Chapter 155 She Fell into the Sea from the Boat, and He Jumped Down Without Even Taking Off His Clothes

Chapter 155 She Fell into the Sea from the Boat, and He Jumped Down Without Even Taking Off His Clothes

The force was perfectly aimed — right at her shoulder blade, the highest point of her center of gravity.

Elodie lurched forward. Her waist slammed into the railing, and her own momentum carried her over.

She grabbed at the air wildly. Caught nothing.

The world spun.

Then she was falling.

The cold ocean opened up beneath her like a giant mouth and swallowed her whole.

A violent impact. Her eardrums rang. The world went blue-black.

Elodie fought on instinct, arms and legs thrashing, but her body wouldn't listen.

The sleepless night had drained her completely. Her limbs were stiff, and every stroke felt like it cost her everything she had left.

She floated up a little, then sank back down.

Seawater poured into her mouth and nose.

On deck, voices buzzed with confusion.

Ellie's scream cut through everything. "Elodie! Elodie fell overboard!!"

The crowd erupted into chaos. Some leaned over the railing to look. Others ran for life rings. Someone was shouting for the crew.

A few dozen feet away, Adrian was mid-conversation with a business partner. The scream snapped his head around. He saw the churning water and an arm struggling at the surface.

The arm was sinking.

Adrian's expression changed in an instant.

He shoved past the people around him and ran for the railing — jacket still on, dress shoes still on — vaulted over the side and jumped.

Deck to water. A good ten, fifteen feet.

The surface exploded white where he hit.

The water was freezing.

The moment Adrian went under, he drove toward Elodie with everything he had, every stroke full force.

She was almost gone.

Her arm was still moving above the surface, but the motion was getting smaller. Weaker.

By the time he reached her, her face had slipped below the water.

Adrian grabbed her wrist and hauled her up, pulling her against his chest, his other hand kicking hard to keep them both from going under.

The moment Elodie broke the surface she started coughing violently, seawater pouring from her mouth and nose. Her mind was already going dim. She was ice cold, her limbs hanging limp.

Adrian held her tight, his voice rough and urgent. "Elodie. Don't close your eyes — Elodie!"

She made a faint sound in response. Her eyelids fluttered open, then fell shut.

Someone on the ship finally threw down a life ring. The rope hit the water.

Adrian grabbed the rope with one hand and held Elodie with the other. They were pulled up.

When they were dragged onto the deck, a circle of people closed in immediately.

Elodie's lips were purple. Her face was ashen. She lay collapsed on the deck, retching up seawater.

Adrian knelt beside her, soaked through, hair plastered to his forehead and dripping, his suit jacket waterlogged and heavy.

He pressed both hands to her shoulders and raised his voice. "Get the doctor! Someone get the doctor over here now!"

Someone sprinted off to find the ship's medical staff.

Ellie came running, crying. "Elodie — Elodie, can you hear me?!"

Elodie's eyes were half open, unfocused, her body shaking without stopping.

The medical team came running with a stretcher. They lifted her onto it and rushed her toward the medical bay.

Adrian stood and followed. Water streamed off him, leaving a long dark trail across the deck.

Christopher came pushing through the crowd and stopped when he saw him.

After all these years, he had never once seen Adrian like this.

Adrian's hands were shaking. His face was dark.

"Are you okay?"

Adrian didn't answer. He was already staring after the stretcher, moving.

Christopher caught up and draped his jacket over Adrian's shoulders. Adrian pulled it off without looking and dropped it on the floor.

The medical bay door closed.

Adrian stood outside. Water was still running down his pant legs, soaking a trail of dark footprints into the hallway carpet.

He pushed his wet hair back from his face and turned around.

His eyes — shot through with red — moved slowly across the hallway. Across the crowd.

Chloe was standing at the edge of the group.

Her face was white. Her lips trembled slightly. Her hands were twisted together in front of her, knuckles drained of color.

Adrian's gaze landed on her face for less than a second, then moved away.

That look almost knocked her off her feet.

She stepped back half a step and gripped her skirt.

She had only meant to push her. Make her swallow some water. Embarrass her.

She hadn't known Elodie was already that far gone.

She hadn't known she wouldn't even have the strength to fight.

She hadn't known Adrian would jump in without a second thought for his own life.

From behind the medical bay door came the sound of Elodie coughing and the low murmur of the doctor's voice.

Adrian pulled his gaze back and spoke quietly to Christopher beside him. His voice was low, but every word was clear.

"Pull the footage."

He paused.

"I want to know who pushed Elodie."

Christopher said nothing, turned, and walked away.

The hallway went quiet. Chloe didn't move. Her heels might as well have been nailed to the carpet.

There were cameras everywhere on this ship.

Her hands were slick with cold sweat, dripping one drop at a time.