Chapter 182

Cynthia saw Alex and Nina entering an elevator together; Nina's arm was around Alex's shoulder, and he had his arm around her waist. Something felt wrong. The distance was too great to intervene immediately, but Cynthia hurried after them. A waiter carrying food bumped into her, causing the tray to spill, and the elevator doors closed before she reached it.

Cynthia felt uneasy. She recalled Nina appearing slightly intoxicated earlier. She knew Alex only slightly, but after spending several days with him, she found him funny, smiling, humble, polite, and hardworking. It was clear he was interested in Nina.

Cynthia surmised Nina had unsuccessfully confessed her feelings to Jonathan, leading to her intoxication. While Alex's presence was understandable, Cynthia found taking Nina to the elevator unusual. The building had over twenty floors, leaving Cynthia with no idea of their destination.

She questioned several waiters, but they all shook their heads, claiming ignorance. This struck her as odd, given only four guests were on the island. After aggressively questioning a brown-haired server with Aplothian features, she discovered he was mute and deaf, his tongue having been removed. This was true of all the handsome servers; their tongues had been cut out.

A shiver ran down Cynthia's spine. The once-pleasing sight of attractive male servers now felt eerie and frightening. She wanted to leave but remembered Nina. Contacting the show team was impossible without the drone, which was not on Angel Island. The butler's contact person was gone, and communication in the bar was impossible. Cynthia felt something bad might happen to Nina.

She took the elevator to the top floor and checked each floor downward. The top floor contained a swimming pool; below were a spa, therapy center, gym, movie theater, and presidential suites (from the 20th floor down). Using a silver toothpick as a lock pick, she systematically checked each room.

On the 16th floor, she found Alex and Nina. Nina was undressed and lying on the bed; Alex was shirtless and engaged in intimate acts with her. Alex stopped upon hearing Cynthia enter. Cynthia punched him hard in the face, knocking out a tooth.

Alex, still conscious, yelled, "Cynthia, what are you doing?"

Cynthia, enraged, replied, "You beast! How could you take advantage of someone like that?"

Alex retorted, "She's willingly participating. We're together. Why are you interfering?"

Cynthia scoffed, "Is she conscious right now?" She then punched him in the nose and declared, "I call it taking advantage because that's exactly what it is."

Alex stood to fight back, but Cynthia quickly subdued him with a kick. She unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, fueled by anger and memories of her own past trauma. She saw Alex as Silas, her abuser, who was now deceased.

Jonathan arrived to find Cynthia violently assaulting the unconscious Alex. Seeing Alex's bare torso, Jonathan understood the situation. He intervened, restraining Cynthia and saying, "Stop for now, he can't die yet." Cynthia, seeing Jonathan's sorrow, calmed down. Jonathan then said, "Go put clothes on Nina."