Marie's men, like ants on a hot pan, frantically paced, searching for a way to approach Felicia for answers. Hope seemed nonexistent. With Stanley and the others present, Stephan controlled the entire ship. Maurice's men were strictly monitored, their movements restricted, making it impossible to get near Felicia, let alone question her. In contrast, Maurice remained calm, even finding time to stir up trouble.
Since boarding, Felicia and Stephan had been inseparable—sharing meals and sleeping in the same cabin. They lounged in the rooftop garden and fished from the deck. The day before, they'd encountered a school of sharks, the deep blue water teeming with them, sending ripples across the surface. Intrigued, Felicia casually took photos until Maurice intervened.
He always seemed to appear when Felicia and Stephan were together, smirking and inserting himself like an obvious, oversized third wheel—as Scarlet put it, "a third wheel large enough to move a pyramid with ease." Stephan remained unannoyed, ignoring Maurice and subtly leaning in whenever Felicia responded to him, his posture radiating quiet possessiveness.
Frustrated, Maurice resorted to desperate measures, feigning headaches and dizziness. Only then would Felicia attend to him, checking his pulse and performing acupuncture. This unspoken battle of wits continued until, on the seventh day, their ship arrived at the marked coordinates. A sign of the legendary island, but the backlash from Maurice's venomous creature would intensify. If they didn't find a solution within six hours, his death was inevitable. While Maurice seemed unconcerned, Felicia couldn't stand idly by. They'd come too far, nearing the crux of their endeavor.
A faint light appeared in the distant darkness. Felicia sensed what it was. Moments later, Stanley reported, "We've confirmed it over the channel. It's the Carrell family's ship. Mr. and Mrs. Russell. Should we let them come aboard?" Stephan turned to Felicia, leaving the decision to her.
Felicia nodded. "I've been expecting them." Stanley carried out the order. Felicia had indeed been waiting for Pete. As a mastermind behind this ordeal, he undoubtedly knew this location. This once-in-a-decade opportunity was before them; Pete wouldn't miss it.
An hour later, the other ship arrived. From across the water, Pete called out, a hint of exasperation in his tone, "You really are ruthless, aren't you? You used me and tossed me aside. We had an understanding, remember? And now you're pretending it never happened?"
Felicia smirked and replied in a mused voice, "Since when should I care about integrity with you? It's not like you have any."
Pete shook his head. "You're so biased against me. Honestly, it hurts my feelings." Felicia was speechless; she'd seen shameless people, but never one this shameless.