Chapter 202 Aversion To Physical Contact
“Marvin, have you seen Renee?” Ryland asked, having checked around with no sign of Renee.
Prompted by Ryland’s question, Marvin realized that he hadn’t caught sight of Renee since they disembarked from the ship.
“Marvin, get on the boat, we’re leaving,” Shaun said as he approached his nephew.
Over there, the security team was busy getting the guests ready to board the ship. These wealthy individuals from Tofral, accustomed to the pleasures of big city life, gourmet meals, exotic travels, and beautiful scenery, found the desolate island unexpectedly delightful. So much so, it seemed they had entirely put aside the morning’s ordeal of being held at gunpoint by criminals.
“Everyone, prepare to board! Watch out for each other, and make sure no one is left behind!” a security officer yelled through a megaphone, much like a tour leader herding a group of holidaying seniors.
“Uncle Shaun, it appears Renee is missing,” Marvin said.
Shaun responded with a slight frown. “Oh? Really? I thought she went on ahead with Mr. Mitchell earlier. I’ll send my assistant to check. You guys go ahead and board.”
With no cell service on this island, Ryland couldn’t reach Renee by phone, which made him anxious. He looked around but neither Renee nor William were anywhere to be seen.
“Let’s board first. My uncle said he’d send someone to find her. If she isn’t
on the boat, we can search the area,” Marvin proposed.
Reluctantly, Ryland agreed to Marvin’s plan. He felt a sense of guilt, knowing it was his fault everyone ended up on this deserted island. He didn’t want to complicate things further.
Claude, noticing Ryland’s distress, offered a comforting pat on his back. “It’s okay,” he reassured.
Just then, Shaun’s assistant came back with news for Shaun. “Mr. Doyle, we’ve found her. Ms. Carter wasn’t feeling well and is now resting in the lounge with Mr. Mitchell.”
“See? She is already aboard,” Claude reassured Ryland.
As the ship pulled away from the island, the celebration on board resumed with vigor. Professional singers, renowned celebrities, and powerful business moguls all letting loose after their encounter with danger.
However, not all was well beneath the surface.
Joy was not universal.
Ryland felt out of place amidst the laughter. He felt a deep–seated resentment but struggled with pinpointing who to blame.
He suspected Shaun, but he had no solid proof. Shaun’s influential position made it impossible to make accusations without concrete evidence.
Ryland’s gaze, heavy with bitterness, drifted towards Shaun from time to
time.
In the flickering lights of the party, Shaun maintained his facade as the ever–charming man everyone knew him as, a sly fox who never revealed his true intentions.
Suddenly, a comforting hand rested on Ryland’s shoulder, making him pull back involuntarily. Unpleasant memories flooded in, causing a slight tremor to pass through him.
Claude saw this and drew him in closer to comfort him. “Don’t worry. I’m here for you. You will not be alone anymore.”
Ryland couldn’t help the aversion to physical contact after all that happened, even with Claude, whom he liked deeply.
He couldn’t stop himself from trembling.
Claude’s voice remained firm and comforting. “I’ll see to it that he answers for his actions. Justice will be served.”
