Chapter 95
The next morning, when Evelyn woke, Matthew was still asleep.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes, his brow furrowed as if he found no peace even in dreams.
Evelyn didn't wake him. She slipped out of bed quietly and went to breakfast.
The thought that she'd be leaving in just two days lifted her spirits. She even ate a few extra bites.
Remembering Matthew's mention of the aquarium yesterday, she decided to agree.
After all, she'd be leaving soon anyway.
Guessing he'd be awake by now, Evelyn made her way back to the room at a leisurely pace.
Matthew looked somewhat drained. Seeing her, he hesitated before speaking. "Eve, the aquarium..."
"Okay. I'll go." Evelyn agreed readily.
Matthew's face lit up with surprise. He hurried to change into casual clothes.
The two got in the car and set off together.
Throughout the drive, Evelyn felt a flutter of excitement.
Though she'd grown up in Seaside City, it was a small town that didn't have attractions like an aquarium.
Come to think of it, this would be her first time visiting one.
When they arrived at the entrance and were about to go in, Matthew's phone rang.
He was about to decline the call, but seeing the name flashing on the screen, he hesitated, then answered. "What is it?"
Evelyn stood close enough to hear the voice on the other end clearly.
"Matthew, where are you? Get to the hospital now!"
"Sloane tried to kill herself again, and it's critical! She keeps calling out your name!" Elysia's voice was frantic and urgent.
Matthew's brow furrowed. "How did this happen?"
"She hasn't seen you in days and her emotions have been unstable. The nurse wasn't paying attention for just a moment and she..."
Matthew fell silent for a beat. "Alright, I'll head back as soon as possible."
After hanging up, he looked at Evelyn.
Evelyn was looking right at him. Her expression was calm, calm as still water.
Yet he could clearly see mockery in that calmness.
"Eve, I..." Matthew didn't know how to begin.
Evelyn said nothing, just watched him.
"I have to go check on her." Matthew forced the words out with difficulty. "But I promise, once she's recovered, I won't contact her again. Trust me."
Evelyn still didn't speak.
After instructing the bodyguards to look after Evelyn, Matthew turned and left.
Evelyn lowered her head, staring at the ticket in her hand, and suddenly lost all interest.
"Let's go back. I don't want to go to the aquarium anymore. I'm not in the mood."
She turned and got back in the car.
As the vehicle drove along, the island scenery passed by the window—palm trees, beaches, azure sea.
Evelyn gazed out the window and suddenly spoke. "Take me to the beach."
The driver paused, then changed direction.
The car stopped near the beach.
Evelyn got out. The bodyguards followed at a respectful distance.
The sea breeze was strong, whipping her hair around.
She noticed a cruise ship docked by the shore, tourists queuing to board.
She suddenly felt like taking a boat ride to feel the ocean wind.
The ticket wasn't expensive, just a few dozen dollars. She bought herself one.
"I want to be alone on the boat to clear my head," she told the bodyguards. "Don't follow me."
The bodyguards exchanged glances, hesitating.
But seeing the determination in Evelyn's eyes, they nodded.
The cruise ship would remain within visual range, and besides, Matthew had upset Evelyn today—they didn't want to make things worse.
Evelyn boarded the ship alone.
The horn blared, and the cruise ship slowly pulled away from the harbor.
Flocks of seagulls followed in the ship's wake, swooping and calling with sharp, clear cries.
Her mood brightened. She pulled out her phone and sent Monica a photo: [Look, there are seagulls behind me.]
Monica had been busy with work and didn't see the message until much later. She replied with an envious emoji.
Evelyn didn't respond.
The bodyguards waited listlessly along the coastline.
Suddenly, someone cried out in alarm.
They looked up to see the cruise ship—it appeared to be on fire. Thick smoke billowed, flames leaping skyward.
Then came a deafening explosion.
Fire shot into the sky, and debris from the ship scattered in all directions.
Wreckage floated on the water's surface, along with some things too blurred to identify.
Everyone on shore was stunned by the scene.
Some screamed, some wailed, some frantically made phone calls.
Ambulances and fire trucks arrived one after another. Sirens wailed incessantly, panicked crowds everywhere.
The bodyguards' faces turned deathly pale.
With trembling hands, they desperately dialed Matthew's number.
It was turned off.
Only then did they remember—Matthew should still be on the plane.
The search and rescue operation continued. Bodies were pulled from the water one by one, laid on shore, covered with white sheets.
But there was no sign of Evelyn.
About a dozen people remained unaccounted for.
More terrifyingly, everyone who recovered so far had been dead. No survivors.
"We're done for..." The bodyguards collapsed to the ground, mumbling, "Completely finished..."
Matthew got off the plane and turned on his phone.
A flood of news notifications poured in.
"Cruise ship on Serenity Island suffers massive explosion, nearly all passengers killed."
"Death toll now at 235, with 15 missing."
"Cause of explosion under investigation."
He stared at the headlines, frozen.
Then he saw the message from the bodyguards.
[Mr. Perkins, something happened to Mrs. Perkins...]
His hands shook as he dialed.
"Wasn't Evelyn supposed to go to the aquarium? Why was she on that boat?" His voice trembled. "And why weren't you with her?"
"Mr. Perkins, after you left, Mrs. Perkins said she wasn't in the mood and didn't want to go anymore."
"We were taking her back to the hotel, but midway, she wanted to visit the beach to clear her head."
"Then she boarded the ship alone and wouldn't let us follow..."
"Useless!" Matthew roared, stumbling backward, nearly falling.
He refused to believe it.
How could Evelyn have been so unlucky as to board that exact exploding ship?
If he hadn't returned to City A, wouldn't she have gone to the aquarium with him?
Wouldn't that mean she never would have gotten on that cruise?
This morning, she'd clearly agreed to go with him, and in the car, her eyes had sparkled with anticipation.
She'd been upset by his leaving and skipped the aquarium.
Then, wanting to clear her mind, she'd boarded that doomed ship.
It was him. All his fault.
Matthew felt a sharp pain in his chest and suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Matthew tried calling Evelyn, but was met only with a busy signal.
Just as he clung to the hope that Evelyn might not have boarded the ship after all, Monica's call came through.
"Mr. Perkins!" Monica sobbed so hard she could barely speak. "Eve was on that ship! She sent me a photo!"
"I keep calling her but can't get through..."
"You're with her, aren't you? Tell me Eve is okay!"
"What photo?" Matthew's voice was hoarse.
Monica forwarded it to him.
In the image, Evelyn stood by the ship's railing, the azure sea behind her.
The ocean breeze tousled her hair as she smiled at the camera, her expression radiantly bright.
In the corner of the photo, the hull number was clearly visible.
It was the ship that had exploded.
Matthew's hand went slack, his phone sliding to the ground.