Chapter 174 It Could Be
Murder
“Hey, did you hear that?” Renee’s voice carried a sharp edge as she turned to Marvin.
Marvin nodded nonchalantly. “Yeah, I heard. Someone died. No big deal. Come on, let’s go. We’ve got a bet to place! What’s the prize for the winner?
Your call.”
He rambled on, completely unfazed by the grim news, as if discussing the weather rather than someone’s untimely demise.
Only when he glanced back did he realize Renee hadn’t moved an inch.
“What’s the holdup? Let’s go!” he urged, but Renee remained rooted to the
spot.
It was then that Marvin noticed something was off about Renee’s
expression.
Her expression was icy, her eyes burning with quiet fury.
Marvin frowned. “What’s with that look?”
“Tell me,” Renee’s voice was dangerously calm, “do people die on this
cruise often?”
“Huh?” Marvin blinked, caught off guard. Realizing what had set her off, he shifted his gaze away. “No… I mean, I don’t know, since it’s my first time
here too…”
That much, at least, was true.
“Then why are you acting like it’s just another Tuesday?” Renee asked.
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“I–I’m not,” Marvin stammered. “I just figured… maybe it was a suicide… or an accident. Either way, security’s handling it. Not like we can do anything, right?”
Renee’s eyes sharpened. “Or it could be murder.” Her voice turned cold enough to send a shiver down his spine. “Marvin, Shaun hosted tonight’s party. If this turns into a scandal, he is in deep. Don’t you think? Aren’t you two close? Shouldn’t you be more concerned?”
Marvin fell silent.
Renee didn’t need his answer–she already knew. “Let me spell it out for you,” she said. “Even if something shady did happen, Shaun has more than enough tricks up his sleeve to come out squeaky clean.”
Marvin’s jaw tightened. “What exactly are you trying to say, Renee?” There was a new edge to his voice now, a warning.
Renee gave him a long, unreadable look before turning on her heel. Explaining was pointless. Marvin was a pampered rich kid, blissfully unaware of the skeletons rattling in the Doyle family’s closet. He had never seen the darkness lurking beneath their polished reputation.
Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away.
“Hey!” Marvin called after her. “Renee!”
But Renee kept walking.
“Where are you going?”
“To save a life,” Renee replied curtly.
Marvin jogged to catch up, confused. “Security is handling it. What can you possibly do?”
Renee didn’t answer, picking up her pace. A heavy feeling twisted in her gut. A name clawed at the back of her mind, one she desperately hoped wasn’t linked to this tragedy. Ryland. Please, let it not be him.
Marvin, still baffled but unwilling to let her run off alone, followed.
By the time they reached the deck, a small crowd had gathered near the railing, murmuring amongst themselves. Security personnel stood in a tight formation, their faces unreadable.
“Did someone actually fall overboard?”
“No way they survived a drop from this height–especially with how freezing the water is.”
“Poor soul… was it a man or a woman?”
“I think… a man.”
Renee’s mind went blank, her body locking in place as she froze.
Suddenly, an overwhelming exhaustion washed over her, leaving her
unable to take another step forward.
Marvin, having caught up, noticed her pallor. His brows furrowed in concern. “Hey, you okay?”
Renee’s gaze never wavered from the cluster of security guards.
“You’re not scared, are you?” Marvin asked cautiously.
“Marvin.”
“Yeah? I’m here,” he murmured softly.
“Go. Find out who it was.”
Marvin hesitated, but then nodded. “Alright.”
Renee had seen death before. She had faced it head–on, cleaned up its aftermath, and carried on like it was just another part of life. Once,`on a mission, she had picked up the remains of a fallen comrade, piece by piece, without so much as flinching. No mask. No hesitation. Just duty.
But they were soldiers. Before every mission, they all knew the risks, each
of them prepared to face death without hesitation.
Ryland, however, was different.
He was the one she had grown up with, the person who had always been there for her, standing by her side without question—even when she was
in the wrong.
