Chapter 7
Estelle’s birthday party was totally over–the–top and lavish.
Eric had booked an entire luxury cruise ship–guests filled the deck, champagne flowed freely, and elegant women drifted through the crowd.
Everyone knew this kind of extravagance was just the beginning for the future Mrs. Callahan.
Calista stood quietly in a corner, watching Eric wrap his arm around Estelle’s waist as they danced in the center of the floor.
He leaned in to whisper something, and Estelle laughed, clearly delighted. The people around them cast admiring looks.
“How about that?” Estelle approached her quietly, a glass of champagne in hand and a smug smile on her face. “Eric treats me well, doesn’t he?”
Calista kept her face calm. “Congratulations.”
Estelle leaned in closer, her voice dropping, “Drop the act. I know you’re jealous. But let’s face it, you’re just the daughter of a driver. If I weren’t infertile, do you think you would’ve ever had the chance to get near Eric?”
She narrowed her eyes. “This is the last time I’m saying this: once you’ve had the baby, disappear from my sight.”
Calista did not respond. She had long grown numb to this kind of talk. Turning around, she prepared to leave.
Just then…
Boom!
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A sudden gust swept across the sea, and the ship lurched!
Estelle let out a sharp scream as she lost her balance and stumbled toward the railing.
Instinctively, she grabbed Calista and the two of them tumbled into the dark, churning water.
The freezing sea rushed into Calista’s mouth and nose. She thrashed, struggling to reach the surface.
Estelle had scraped her arm on the ship’s metal edge, and blood seeped into the water, staining it red.
It did not take long for something to appear.
“Shark!” someone on deck shouted in panic.
Estelle’s face drained of color. Terrified, she started splashing wildly and calling out, “Eric! Help me!“.
Calista stared, stunned, as a fin cut through the water and moved straight.
toward them.
Then, a splash. Someone had jumped in.
She looked up and saw Eric swimming–not toward her, but straight to Estelle. He pulled Estelle into his arms and made for the lifeboat–never once turning back.
“Eric. ”
She tried to say something, but the waves swallowed her voice.
Then a sudden jolt of pain shot through her leg. The shark had bitten her right calf.
Blood quickly spread through the water, and her vision began to fade.
The last image she saw was Eric holding Estelle while lifting her into the lifeboat.
When Calista came to, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled her nose.
She opened her eyes slowly, realizing she was lying in a hospital bed. Her right leg was tightly wrapped in layers of bandages.
“Oh, you’re finally awake?” A nurse was gently changing her dressing, her eyes bright with relief. “You’ve been unconscious for three days!”
Calista tried to move, but pain surged up her leg and made her gasp.
Everything came rushing back–the wind, the fall, the sea, and Eric…
He had not looked back once.
“By the way,” the nurse leaned in and whispered curiously, “how did end up in the water and get bitten by a shark? What’s your relationship with Mr. Callahan?”
you
She looked thrilled as she continued, “When he brought you in, he ordered every hospital in the city to clear the way. He even called in at helicopter to bring in a specialist and had people searching the city for a matching blood type for your transfusion! He looked really anxious, your know?”
Calista lowered her gaze, a small, bitter smile tugging at her lips.
Anxious? More like he did not want his ‘useful asset‘ getting damaged.
“He’s with his fiancée now. Do you want me to call him?” the nurse asked.
“No need,” Calista replied softly.
She knew Eric would not come even if she asked.
To him, Estelle was everything. She was just a placeholder–easily replaced and never missed.
The nurse pouted, a little let down by her response, and walked away with the medicine tray.
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