Chapter 129
The joy Genevieve felt at being discovered was indescribable. Andrea joined Lauraine and looked up, her expression subtly shifting. She didn’t react as strongly as Lauraine, simply asking, “How did she end up there? Louis has been going crazy looking for her. She didn’t just accidentally hang herself up there, did she?”
Lauraine frowned with displeasure on her face. “I’m going to check upstairs,” she said, darting up
the stairs.
Anthony’s bodyguards were still looking for Genevieve. But Lauraine had no idea who they were after. She had been told earlier that no one was allowed upstairs, and she stood there, chin high, eyeing them defiantly, “I’m Anthony’s little sister. Do you dare to stop me?”
Her words left no room for argument.
Lauraine reached room 602. The room had been turned upside down and searched numerous times; no one would come again. She pushed open the window and saw Genevieve, her face streaked with tears.
This was the first time Lauraine had seen Genevieve so disheveled. Usually, she was poised and indifferent, always so refined and radiant that even Lauraine, the Hoffman family’s beloved daughter, felt overshadowed.
But the current distress of Genevieve was hard to watch. She was gagged, her face deathly pale. Remembering how Genevieve had donated bone marrow to her, Lauraine couldn’t bring herself to just stand by and began to untie Genevieve’s bonds.
Hope lit up in Genevieve’s eyes, tears shimmering with gratitude.
But before the rope was untied, Andrea’s voice chimed in from below, her gentle tone carried on the night breeze to their ears. “Lauraine, you’re not thinking of saving her, are you? Have you forgotten the way she humiliated you? How she climbed over you to gain power, playing your brother and Louis like they were pawns in her game? If you save her, she won’t be grateful, she will only despise you more. But without her, no one will compete with you for Louis. He’ll be yours
alone.”
Lauraine’s body jolted, her expression shifting subtly, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. Andrea’s words had struck a chord.
Genevieve’s pitiful, glistening eyes were always so captivating. But Lauraine remembered the cold. disdain in those eyes the last time Genevieve had humiliated her in the restroom during Jacinta’s party. “How proud Genevieve had been, piercing my pride as she exposed my attempted emulation!” Lauraine’s gaze hardened as she mused.
Genevieve, hearing Andrea’s words, noticed the subtle changes in Lauraine’s expression. The warmth in her heart gradually cooled. Her heart felt as if it were being crushed by a massive stone, heavy enough to suffocate her with despair.
Her life was in Lauraine’s hands.
Unconsciously, Lauraine tugged at the rope, her grip tightening slightly. Suddenly, the knots gave
Chapter 129
way.
Genevieve’s body started to fall, her entire frame shaking violently.
But the next second, she hit the wall. She looked up in alarm to see Lauraine had instinctively yanked back on the rope. Lauraine’s face showed a mix of panic and hesitation.
Andrea’s tone became urgent as she couldn’t help but push her. “Lauraine, this isn’t your fault. If you can’t pull her up, just let go, and pretend nothing happened. Don’t forget, Louis is also on this cruise. If she shows up again, do you think he will even glance your way? She tied herself up. Maybe it’s just a ploy to get sympathy from the guys. You’re too kind–hearted; don’t fall for it!”
Listening to Andrea’s words, the confusion on Lauraine’s face began to ease. The fireworks. continued relentlessly.
The dim and bright lights intermingled, casting a glow on Genevieve’s face. She looked pitiful and beautiful. ‘Andrea was right, as long as Genevieve is around, Louis would never give me a second look. Even if I dressed exactly like Genevieve! Lauraine mused.
“Let go, it’s not your fault. It was all Genevieve’s fault. She deserved it. Lauraine, no one will blame you. No one will know what happened here…” Andrea’s words echoed in Lauraine’s ears like a curse.
Lauraine seemed persuaded, the mention of Louis making her heart tremble violently. But in the end, guilt prevailed.
I’m
sorry…” She somehow loosened the rope in her hand.
The next second, Genevieve fell into the sea like a fallen leaf.
The ripples she created expanded ring by ring before being swallowed by the dark and deep ocean. The cruise remained a hive of activity. The fireworks show was far from over. The surprises meant for Genevieve went unseen by her.
As Genevieve plummeted into the chilling, dead silence of the ocean, she felt certain she was going. to die.
Surrounded by darkness deeper and more terrifying than hell itself, her panic and fear spiked to their peak.
She hadn’t even had the chance to say goodbye to her family when endless suffocation consumed everything…
A
Her hands were bound, with only her legs free to struggle as she desperately tried to swim upward. But the waves kept dragging her down, deeper into the abyss.
She felt like she was falling into another silent world, hearing only the muffled roar of the waves, the cruise ship getting further and further away.
Helpless and gasping for air, the feeling of suffocation and powerlessness seemed to tear her apart.
As her breath was slowly stolen away, feeling the waning hope within her, Genevieve slowly closed her eyes….
09:42 Sat, 20 Apr
Chapter 129
On the cruise ship, the moment Lauraine let go, she regretted it. I’ve killed her… How could I do such a thing? It was like I was possessed, she mused in panic.
But then, in the next instant, Laurainecaught sight of a familiar, graceful silhouette plunging from
lower deck window.
Lauraine knew it was Louis! He disappeared into the sea, vanishing without a trace, resolute and detached.
Her body trembled uncontrollably as reality hit her like a cold splash of water. ‘How could Louis so decisively jump to save Genevieve? He could die in the ocean!” Lauraine thought in despair.
Lauraine screamed in terror, clinging to the window frame, half of her body leaning out. “Louis!” Her voice was hoarse with a sobbing tone, and tears fell in an instant. She’d lost control, completely terrified.
Her worst fear had come to life. Louis had seen it all–every dark part of her. She began to sob hysterically, as if there were two souls inside her tearing each other apart.
She used to resent the world for giving her a frail body, but now she despised her own venomous soul more than anything.
The bodyguards rushed in, hearing the commotion, and exchanged bewildered looks at the scene.
Anthony pushed through the crowd, his expression stern and his eyes chillingly cold. “Did you see her? Where is she?” He grabbed Lauraine’s shoulders tightly, his gaze sharp as a hawk’s.
Terrified and panicky, having done something so guilty, Lauraine trembled all over and collapsed to the floor, covering her face and crying out loud.
She was like a wilted, sullied rose. She was afraid–terrified of Anthony’s gaze and his questioning.
Anthony looked out to the sea, where the dark and mysterious waves rolled menacingly, serene yet dangerous. His unease grew heavier.
Behind him, Lauraine managed to stand, clutching at Anthony’s clothes with a broken voice. “Save him, Louis fell into the sea…..”
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