm and composed. The man was Shawn Gray, the young don of the Gray family. He clapped slowly with a playful smile on his face. He signaled his men to push Mia and Zinnia forward. The ticking of explosives attached to the women echoed clearly in the silent warehouse, each second slipping away. “Of course.” His words came slow and measured as though he was discussing nothing more serious than the weather. “I’ve prepared the full transfer documents for the East Harbor Dock.” A subordinate handed him a folder. “Sign this, and you can take one of these two women. The choice is yours. As for the one you leave behind… she’ll go out with a bang, becoming history along with this old dock.” Chapter 7 He made an explosive gesture with his hand with a cruel smile on his face. Tears streamed down Zinnia’s cheeks as she looked at James. “James, no matter what choice you make, I won’t blame you. “Maybe… I should go to heaven too, to meet your brother…” Mia lifted her head as well, staring at James through swollen, reddened eyes. Her gaze was filled with despair. Her lips parted as though she wanted to say something, but no sound came out. Would he choose her? Even once? James’s eyes darted rapidly between the two women. Zinnia’s sobbing, his brother’s last wish, and the interests of the family… Mia’s hollow, despairing eyes made his heart clench for reasons he could not explain. However, the emotions were quickly smothered by a stronger thought. She was always like this, bringing trouble, causing chaos. She was a burden, through and through. He had already done more than enough for her. Besides, Shawn was probably just bluffing. He would not dare… That was right. He would not dare! Second by second, time slipped away. The ticking of the bomb sounded like a countdown to death. Finally, James made his decision. He almost roared it out, pointing at Zinnia. “Let her go!” Those three words were like a final verdict. “As expected of Don Yorick, loyal and righteous. Truly touching.” Shawn clapped mockingly. He took the signed equity transfer agreement from James and gave him a satisfied but chillingly cold smile. “Got what I came for.” He casually handed the document to a trusted subordinate. “But…” Shawn’s tone shifted. His grin turned wildly arrogant. “I’ve changed my mind. Why should all the good things go to your Yorick family? I want the docks, and as for your people… I never said I’d return them in one piece.” Before he could even finish his sentence, two of his men lunged forward, grabbing Zinnia, who had just had the bomb removed and was still in shock, along with Mia. They roughly dragged both women toward the rusted iron door at the back of the warehouse. “Shawn Gray! How dare you!” James’s eyes were splitting with rage as he raised his gun. “Game over, Don Yorick. Hope you like this little gift!” Shawn laughed loudly as he fell back. His men retreated in a disciplined formation, taking turns to cover one another. Bang! Bang! Gunshots rang out again, but Shawn’s people were clearly prepared, fighting as they withdrew. James chased after them. The moment he burst out the back door of the warehouse, he saw Shawn standing on a speedboat with its engine already running, several meters away from the dock. Meanwhile, the two men bringing up the rear shoved the two struggling women down with brutal force. Splash! Splash! Two splashes erupted on the pitch-black, churning surface of the sea. “Hahahaha! James, until we meet again! I hope you’ve learned how to make the right choice next time!” Shawn’s manic laughter faded into the roar of the engine as the speedboat tore across the water, disappearing into the night and sea mist. “Zinnia!” James’s pupils shrank. Without a second’s hesitation, and without even glancing at where Mia had fallen, he leapt straight into the water toward Zinnia. The sea was icy cold, sharp with salt. Zinnia could not swim. Panicked, she flailed wildly and clung to James as though he was her only lifeline. James struggled to support her, dragging her with all his strength toward the dock. Less than five meters away, Mia’s body was slowly sinking into the freezing water. Seawater flooded her mouth and nose. The agony of suffocation swept over her. It was far more terrifying than the darkness of the confinement room. The deep sea felt like countless hands pulling her toward a bottomless abyss. In the final moment before consciousness completely slipped away, through the blurred, wavering surface of the water, she saw shadows and lights by the dock. She saw James jump without hesitation toward Zinnia. She saw him giving everything to keep another woman afloat. She saw that he did not even turn his head to look her way… All the pain, the struggle, the humble pleading, the ridiculous hope… In that instant, they turned to ashes and sank into the icy depths. Before the last gulp of seawater filled her lungs, she used the final trace of life left in her and screamed with everything she had, “I hate you…” James’s body stiffened for a split second, but he still did not stop. Mia stared at the flickering figures on the dock. Her chest was full of water now. Her body felt unbearably heavy as it kept sinking. She saw James, soaked through, carrying Zinnia ashore. She also saw him take off his coat and wrap it around Zinnia’s trembling shoulders. He scooped her up in his arms. He never looked back, from beginning to end. Not even once. The last glimmer of light in Mia’s eyes finally went out. So be it. She slowly closed her eyes. Saltwater ran down the corners of her eyes, blending with the final tear she had left to shed. So be it. ‘James, goodbye, forever.’ … On the other hand. James sat drenched on a bench outside the ER. A cigarette burned halfway down between his fingers. Ash fell onto his soaked pant leg, unnoticed. Zinnia had been taken to a hospital room. The doctor said she had inhaled some water and suffered shock, but she would be fine. “Boss, you should have your wound treated too.” One of his men reminded him quietly, gesturing to the blood where a stray bullet had grazed his arm. He did not seem to hear. Mechanically, he raised his hand to reach for his cigarette pack, only to touch something stiff inside the inner pocket of his coat. His movement froze. The paper had not been completely soaked by seawater, but the folded edges were soft and waterlogged. The ink had bled slightly, yet the bold title at the top was still clearly legible. [Early Pregnancy Ultrasound Report]