Escape from the Billionaire, My Rebirth in the Deep Blue

It was the third year of being locked away by William. He finally let me out of the Sterling estate. Not because our son, Asher, missed me. But because William’s adopted sister, Nora—the darling of the family who always needed my help—needed my body to be her personal blood bank again. I rolled up my sleeve out of habit, but William stopped me. "We don't need your blood this time. We need... a kidney." "Give Nora a kidney, and we’ll forgive you. Everything from the past will be wiped clean, and you won't be locked up anymore." Beside him, Asher, who always looked at me with cold, resentful eyes, softened his tone just a fraction. "Just do it, and maybe I’ll call you Mom again." I shook my head, letting out a soft, mocking laugh. The father and son thought I was going to refuse. They were already bracing themselves to force me. But I just looked at them and said, "I'll do it. On one condition." "We get a divorce. You keep Asher. I don't want him anymore." Both of them froze instantly. They exchanged a look, then quickly agreed. They probably thought I was just throwing another tantrum. I sneered in my heart. Donate a kidney? How could a person who was planning her own death donate a kidney? Five days later, Adeline Sterling, wife of the Sterling Group’s CEO, fell into the ocean. Her survival remained a mystery. "Mr. Sterling, your wife is in terrible shape. A kidney transplant might... shorten her lifespan." "Are you absolutely sure you want her to sign this consent form?" Out of professional ethics, the doctor hesitated before speaking. For a moment, the tension in the room snapped. The father and son stood frozen. Neither of them could bring themselves to say the word "sign" right away. I, on the other hand, was perfectly calm. I stood up, snatched the agreement from the doctor’s hand, signed my name with a quick, clean stroke, and handed it back. "It’s signed. Take me for the pre-op tests." The doctor didn’t dare move. He instinctively glanced at William's face. Only when William gave a tight, pained nod did the doctor finally lead me out. It wasn't until they were drawing my blood that William’s voice suddenly broke the silence behind me. "Adeline, modern medicine is highly advanced. You don't have to worry about your lifespan. I will hire the best doctors and get you the best post-op care. You’ll live a long life." Asher chimed in, eager to ease his own guilt. "Our family owns the best private hospital in the country. We have top-tier resources. Supporting your recovery is nothing to us." I gave a vague, uncaring murmur. My stomach churned. Seriously, this hypocritical show of concern was making me sick. Weren't they the ones who had locked me up like an animal for three whole years? Weren't they the ones forcing me to give up a kidney to save another woman? Now, to soothe their own guilty consciences, they were acting like my saviors. It was absolutely disgusting. I endured the dizziness of the blood leaving my veins and stared out the window at the blue sky. "I don't care about that." "If you really feel sorry, take me to see the ocean before the surgery." "I’ve been trapped in that estate for three years. I just want some fresh air." This minor request was nothing to William. He agreed. After running test after test, I was completely drained. I leaned back against the hospital bed, closing my eyes to rest. The hallway outside got noisy. It was William’s voice. He sounded furious, shouting at the doctor while clutching my lab results. "What do you mean her body is too weak for surgery? It’s too risky?!" "We ran tests every time she drew blood over the last three years! The reports you gave me always said she was perfectly fine!" The doctor was sweating profusely, trembling under the fury of the CEO. "Mrs. Sterling's current health indicators are indeed a mess. Severe anemia, malnutrition, multiple organ functions on the verge of failing... This didn't happen overnight. Honestly, it should have been obvious in her very first check-up." "I don't know why her previous reports showed she was healthy." "But given her current state, if she goes onto that operating table, she might never come off it." William grabbed the doctor by the collar, his voice roaring with panic. "What do you mean she might not make it off the table?!" "I handed a living, breathing woman over to you! I didn't send her here to die!" "If you can't do the surgery safely, I’ll find someone who can!" They kept arguing, but my head was spinning so badly that their voices faded into static. When I woke up again, it was already the next morning. William was sitting on the sofa near the bed, frowning deeply as he flipped through thick files. Seeing me open my eyes, he stood up and walked over. "You're awake. Let me help you drink some water." I wasn't petty enough to refuse. I had no strength left in my body, and I didn't want to drop the glass. Honestly, over the past three years, I had felt my body slowly wasting away. Day after day, locked in a dark room. The psychological darkness was far more punishing than any physical illness. Not to mention the housekeeper, Mrs. Gable, who was hired to "take care" of me. She filled my days with verbal abuse, beatings, and relentless torment. Sometimes, I was almost proud of myself. Surviving on dirty water and spoiled food for three years was a miracle in itself. After taking two sips of water, I sank back onto the pillows, exhausted. William stared at me. Seeing how even breathing seemed to take effort for me, he finally asked the question on his mind. "During the exam, the doctor found countless old scars on your body. And there are fresh bruises all over your stomach." "How did you get them?" I looked at him quietly. Then, I let out a soft chuckle. "If I told you Nora did it, would you believe me?""Nora would never do that." The moment the words left my mouth, William denied it with absolute certainty. He slammed the water glass onto the nightstand. "After what you did to her, Nora never even blamed you." "She was the one who kept telling me you just made a mistake. She suggested keeping you at the estate to keep you out of the public eye, so you wouldn't have to face the media's backlash! She did it to protect you!" "She is so kind. How could she ever hurt you? Adeline, you're projecting your own malice onto her again!" Looking at William's furious face, the anger I had suppressed for years finally flared up. "How many times do I have to tell you? I didn't cause that car accident!" "Your brother Julian's death had nothing to do with me! I was just giving him a ride. I had no idea the brakes would suddenly fail. I was in that car too! Even if I were jealous of their marriage and wanted to hurt Nora, I wouldn't have killed Julian, and I certainly wouldn't have risked my own life!" William was pushed to his limit. He grabbed my wrist tightly, his eyes blazing. "Adeline, why are you still so unrepentant?" "Do you have any idea that if I hadn't buried the evidence back then, you would be rotting in a federal prison right now?!" I raised my chin, screaming back at him with all the air left in my lungs. "Then I would rather be in prison!" "At least there, I wouldn't have been treated like an animal in a basement for three years by you!" Our eyes met, filled with mutual hatred. Finally, William backed down. He threw my hand away violently. He turned to leave, but I called out to him. "William, bring the lawyer." "Before the surgery, let's sign the divorce papers." William slammed the door so hard the walls shook. It wasn't until evening that he returned with his lawyer. Behind them stood Asher, still in his school uniform. He must have just gotten out of class. The lawyer pulled out the documents and started reading the complicated property division terms. I didn't want to waste my breath. Before he could finish, I flipped straight to the last page and signed my name. "I'm done. I don't need to hear it." "Just take the signature." William was clearly still livid. He stared intensely at the signed divorce papers but didn't reach for them. "Adeline, think carefully." "Once I submit this to the court, there is no going back." "Even if you regret it and beg me on your knees, I will never take you back." Beside him, Asher spoke up, his voice cold. "If you actually divorce Dad, I will never call you Mom again. Even if you save Nora." I knit my brows, annoyed by their endless talking. Since William wouldn't take the papers, I shoved them into the lawyer's hands and dismissed them. "Do whatever you want." "If you're done, get out. I need to rest." "And don't forget your promise. The surgery is the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, I want to see the ocean." Just as the two of them were about to say more, frustrated by my cold attitude, the door opened. "Adeline." It was Nora.The moment she appeared, the father and son immediately shifted all their attention away from me. They rushed to her side, showering her with concern. "Nora, you're wearing too little. You're still sick, and the weather is getting cold. What did the doctor say about your labs? Are they getting better?" "Yeah, Nora. You've always been fragile. You didn't need to come see her." "Take my jacket. Adeline already agreed to the transplant. You'll be healthy again soon." ... Their warm words echoed in my ears, sounding incredibly grating. Nora gave them a sweet, gentle smile. Then, her gaze drifted past them to me. A flicker of smugness flashed in her eyes. She walked closer, holding a bouquet of flowers. "It's been three years. I missed you so much, Adeline." "William told me you're willing to save me. I'm so deeply touched." I let out a cold laugh. I had no intention of playing the loving sisters with her. I snapped back sharply. "Yeah. I just find it funny how your illness is so perfectly timed." "For three years, you wanted my blood. Now you want my kidney. I'm starting to wonder if you actually just want my life." My words were harsh. William frowned deeply, barking at me, "Adeline! Watch your mouth!" "Apologize to Nora right now!" Asher, young and hot-headed, glared at me and yelled, "Nora's illness is all your fault! If you hadn't killed my uncle, she wouldn't have gotten sick from grief!" "How can you be so heartless? Apologize to her!" I didn't even bother to look at them. I stayed silent. Nora blinked back tears, playing the peacemaker beautifully. "No, it's fine. I'm not mad. She’s been in the estate basement for three years. It's natural for her to be bitter. I understand. Honestly, it's my fault for not checking on her." "Maybe the housekeeper I hired didn't take good care of her, and she’s taking her anger out on me." With that, she forced the bouquet of flowers into my space. "I arranged these flowers myself. Please accept them as my apology." "Adeline, please take them." I could tolerate almost anything else, but hearing her mention that housekeeper made my blood boil. And to top it off, I was severely allergic to pollen. Nora knew this. Yet she brought flowers anyway. Furious, I slapped the bouquet out of her hand, sending it flying across the room. "Get away from me! Stop acting so innocent!" "That miserable maid starved me, beat me, and threw freezing water on me in the dead of winter! She did all of that on your orders!" Nora immediately fell to the floor, acting as if my outburst had terrified her. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed. "Adeline, what are you talking about?" "I just wanted to thank you. The nanny I hired for you was always so sweet. She never talked back, even when you screamed at her. If you don't want my flowers, fine. But why do you have to lie and slander me in front of William and Asher?" She turned her tear-stained face to William. "William, I swear it's not like that." "You've met Mrs. Gable. She's a kind, hardworking woman. Last time we visited the estate, Adeline threw something at her and cut her head open. Mrs. Gable didn't even complain. She just smiled and went back to the kitchen to cook, worried Adeline would go hungry. How could she possibly..." "You lying bitch! The scar on her head was from when she tried to—" I desperately tried to defend myself. But William didn't give me the chance. His roar cut me off, echoing through the room. "Enough! Adeline, you've completely lost your mind!" "The doctors said your condition was critical, but I think it's all an act! You clearly have plenty of energy to scream and throw tantrums! We are wasting medical resources on you!" "Lock the windows and doors. Don't let her escape before the surgery!" He bent down, carefully lifting Nora from the floor and wrapping his arm around her protectively. Then, he turned to Asher, who was looking at me with equal disgust. "Asher, let's go." They left, and the heavy door was locked from the outside. I collapsed onto the bed, chest heaving with rage. But almost immediately, something felt wrong. It felt like the oxygen was being sucked out of the room. My chest tightened, and breathing became a struggle. I looked down. The flowers. They had been sprayed with an excessive amount of pollen, which had scattered all over the air when the bouquet hit the floor. During my screaming match, I had inhaled a massive amount of it. Now, the reaction was hitting me full force. I rushed to the window to open it, but the electric locks had already sealed the room on William's orders. I dragged my heavy limbs to the door, pounding on it with what little strength I had left. "Help! Someone help me!" "Let me out! I'm allergic... I can't breathe!" "Help... please..." My voice grew softer. My pounding weakened to a faint scratch, and eventually, I couldn't make a sound at all. My consciousness plunged into darkness. Ten minutes later, the emergency alarms finally went off, and I was rushed into the ICU.The red light of the operating room stayed on for eight hours. When I finally opened my eyes, my first feeling was actually disappointment. The sleep I had last night was so peaceful. It made me feel like dying wouldn't be such a bad thing after all. Unfortunately, I survived. I propped myself up against the headboard, staring blankly at the clouds drifting outside. After a long time, William pushed the door open. His eyes were bloodshot. It was clear he hadn't slept all night. He stood there, hesitant to come closer. I could already guess what he was going to say. "I'm sorry. I didn't know." "It's all my fault." "I will make it up to you..." The usual empty promises. So, I turned my head to look at him and spoke first. "You promised to take me to the ocean today." William lowered his head, his voice barely a whisper. "The doctor said your body is too weak. You shouldn't..." I didn't let him finish. I simply repeated, "You promised." Defeated by the dead look in my eyes, William finally relented. He had no choice but to bring his private medical team along with us onto his luxury yacht. William stayed close to me, trying to start a conversation several times, but he always swallowed his words. I stared at the endless blue sea. I didn't want him ruining the view. I turned to him. "I want to be alone on the deck. Stop following me." William hesitated for a long time, but finally stopped walking. The wind was picking up, causing the yacht to sway slightly. I was studying the water, trying to figure out which spot would guarantee a quick death, when I heard footsteps behind me. "You really are hard to kill. You actually survived all that pollen." Nora’s poisonous voice echoed. With William out of sight, she didn't bother playing the innocent victim anymore. I turned around to look at her. "Why are you here?" Nora walked closer, her eyes dripping with malice. "I told William I felt terrible about the flowers and couldn't sleep without apologizing to you in person. So, he let me join the cruise." "He even told me to have a private chat with you to help cheer you up." I looked down at the crashing waves below. My heart was as calm as dead water. "Do you want to kill me?" "Now is your chance. Push me over. From this height, I’ll definitely die." Nora scoffed, covering her mouth as she laughed, as if I were incredibly naive. "You idiot. Why would I get my own hands dirty?" "Though, I have to admit, I was annoyed when Julian saved your life three years ago. You were the one who was supposed to die in that car. He just had to throw himself over you! But it worked out. Watching William hate you, and watching you live like a dog under my thumb for three years, has been highly entertaining." The memory of the bright, cheerful young man who always smiled at me flashed through my mind. Grief pierced my heart. I looked at Nora. "Don't you ever feel regret? Julian was your husband. You had only been married for three months. You killed him without a second thought, and then you turned around to seduce his brother." "Nora, you're a murderer." Something about my words touched a raw nerve. Her gentle facade shattered completely. She grabbed my arm with a violent grip. "I don't regret it!" she shrieked, tears springing to her eyes. "I never loved him! I love William!" "With Julian dead, nobody can stop me from being with William. If the pollen didn't kill you, the surgery will. You can't run from this. Your husband, your son—they will all be mine!" "How can you possibly compete with me, Adeline?" I looked at her hysterical face. A soft smile spread across my lips. "With... my life." My whisper was swept away by the roaring wind. In the distance, William was already walking toward us. The waves were getting rough, and the deck was no longer safe. He wanted to bring us inside. But before he could reach us. A sharp, terrified scream pierced the air. "Ah—!" Using Nora’s grip on my arm, I threw my weight backward, letting my body tip over the railing. Like a broken bird, I fell. Plunging straight into the dark, freezing sea. I didn't even make a sound. In the distance, William's desperate, agonizing scream echoed over the water. "Adeline—!"