Chapter 231

Chapter 231
EVE

"Sean! SEAN!"

My screams cut through the night as I clutched Noah against my chest. The yacht had exploded into a fireball, debris flying everywhere. Sean had gone back for Lucas, jumping into that burning hell.

"SEAN!" I screamed again, voice breaking. Noah whimpered, his tiny body trembling against mine. "Shh, baby. Mommy's here," I whispered, though I was falling apart inside.

Sebastian and two crewmen pulled on diving gear.

"Going down now," Sebastian said, checking his tank. "We'll find him."

"Please," I begged, tears streaming down my face.

Sebastian dove into the dark waters where pieces of the yacht still floated. I stared at the empty spot, holding my breath as if somehow that would help Sean hold his.

Coast Guard sirens wailed as rescue boats approached. A helicopter thundered overhead, its downdraft creating waves that violently rocked our boat.

Noah burst into frightened wails, his little fists clenching against my shirt. The sudden noise and movement terrified him.

I pressed his head against my chest, trying to shield him from the chaos. A medic waved from an approaching boat, gesturing toward Noah.

"We need to check him," the crew member shouted. "Smoke inhalation can be serious for infants."

I reluctantly handed my baby over, watching as they wrapped him in a blanket and placed a tiny oxygen mask over his face. My eyes never stopped searching the water for Sean.

Coast Guard divers joined the search. Noah had quieted down, sedated by something they'd given him. I paced the deck, my heart hammering.

A splash nearby made me jump. Sebastian surfaced, gasping.

"Found one!" he shouted. "He's injured!"

I rushed to the edge as rescuers dove in to help. Through the chaos, I caught a glimpse of dark hair.

But when they hauled the body onto the deck, my hope crashed. It was Lucas, not Sean. His shoulder bleeding badly, not breathing.

"No pulse," someone shouted as they started CPR.

I backed away, feeling cold and numb. If Lucas was here, where was Sean? Then it hit me – Sean was terrified of deep water. He'd developed that fear the night I jumped into the ocean.

My legs gave out. I sank down, gripping the railing for support.

Lucas suddenly jerked, coughing up seawater. The medics rolled him to his side.

"Lucas," I moved closer, dropping beside him. "Where's Sean?"

"He... pulled me out," he coughed. "Came back... for me."

"Where is he now?" I demanded, grabbing his good arm.

"Don't know," Lucas wheezed. "He was... right behind me. Then... explosion." He coughed again. "He kept... pushing me up... toward the surface."

I slumped against the boat's side, hugging my knees. The rescue operation continued around me, but I barely noticed.

"He still needs to take Grace to Disney," I whispered. "He promised her she'd meet all the princesses. He promised we'd see every river and ocean until we weren't afraid anymore." Tears streamed down my face. "He can't die. He wouldn't leave us. He's too damn stubborn to die."

A Coast Guard officer offered me a blanket. "We're doing everything possible, ma'am."

I stared at the dark water. Sean was out there. He had to be.

"He was going to marry me again," I said. "We were going to start over."

Just when despair threatened to drown me, a shout came from the water.

"We got him! Found the boss!"

I scrambled up, rushing toward the commotion as they pulled Sean's body from the water. Limp. Unmoving.

"No pulse," someone called. "Start compressions."

I watched in horror as they began CPR. His face was ghostly pale, his lips blue.

"Sean," I whispered, then screamed: "Sean!"

The medics worked frantically, one counting compressions while another prepared a defibrillator.

"Clear!" The shock made Sean's body jerk, but nothing happened.

"Again! Clear!"

Nothing.

I pushed forward, falling beside him. "Sean," I begged, grabbing his cold hand. "Don't you dare leave me. We're supposed to get married again, remember? What about Grace and Noah? They need you. I need you."

I turned desperately to Lucas. "You'll agree to divorce me, right? So Sean and I can remarry?"

Lucas nodded weakly. "Yes, Eve. Of course I will."

I turned back to Sean, leaning close. "Did you hear that? We can be a family again. Please wake up, Sean."

The medic shocked him again. Nothing happened.

"Come on," the medic muttered, resuming compressions.

I laid my head on Sean's chest, sobbing. "I never stopped loving you," I whispered against his cold skin.

Suddenly, Sean's body convulsed. A choking sound escaped his throat, followed by water. The medics quickly turned him to his side as he coughed violently.

"He's breathing!" someone shouted.

Relief hit me so hard I couldn't stand. Sean was breathing. He was alive.

His eyes fluttered open, immediately finding mine.

"Eve?" His voice was rough, barely audible.

"I'm right here," I said, squeezing his hand.

To everyone's surprise, Sean grabbed my wrist and pulled me down against his chest.

"What were you saying to Lucas about divorce?" he demanded, his voice hoarse but clear.

I pulled back, confused. "I told him he needs to divorce me so you and I can get married again."

Sean frowned. "You and Lucas aren't married."

"What?" I stared at him.

"You never married him," Sean said, struggling to sit up. "Those papers were fake. No official seal. Never filed with the city clerk."

I gaped at him. "But... our divorce was real?"

"Had to be," he admitted, wincing. "If our divorce wasn't legit, they would've gotten suspicious."

"So I'm... still single? And Lucas and I were never actually married?"

Sean nodded, then reached up to push wet hair from my face. "Sorry I couldn't tell you. Your reactions needed to be real."

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "You should have told me," I whispered.

"Too risky," he murmured. "Your safety came first. Always."

"You're impossible," I told him, tears mixing with a smile.

"And you're gorgeous when you cry over me," he murmured, his thumb tenderly catching a tear. Then he kissed me with aching tenderness.

"Hey," Lucas called weakly from nearby. "Some of us are trying to recover from almost dying here. Could you two save the reunion for later?"

I glanced over, surprised to see a genuine smile on Lucas's face. Our eyes met, and I saw something unexpected – acceptance.

Looking back at Sean, I realized what I should have known all along. We belonged together. Nothing could keep us apart – not lies, not time, not even the ocean that had nearly claimed him.

"Look," Sean said quietly, nodding toward the horizon where dawn was breaking. "Sun's coming up."

I turned, tensing at the sight of the endless water. The fear that had haunted me for years surfaced.

"I can't," I whispered.

Sean moved, wincing with pain but determined as he positioned himself behind me, his arms circling my waist. "Try it like this," he suggested. "With me holding you. Is it still scary?"

I leaned back against his chest, feeling his heartbeat – strong, steady, alive. With his arms around me, the sea didn't seem so terrifying. The sunrise turned the water into glittering gold.

"It's beautiful," I admitted, surprised.

"See?" Sean murmured against my ear. "We'll face everything together from now on."

I turned in his arms and kissed him. He responded immediately, his hand tangling in my hair as he deepened the kiss.

When we finally broke apart, breathless, I rested my forehead against his.

"Lucas," Sean called without looking away from me. "I deceived you once, and I saved you once. Are we even?"

After a pause, Lucas answered. "Yeah. We're even. Why'd you really jump into that fire for me? After all the crap between us?"

Sean's gaze remained steady. "Because I'd have to live with myself if I didn't. And that wasn't something I was willing to do."

"We haven't exactly been buddies lately," Lucas pressed.

"Look," Sean said, his voice growing stronger. "We're different guys. We've made different choices. But that doesn't erase our history. Some bonds don't break that easily."

I couldn't help myself. Looking between these two stubborn men who had both shaped my life, I asked with a half-smile, "So who ranks higher on your list, Sean? Me or your buddy here?"

Sean's lips quirked up as he pulled me closer against his chest. "You, Eve. Not even close. Though don't tell him I said that - his ego's fragile."

Lucas flipped him off with his good hand, but I caught the smile he couldn't quite hide.