Forget about what I said earlier. It's not important." Mara's voice was soft yet firm.
Liz frowned, " I don't care about any of that. I just want us to get back to how we used to be." Her voice wavered as she turned toward the mirror, brushing her hair. "Maybe the gala tonight will be different. We'll have time together, and I'll definitely remind him of the memories we've shared for the past two years"
Mara gave her a small, knowing smile. "Sure, Liz. I'll be there too, though, you know, just in case you need me."
Liz glanced over her shoulder at her step-sister and managed a weak smile. "Thank you, Mara. I know I can always count on you."
Mara drove home smiling with the progress she was making with her sister. "I can't believe how stupid she is." She smiled.
**
The massive yacht bobbed gently on the waters as the prestigious guests boarded for the grand celebration. The gala, luxurious and lively, was in full swing, with laughter, music, and clinking glasses echoing across the deck.
Liz wandered through the corridors of the ship, her long dress swishing around her feet, searching for Julian. She hadn't seen him all evening. Her excitement about the night and their chance to reconnect was quickly giving way to nervousness.
When she finally reached their assigned room, her hand hesitated on the door handle before she pushed it open. What she saw made her freeze.
"Julian!?" Her voice echoed through the room.
For a moment, Liz couldn't process what she was seeing. Her breath caught in her throat, and then she collapsed onto the floor, a heart-wrenching cry escaping her lips. "What… what are you doing?"
Mara calmly slid off Julian, fixing her hair as if nothing had happened. Julian, however, turned toward Liz with a glare of disgust.
"Why didn't you knock?" he barked, stalking toward her.
Tears blurred her vision as she struggled to speak. "Julian… Mara… how could you? I trusted you both."
"You never had manners," Mara said mockingly, walking past Liz to pick up her scarf. "You couldn't even do that one simple thing right."
Julian crossed his arms, looking down at Liz with disdain. "The only good thing you ever did was signing over your properties to me. What else are you good for?"
Liz gasped, her head spinning. "You tricked me," she whispered, trembling.
Mara gave a small shrug. "We didn't trick you, Liz. You were too desperate to make Julian happy. He doesn't even love you and you were so stupid not to see that."
Her vision blurred with tears, and rage bubbled up inside her. She staggered to her feet, her hands clenched into fists. "You deceived me, Mara!" She lunged forward, but Julian grabbed her wrist mid-swing.
"Stop embarrassing yourself," he sneered, shoving her backward. She stumbled, falling hard against the edge of the bed.
Liz's voice broke as she cried out, "All I ever wanted was to make you happy, Julian. And this is how you repay me?"
Julian's face twisted into an ugly sneer. "You're pathetic. You're nothing to me. You're just a dumb good for nothing barren chick."
Liz scrambled to her feet, her heart aching in ways she didn't think possible. She turned toward the door, desperate to leave, but Julian grabbed her by the arm.
"Oh, no," he said, his tone dangerously low. "You're not running off to cause a scene. I'm not even done with you yet."
Before she could respond, he began hitting her, his fists landing heavy and cruel. Liz cried out, trying to shield herself, but the blows kept coming until her body gave out and she collapsed unconscious on the floor.
When she came to, she was in Julian's arms, but not in any way she'd hoped. He carried her limp body to the edge of the ship and he threw her in the sea without a second thought.
Julian returned to the main deck, his arm wrapped around Mara, whose radiant smile was a sharp contrast to the darkness of what had just happened.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Julian announced, raising a glass. "I'd like to introduce you all to my new partner, my wife, Mara. I know you may all wonder where Liz is, unfortunately, she has eloped with another man. It turned out she never really fancied our marriage and just wanted to live her life, and I've decided to honor her wishes."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Someone asked, "Why would she leave you, Julian? That's inappropriate."
Julian pulled out his phone, showing fabricated photos of Liz with another man. "She had her reasons," he said with a solemn look. "But let's not dwell on that. Tonight is a celebration!"
Cheers and laughter resumed, as though Liz had never existed.
Three Months Later
"Ross! How many times do I have to tell you?" Ross's mother scolded, standing at the helm of the family's small sailing yacht. "You'll never meet a girl if all you do is take these silly vacations every week. No parties, no clubs, nothing! Just sailing. Honestly, Ross"
Ross laughed softly, steering the boat. "Mom, you know I like the quiet. I don't need parties to find someone."
Their conversation was interrupted by loud shouting near the edge of the deck. Ross frowned, turning toward the commotion. Some fishermen on the ship were gathered in a frenzy.
"What's going on?" Ross asked, running toward them with his mother.
"We found someone!" one of the fishermen yelled.
When Ross reached the group, his heart nearly stopped. Lying on the deck was a young woman, pale and lifeless, yet strangely beautiful, as if she'd just fallen asleep instead of drowning.
"She's alive," someone whispered.
Ross's mother quickly ordered the ship to turn back, and the lady was rushed to the hospital.
At the hospital, the doctor assured them the girl would survive but noted she'd be in a coma for a few days.
Ross sat by her bed, unable to explain the strange pull he felt toward her. He couldn't stop staring at her peaceful face.
When the girl's hand suddenly twitched, Ross jumped to his feet. Her eyes fluttered open, her gaze locking onto his.
"You're awake," he breathed, stunned.
The girl blinked, her voice hoarse. "Who…?"
Ross hesitated before replying. "Don't ask questions. Just take enough rest. You woke up earlier than expected."
She gave him a faint smile and, to his surprise, sat up with ease, her movements fluid as though she'd never been injured.
"Wait, you should rest," Ross said, trying to stop her.
"I'm fine," she replied, her voice calm but firm.
The doctor rushed in, his face pale with shock. "Impossible! She should still be in a coma."
Ross's mother smiled faintly. "Well, she's clearly stronger than you thought."
Ross smiled, the beauty on the strange girl's face only made his heart melt. And her voice comforted every worry he had.
"Do you think we should take her home since we found her?" He whispered. His mum silently nodded her head, "She's clearly going to be useful but we have to make sure she's harmless."
Back at the Dale estate, Liz stared in awe at her surroundings, her mind blank.
Ross tried to talk to her but he didn't know her name so he thought to ask.
His mother warned him not to ask odd questions than to just invite her into the house.
"What's your name?" Ross asked gently.
She hesitated, confusion hovering across her face. "I… I don't know, I can't remember."
"Then I'll call you Emma," Ross said with a soft smile.
"Emma," she repeated, her lips curving upward.