Chapter 3

Down at the dock, a group of contractors' families and on-duty staff had already gathered, drawn out by the noise.

They watched as Richard tried to hold me back and I struggled to break free, whispering to each other behind their hands.

But what really grabbed everyone's attention was the boat docked at the makeshift pier.

It was not a government transport, and it certainly was not some battered fishing boat.

It was an all-white private speedboat, compact, polished, and clearly not meant for a place like this.

Two men in sharp black suits stood on the speedboat, straight-backed and expressionless, clearly used to this kind of work.

Everyone was left speechless by the show of force.

Richard stared at the speedboat, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

"Natalie! Where did you get that boat?" His voice sharpened. "You don't get to make that kind of call."

He dropped his voice, anger simmering beneath the surface as he struggled to hold onto his crumbling authority.

I looked him straight in the eye, my words slow and clear, "This is my family's boat. It's here to take me home. You don't get to call the shots anymore."

Just then, a soft, fragile voice cut in.

"Natalie, Richard, please... don't fight because of me," Julia said, her voice trembling.

It was Julia.

She'd somehow slipped in, dressed in a plain, understated dress, her eyes red and puffy like she'd been crying. She stood off to the side, looking so delicate and pitiful, like she was about to break down any second.

"It's all my fault... If I hadn't been so desperate to leave, none of this would've happened... Natalie, please don't be mad at Richard. He's just doing his job..."

It was the same routine, all over again.

Every time she pulled this "let's all get along" move, Richard would act like I was the drama queen and Julia was just the sweet, understanding one.

Just like clockwork, Richard's frown got even deeper as he shot me a look. "Natalie, see? Julia gets it. Why can't you—"

"No," I cut him off, my voice crisp and final. For the first time, I looked Julia right in the eye. "Mrs. Lane, don't flatter yourself."

I said, "This has nothing to do with you"

I added, "But this man? You can have him. I don't want him anymore."

Julia's face went ghostly pale, and her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked up at Richard.

Richard's face turned stormy. "Natalie! Watch your tone! Get back here, now!"

One of the men from the speedboat, clearly the one in charge, strode over, completely ignoring Richard, and bowed slightly to me.

"Ms. Summers, Mr. Summers sent us to pick you up. Everything's ready. We're ready to depart whenever you are," he said, his tone calm and professional.

Ms. Summers...

That forgotten title made me feel dazed for a moment.

Before I was ever Mrs. Campbell, I was first and foremost Ms. Summers.

"Good," I said, nodding with resolve as I tried once more to wrench my hand free from Richard's grip.

But he refused to let go, declaring in a commanding voice to the man, "I'm Richard Campbell. I'm in charge here. No one takes her off this island on my watch."

The man remained composed, his tone steady and professional. "Mr. Campbell, we're here for Ms. Summers. She is neither your subordinate nor your family. Mr. Summers has already coordinated with your department's higher-ups and secured all necessary approvals. Here are the documents."

He handed over a folder.

Richard snatched it, glanced through the papers, and his expression darkened instantly.

He looked at me, eyes blazing with shock, anger, and a touch of humiliation, like someone had just knocked him off his pedestal.

"Natalie... you... you actually..."

He had no clue my family could pull off something like this.

Or maybe he just never bothered to find out.

All he ever wanted was a wife who'd play along and make him look like the selfless hero.

While he was still stunned, I yanked my hand free from his grip.

An angry red mark was left around my wrist.

I rubbed my wrist, didn't even look back at him, and headed straight for the white speedboat.

The sea breeze lifted my hair as I strode forward, every step resolute and unyielding.

"Natalie! Don't you dare leave!" Richard roared behind me, his voice edged with a barely concealed panic. "If you walk away now, we're done!"

I paused at the boarding ramp and turned back.

I looked at the man I used to love, his face flushed with frustration and panic. I glanced at Julia, pretending to wipe away tears while secretly watching the situation unfold. And then I took in the whole crowd on the dock, all of them staring at me in shock.

I smiled.

It was faint but icy cold.

"Richard," I said, my voice steady and unwavering, "from the moment you sacrificed me and our child for her, without a second thought, for the fourth time, I knew we were done."

I chuckled. "I'm done here."

With that, I turned and stepped onto the speedboat.

The engine rumbled low and strong as the speedboat cut clean through the water, leaving behind the island that had been nothing but a three-year joke at my expense.

I didn't look back.

Not even once.