Chapter 190 You’re Alive
Renee fought against the waves, dragging Ryland with every ounce of strength she had. The moment they plunged into the sea, she had reached for him, locking her arms around his body. But just as they were about to break the surface, a sudden whirlpool erupted, swallowing them whole.
In an instant, her control over her body vanished. The force of the current twisted and dragged her in every direction, but she refused to let go of Ryland.
Darkness closed in. Then–awareness returned. Ryland’s mind stirred from the haze, and the first thing he registered was the sensation of being submerged. Someone was holding onto him, their grip unyielding.
For a fleeting second, he thought it was Claude.
But the warmth against him was softer, unmistakably different. His fingers brushed against a feminine frame, and realization struck. Renee. A storm of emotions surged through him–gratitude and frustration in equal
measure.
Why? Why had she followed him into the water? What was she thinking? He wasn’t worth saving! Why did she have to be so reckless?
But if she was willing to risk everything for him, he couldn’t let her sacrifice be in vain.
His arms tightened around her as the current tossed them like ragdolls. The merciless waves pummeled them, dragging them into the abyss and throwing them back out. It felt endless. Then, without warning, they were hurled against jagged rocks before being flung onto solid ground. Pain shot through every inch of their bodies.
“Ryland…”
A voice, hoarse and weak, reached him. It echoed strangely, distant yet familiar.
Was it real? Or just the remnants of his fading consciousness?
“Renee…”
Gritting his teeth, Ryland forced his aching body to move. His hand stretched out, searching desperately until his fingers brushed against hers.
She was there.
Even though the world around him was nothing but suffocating darkness, as long as Renee was beside him, he wasn’t afraid. It had always been this way, ever since they were young. No matter where they ended up, as long as she was there with him, he felt safe.
A soft groan escaped her lips.
Then, a sharp inhale.
“Ryland!”
The shock of cold air hit Renee’s lungs as she became fully aware. They were no longer in the water.
“Renee, I’m here!”
Ryland wanted to close the distance between himself and Renee, but his body refused to cooperate. It felt as if he’d been crushed beneath a speeding truck. The only part of him that responded was his fingertips, brushing against the rough surface of the rock. As his sense of touch gradually returned, so did every other sensation–flooding in all at once.
The wind, sharp as a blade, sliced through his tattered clothing, chilling him to the bone. The more his senses awakened, the clearer the pain became -certain areas of his body throbbed, burned, and oozed fresh blood.
Bruises marred both of them. Ryland, who had always been painfully aware of every ache and sting, flinched at the slightest movement.
Renee, on the other hand, remained silent. It wasn’t because she didn’t feel the pain, but because she had long since learned to live with it. To her, this level of suffering was hardly worth mentioning.
“I’m sorry… Renee…” Ryland’s voice cracked, thick with emotion.
A dry, humorless laugh slipped past Renee’s lips. If she had the strength, she would’ve slapped him right then and there to knock some sense into him. But since she couldn’t, words would have to do. “You pathetic idiot! You tried to kill yourself, and now you want my sympathy? If I wasn’t worried about your safety, I would’ve punched you right in that room!”
Ryland fell silent, unable to find a response.
“You slashed him a few times–so what? That was your entire revenge plan? What was the point? If you were really ready to throw yourself into the sea, why not just cut his throat open instead? What? You got scared the knife wouldn’t cut deep enough?”
His head hung low as he mumbled, “I’ve never taken a life before… I panicked… Slashing his arm was the best I could manage…”
Renee scoffed, unimpressed.
Her voice was firm, unwavering. “In fact, you think killing them would’ve been enough? That’s letting them off easy, those bastards!”
Ryland pressed his lips together, holding back a laugh–but in the end, he let out a small chuckle.
“Renee, you always know what to say.”
“Don’t think sweet–talking me will get you off the hook! I’m not done lecturing you yet!”
“Alright, alright. Yell at me all you want,” Ryland said, raising his hands in surrender.
Renee let out an exasperated huff. She had more to say, but exhaustion
weighed down on her, sapping away the last of her energy.
All she could do was release a long sigh.
“Ryland… no matter what happens from now on, don’t ever let death be an option. As long as you’re alive, nothing else matters.”
