Chapter 337

Harrison's entire body screamed in agony, every muscle and bone protesting as if crushed beneath a mountain.

The cold was unbearable.

Freezing ocean waves slapped against her face, the icy water seeping into her very core. Shivering violently, she forced her eyes open.

She was alive.

The yacht had been rigged to explode. In those final moments, she and Sebastian had plunged into the merciless sea. The frigid water clawed at her from all sides, but she fought back with every ounce of strength.

Her petite frame channeled an extraordinary will to survive.

Eventually, the currents deposited her on a desolate shore under the cover of night. Harrison staggered to her feet.

"Sebastian? Sebastian!"

She'd kicked him overboard before the explosion. Where was he now?

Harrison scanned the dark coastline. "Sebastian! If you can hear me, answer me!"

Then she saw him - motionless on the sand a few yards away.

Harrison rushed forward. "Sebastian! Wake up!"

He remained unconscious, his right leg mangled and bleeding profusely.

The sand beneath him was already stained crimson.

Harrison examined the wound, her stomach twisting. Without immediate medical attention, he'd lose the leg.

She wasn't some naive do-gooder. If Sebastian hadn't dragged her out to sea, none of this would've happened. He'd been working with Isabella.

Part of her wanted to leave him there to rot.

Yet Harrison knew Sebastian wasn't truly evil. She had to help him.

But they were stranded in the middle of nowhere with no signs of civilization.

"Help! Someone help us!" Harrison screamed into the darkness.

Suddenly, a flashlight beam cut through the night. Two figures approached.

"Who's there?" a male voice called.

Harrison's heart leapt. "We're tourists! My friend is badly injured - please help!"

The men drew closer. This was Stonebridge, a remote fishing village. The leader was Adrian Blackwood, the village chief's son, followed by his younger brother Patrick.

Adrian's gaze locked onto Harrison's face. When he took in her delicate beauty, his eyes gleamed with sudden interest.

Harrison suppressed a shudder under his leering stare but kept her head bowed. "Can you help us?"

"Of course," Adrian said too quickly. "Come to our village. We'll have our doctor look at your... friend."

Harrison forced a grateful smile. "Thank you. We're in your debt."

They carried the unconscious Sebastian to a small cottage and laid him on a narrow bed. Soon the village physician arrived to examine the leg wound.

Sebastian stirred, his face ghostly pale as he took in their surroundings. "Where...?"

Harrison stepped forward. "You're awake. The waves brought us here. Adrian helped us."

Adrian's gaze never left Harrison. "What's your relation to him?"

"My brother-in-law," Harrison answered instantly.

Sebastian knew she was pretending Nathaniel was his brother, but still glared. "You wish."

Adrian's eyebrows shot up. "You're married?"

Harrison nodded firmly. "Three years now. My husband will have noticed we're missing by now. He'll come for us soon."

She met Adrian's gaze steadily. "And when he does, he'll reward you handsomely for helping us."