Chapter 3

After getting into the car, William began rambling on about tomorrow's schedule.

"I've already booked the best restaurant for you. Once this busy spell is over, we'll go skiing in Switzerland, alright?"

I listened quietly, offering no response, simply turning my head to watch the streetscape fly past the window.

The car had just started when his phone rang.

He answered the call, his brows knitting slightly, his voice betraying hesitation and suppressed anxiety.

I turned to look at him and said calmly, "If something has come up, you should go."

He hesitated for a moment, looking at me. "Charlotte, I..."

"It doesn't matter. I'll go to the marina myself."

I didn't see the caller ID, but I knew there was only one person who could make him wear that expression.

After boarding the yacht alone, I took out my phone and opened Olivia's social media account.

I saw a newly posted photo. The caption read: "So good to have someone guarding me in my most vulnerable moment. Thank you for bringing the hot soup, and thank you for rushing over to be with me regardless of everything. Thank you for always being my hero."

The comments underneath were full of envy and flattery.

"This is true love!"

"That other woman is just a decoration, right?"

However, my gaze fixed on the hand in the corner of the photo. I knew the antique pocket watch on that wrist all too well. It was William's.

I dialed his number, but it was Olivia who answered.

"It's so late, is something the matter, Charlotte? You aren't looking for William, are you?" Olivia's voice was full of a victor's gloating.

"Give it up. He won't be going back tonight. My dear sister, who told you that you couldn't keep a man's heart? I already let you have him for five years, yet you still couldn't hold onto him."

I slammed the phone down and turned to the yacht's captain. "Set sail."

"Aren't we waiting for the others, Ma'am?"

"No waiting. Just me," I answered softly.

The yacht slowly started, slicing through the night-shrouded sea surface, heading toward the deep ocean.

I stood alone at the bow, looking up at the starry sky. The sea breeze was biting and cold, the starlight shimmering in fragments upon the water.

William did not appear all night.

I leaned against the deck railing, staring hollowly at the sea. Memories of the past five years flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern. His gentlemanly ways, his thoughtfulness, his vows... all the memories turned into sharp shards, ruthlessly slashing across my heart. In the end, what they pieced together was nothing but a fragmented afterimage.

All the illusions and hypocrisy seemed so ironic and laughable now.

Before dawn broke, I made one last call to him. This time, his phone was off.

I stared at the screen and set the scheduled post—it was my recorded suicide note, along with the complete manuscript records of that song and the original demo recording.

Having done all this, I glanced at the faint glimmer of light slowly rising on the horizon.

Then, I threw the dummy I had prepared long ago into the icy seawater and staged a chaotic scene.

Meanwhile, William was hurriedly saying goodbye to Olivia. "I have to go. Tomorrow is her birthday; I promised I'd be with her."

Olivia tried to stop him, her face full of grievance. "William, I need you too..."

William shook his head. "No, not today."

Just then, his assistant, Ben Smith, finally found him. "Mr. Astor! The Madam... something has happened to her yacht!"