Seeing the rescuers approaching, Audrey Sutton no longer had so many concerns. She thought letting Vanessa Sterling ’die’ in Miles Sterling’s mind might be the only way to save Vanessa.
Audrey jumped off the life raft and gently pushed it away, saying, "You guys go quickly. Contact once you find a place to stay, and be safe."
Jasper Jones nodded, "Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Vanessa."
Audrey waved her hand at the two, and Jasper rowed the boat away. The two quickly disappeared into the mist.
Rescue personnel steered the lifeboat toward her, and Audrey waved her hand, successfully rescued by the people on the boat, "Is there anyone else nearby?"
Audrey shook her head, "Just ."
On the shore, Young Master Warner stood at the dock, watching batch after batch of people being rescued ashore, but among them, there was no sign of Audrey Sutton.
Faye Xavier stood beside him, holding an umbrella, comforting him, "Master Shane, don’t worry. I heard there was ample ti to escape this ti; most people were saved. Your sister-in-law is so smart; she’ll surely be alright."
Young Master Warner just had a stern face, anxiously watching the fog-covered sea.
The noise of search helicopters and lifeboats resounded in his ears, and the rain gradually grew heavier, striking the umbrella with a chaotic noise, further unsettling Young Master Warner’s heart.
He dared not think too much, but the worst thoughts always surfaced in his mind...
In the distance, two more lifeboats gradually approached, docked, and people disembarked one after another.
Young Master Warner’s gaze locked in that direction, and he unconsciously took two steps toward it until he saw a woman in a white nightgown with disheveled hair getting off the boat.
His steps imdiately rushed in that direction. Unprepared, Audrey Sutton was pulled into a warm embrace before she could see who it was.
The unique scent of Young Master Warner made Audrey realize who was holding her.
She looked up at him, and the fear and relief of surviving brought her to tears in his arms.
"I thought I wouldn’t see you and Anna again..."
Young Master Warner looked down at her, his heart finally dropping a heavy weight, as he took off his jacket and wrapped it around Audrey while saying, "It seems you haven’t forgotten what I taught you."
Audrey, shivering, spoke with a trembling voice, "I actually forgot; my mind was chaotic at that mont. It was just what you taught in swimming that helped overco my inner fear, so I didn’t panic underwater."
Young Master Warner took a deep breath, and told Faye Xavier, who ca with an umbrella, "Find a nearby hotel."
Faye nodded, handed the umbrella to Young Master Warner, and said, "I’ll go get the car. You wait for at the intersection."
Young Master Warner took the umbrella, led Audrey toward the shore, and coincidentally saw Miles Sterling standing at the top of the stairs...
Miles, wearing a thin gray and white suit without an umbrella, was drenched by the fine rain, forming a misty layer over his body.
Audrey avoided his gaze with a guilty conscience. As they passed Miles, she heard him hoarsely ask, "Did you see her?"
Audrey stopped, took a deep breath, and said, full of apology, "When the incident happened, I was with Vanessa, but she didn’t have ti to put on her life jacket. Things were too chaotic; we got separated by the water, and I haven’t seen her since..."
Hearing Audrey’s words, Miles’s expression dimd, his gaze again shifted toward the sea.
Young Master Warner hugged Audrey and softly said, "Let’s go, get in the car."
In the car, despite the heater being on, Audrey, soaked to the bone, felt no warmth.
Luckily, the hotel was nearby; they arrived in just a few minutes.
Only when her body soaked in warm water did Audrey feel alive again.
Her mind then drifted to the uncertain situation of Vanessa and Jasper Jones.
Seeing Miles’s lost and forlorn look, Audrey felt a twinge of guilt for deceiving him.
She thought, Vanessa’s departure must have been a big blow to him.
But recalling his ntal instability and violent tendencies, coupled with his strong need to control Vanessa, Audrey realized that facilitating Vanessa’s successful escape was the best outco for both of them.
"Splash—" Young Master Warner pushed open the bathroom door without knocking.
Audrey was not surprised, watching him place the clothes he had prepared for her on the rack beside the tub and ask, "Do you want to help you wash?"
Audrey imdiately replied, "No need!"
"Then I’ll wait for you outside."
"Hey! Wait a minute!"
Young Master Warner turned around and eyed her as Audrey asked, "Honey, can you get a fake identity? Like getting a new identity but still living like a normal person."
Young Master Warner: "What do you need it for?"
Audrey: "Just tell if you can or not."
Young Master Warner: "Ask your second brother."
Audrey frowned, "My second brother is so rigid; even if he could, he wouldn’t help ."
Young Master Warner: "I’m afraid he’d catch ."
Audrey chuckled, "Does that an you can get one?"
Young Master Warner said nothing and turned to leave.
Audrey began to plan in her mind, waiting for this storm to subside. Once Miles stopped searching for Vanessa, she’d give Vanessa a new identity and let her leave Rivia. They’d find a place far away and live like normal people, doing what they want.
At sea, Jasper had been rowing for an hour, and as the mist cleared slightly, a distant island ca into view. He rowed toward it.
Vanessa sat listlessly on the life raft, realizing this was the biggest decision of her life.
Impulsive and reckless, but she had no regrets.
She’d rather die in this accident than return to Miles.
The sky darkened, the rain stopped, but the night sea breeze was still biting.
Rescue operations continued, but at this ti, most of what they recovered were bodies.
The shore was filled with the sound of grieving families, while Miles remained in the sa spot, staring at the sea in the dark.
From morning until now, nurous lifeboats docked, watching those fortunate enough to be rescued disembark one by one, yet there was still no sign of Vanessa.
With the recovery boats cycling between sea and shore, he no longer had the courage to inspect the bodies they brought back.
Vanessa couldn’t swim; encountering such a mariti disaster, if she hadn’t been rescued at first chance, the outco was ominous...
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