Chapter 5

Watching the fleeting scheming in Savannah's eyes, I realized that she had said those words deliberately to provoke me. She hoped I would lose my temper and make George despise me even more.

If it were in the past, I might have argued back, but now I didn't care.

I stepped forward and raised my hand to slap Savannah hard across the face.

Then, I looked George straight in the eye and said, "See? This is how I bully her."

My actions challenged George's authority. His eyes were filled with anger. He reached out and grabbed my neck.

My breath was cut off, and my lungs felt like they were about to explode. But I continued to glare at them defiantly.

Just as I was on the brink of suffocation, a sharp alarm suddenly rang throughout the cruise.

Someone shouted, "It's the police. Protect George and Savannah."

The atmosphere instantly froze and then descended into chaos.

The executives of the Wood Group turned pale. They urgently surrounded George and said, "George, the situation is critical. The helicopter is ready on the deck. You must leave now.

George released me, and I gasped for air.

He supported Savannah, who was pale-faced and cast a hesitant glance at me.

Savannah immediately clutched her stomach and cried out weakly, "George, I feel so terrible. My belly aches..."

"Forget about Clara," urged the bodyguard next to George. "Savannah is carrying your baby. She cannot be put at risk. The helicopter has limited space. We need to get you and Savannah out first."

George clenched his teeth and looked at me with a complex expression. He ultimately made up his mind and said, "Leave two people to keep an eye on her. The rest follow me to protect Savannah and leave."

With that, he hurriedly supported Savannah towards the helicopter.

The surrounding chaos was overwhelming. I heard screams, gunshots, and footsteps.

Seizing the moment when the bodyguards were distracted by the gunfire, I bent down and slipped into a nearby passage. Then I frantically ran towards the rear deck as Andre had told me.

The power was cut, and the surroundings were in darkness.

I stumbled and fell. I hit the deck hard.

A nearby oil drum tipped over, and liquid was spilled everywhere. The pungent smell of gasoline overwhelmed me.

A spark from a bullet ignited the gasoline, and a fierce fire quickly spread through the gasoline. It also blocked the path behind me.

"Clara!" George's anguished shout suddenly came from behind. I froze. Had he actually returned?

I turned back and saw George rushing over. He was illuminated by the firelight. The bodyguards tried to stop him. "George, it's dangerous. You can't go back."

"Let go of me," George shouted, shaking off the bodyguards. His eyes were red as he looked at me. "Clara, come over here. Come back with me."

I looked at him and suddenly felt that the dark ocean wasn't so terrifying after all.

"I am finally breaking free from you, George. I am free now," I said inwardly.

"Clara, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have betrayed you. I shouldn't have hurt you. Come back with me. We can start over."

Through my earpiece, Andre's voice came. "Clara, our boat is right below the deck. Be brave and jump. I'll catch you."

"Please, Clara, I can't live without you. I'll do anything for you. Don't jump off the cruise."

"George, it's too late. From the moment you chose Savannah, it was all over between us."

Nothing could change my resolve to escape, not even death.

I looked at George's face, which was filled with pain and despair. I said softly, "Goodbye, George."

With those words, I leapt off the deck.