Chapter 170

He saw Yvonne materialize before him, bathed in a faint light, a spectral figure—elegant, agile, captivating. "Yvonne? You're not dead," Hayden gasped, disbelief etched on his face.

Yvonne regarded him coldly. "Go back," she said, her pale face devoid of expression.

"No, come back with me!" Hayden pleaded, reaching out, but with each step he took, she retreated. An insurmountable gulf separated them.

"Yvonne," he whispered, his voice softer than ever. "I'm sorry." He longed to rewind ten years, to have been by her side, to cherish and protect her. But it was a futile wish.

Yvonne’s gaze remained cold. "Between us, we're even. You don't need to apologize. The past ten years were my destiny, and I owe you nothing. I wish you well."

With that, she turned and ascended towards the sea's surface, vanishing like a bright light. Grief-stricken, Hayden cried out, "Yvonne!"

He opened his eyes to find himself in a hospital bed, Richard and Nevin at his side. "Hayden, you're awake! You scared us!"

Relief washed over him. Richard's eyes were brimming with tears. "Mr. Parker, the doctor said you fainted from exhaustion. You need to eat." He never imagined Hayden could appear so weak. In a few short days, his face had paled, his eyes lost their luster. Hayden barely registered their words, remembering only Yvonne's command to return in his dream. Perhaps...this is what she wants, he thought.

After some time, he moved his dry lips. "Have you found Yvonne?"

Silence descended. Nevin and Richard exchanged glances, hesitant to speak. Their silence answered his question. An unnatural quiet filled the room.

Nevin subtly urged Richard, "Say something!"

Richard gestured back, "You do it!"

As they stalled, Hayden spoke. "Call off the search team. We return tomorrow." His voice, devoid of emotion, echoed through the room.

Nevin, uncertain, asked, "Hayden, what did you say? Are we going back?"

"Yes," Hayden nodded patiently. "Prepare some food, Richard."

Richard's eyes widened, then filled with joy. "Yes! I'll do it immediately!" He practically ran from the room.

Nevin watched him go, then turned to Hayden with a puzzled expression. "Hayden, what changed?" Before, he'd been unresponsive. Could Zachary have influenced him? he wondered.

Hayden lifted the covers, got out of bed, and gazed out the window. "I dreamed of Yvonne," he said softly, his voice tinged with tenderness. "She told me to go back."

Nevin froze. He noticed his own eyes twitching. Days of pleading failed, but a dream convinced him. Good heavens, I feel useless. He didn't complain, only looked at Hayden with distress.

"Hayden," he blurted out, "have you liked Yvonne all this time?" From the moment he saw Hayden vomit blood for her, he’d considered Yvonne his sister-in-law. He wished he’d realized sooner.

Hayden frowned, glancing back.

Nevin sighed. "I should have known. If you hated her, why did you kiss her? Why were you so distant?" Had he not held this misconception, he wouldn't have bullied Yvonne.

Hayden’s answer surprised him. "I just didn't know how to approach her." He faced his feelings squarely for the first time, realizing Zachary was right to call him a coward—afraid to admit his love.

Nevin stammered, "I'm sorry, Hayden. I wasn't nice to Yvonne..." Understanding Hayden's feelings, he now accepted Yvonne, but tragically, too late. She was gone.

Hayden patted Nevin's shoulder, saying nothing more.

The cruise ship returned the next morning. Ethan was missing, vanished without a trace. His disappearance confirmed to Hayden that Yvonne's death was no simple suicide.

Night fell, the sea was calm. Lucy leaned against the window, sighing softly. "Are we just going back? We didn't find Yvonne, and Dylan is gone..."

Yasir poured her wine. "Dylan... he just jumped." He’d liked Yvonne deeply, Lucy knew. "If only he'd met her sooner," she sighed, "she wouldn't have suffered so much."

"They weren't meant to be," Yasir said gently, his tone laced with sadness. "You need rest. Your parents must be worried."

"Yvonne is gone... how can I rest?" Lucy choked back tears. Their joyous departure was now a painful memory. She was returning alone.

Yasir watched her weep, his heart aching. He drew her into his arms, stroking her back. "Don't cry. Your eyes will swell."

Lost in grief, Lucy hadn't noticed their closeness. The earlier awkwardness had vanished. He smelled faintly of grass, a pleasant scent.