Three Days of Drowning in the Sea

Three days after his first love Mandy's death, my husband locked me in a steel cage and sank me into the ocean. "You vicious woman," he spat. "Stay here and repent to Mandy!" He didn't know I carried his child. I thrust the pregnancy confirmation toward him, but he walked away without a backward glance. Yet when he later saw my corpse—bloated and decomposing in the seawater—he went insane. Chapter 1 My soul drifted up from a cage at the bottom of the ocean, somehow ending up near Isaac Thornton. Liam Donovan, his assistant, told Isaac, "Mr. Thornton, Mrs. Thornton's been in the ocean for a day and a night. The water's freezing; she might not make it." Isaac replied, "She's only been in the ocean for a day and a night, but my Mandy's gone forever." Liam tried again, "But the dead can't be brought back. If something happens to Mrs. Thornton..." Isaac threw a stack of papers at him. "She has enough oxygen for three days. Anyone who pleads for that venomous woman in those three days will regret it." Liam, stunned, didn't dare say another word. After Liam left, Isaac pulled out a necklace Mandy Robinson had given him, stroking it softly. He whispered, "Mandy, I miss you so much." Suddenly, his eyes filled with bitter hatred. "I've put that bitch who killed you in the ocean with you. Don't worry, I'll torture her to avenge you!" Floating in mid-air, I watched Isaac's contrasting treatment of me and Mandy; a sharp pain pierced my heart. Even as a ghost, I still felt pain. You can't hurt me anymore, Isaac. I'm dead. Mandy took her own life. Why do you still hold me accountable? Chapter 2 Two weeks prior, Mandy was suddenly diagnosed with acute kidney failure and needed a transplant. The Thorntons and Robinsons used every connection they had to find a match. Isaac held Mandy's hand in the hospital bed, comforting her. "Mandy, don't worry, I'll find you a kidney. You'll get through this." Then came the news: I was a match. But I never got tested! How could I be a match? Mandy Robinson, my half-sister, and my stepmother had tormented me since childhood. I wouldn't donate to them. After I refused the surgery, Isaac had me forcibly taken to the hospital. He strapped me to the operating table. "You have two kidneys. Give Mandy one; you'll still be fine." With the help of a friend, I escaped. I later discovered I was a month pregnant; Isaac was the father. I clung to hope, taking my pregnancy test results to Isaac. If he didn't want me, I'd divorce him and leave. But Isaac didn't even give me a chance to speak before forcing me to the shore, putting an oxygen mask on me, and dropping me in an iron cage into the ocean. "You cruel woman, repent to Mandy!" After I left, Mandy, blaming me for not donating a kidney, left a suicide note saying she didn't blame me and didn't want us to fight, then jumped into the sea. I couldn't speak, only offering him the pregnancy test results. I desperately hoped he'd look. He turned and left me in the freezing water. A hurried footstep broke my thoughts. Liam reopened the office door. "Mr. Thornton, Miss Robinson is back." Chapter 3 Isaac's eyes widened in disbelief. "What did you say?" Liam repeated, "Mr. Thornton, Miss Robinson is back. She's downstairs." Isaac rushed out. My soul followed. I wanted to know if Mandy was alive. Mandy stood in the lobby, in a white dress, her dark hair contrasting with her pale face, looking fragile. Isaac rushed to her, embracing her tightly. His hands trembled as he touched her face. "Mandy, it's really you! You're alive?" Tears streamed down Mandy's face. "Isaac, it's me. I didn't die. I missed you so much. I was afraid I'd never see you again." They embraced in the lobby. Mandy told Isaac that fishermen rescued her after she jumped. Isaac was overjoyed. "Mandy, your kindness must have touched God. Promise me you won't try to kill yourself again." Mandy's voice choked. "Isaac, I won't. I've thought it over. I'll stay by your side until the end." Isaac promised, "Mandy, I'll never let you die." I watched them, coldly, touching my belly. What about me? My child? I raged, wanting to kill them both. Chapter 4 No matter what I did, I couldn't touch them. Despair and helplessness washed over me as I slumped to the ground. Isaac took Mandy to the hospital for a checkup. While they waited, Liam cautiously approached Isaac. "Mr. Thornton, now that Miss Robinson is safe, please release Mrs. Thornton." Isaac's sharp gaze fell on Liam. "Liam, aren't you interfering too much? Or do you have feelings for Nicole, making you plead for her?" Liam avoided Isaac's gaze. "Mr. Thornton, I'm just worried about Mrs. Thornton. A woman alone at the bottom of the ocean is dangerous." Isaac scoffed. "You may not know, but she's an excellent swimmer. She's even gone deep-sea diving with friends." But Isaac, you locked me in an iron cage! What good was my swimming skill then? Liam started to leave, but Isaac called him back. Liam stopped, hopeful. "Call the guards. Tell Nicole that if she agrees to donate a kidney to Mandy, I'll let her go." Liam immediately called. Was it finally happening? I thought bitterly. Would Isaac cry if he found out I was dead? The guard replied, "Mr. Thornton, Mrs. Thornton said that even if you kept her locked up for life, she wouldn't donate a kidney to Miss Robinson. She wants Miss Robinson dead." Chapter 5 Isaac roared, "That venomous bitch! Keep her locked up until she agrees!" I was stunned. I was dead; why would the guard say that? Liam spoke up, "Mr. Thornton, knowing Mrs. Thornton, she'd never wish Miss Robinson dead. There must be a misunderstanding. Let me go check." Isaac grabbed Liam's collar. "How well do you know her?" "She's a cruel, heartless woman!" I stared at him, numb. That's how he saw me. But you once said, "Nicole, I love your gentleness, your kindness. You're the best woman for me." Was it all a lie? Rage consumed me. Isaac, why did you lock me up? Why did you decide my fate? The slow suffocation in the endless ocean—did you know how terrified and painful it was? Mandy, in a hospital gown, approached weakly. "Isaac, what's wrong? Is Nicole upset again?" Tears welled in her eyes. "It's my fault. If I hadn't come back..." Isaac gently embraced her. "Mandy, if you hadn't come back, I would have made Nicole pay the price." Mandy shook her head. "No, don't hurt Nicole. She's my sister, your wife, the rightful Mrs. Thornton." Isaac wiped away her tears. "Mandy, you're too kind. If she hadn't schemed to send you abroad, I never would have married her. The position of Mrs. Thornton was always meant for you." "Once she agrees to donate a kidney, I'll divorce her and marry you openly." My already shattered heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces. Tears streamed down my face. What was the point of all my years of devotion? Chapter 6 On the eve of our families' arranged marriage, the Thorntons were framed and went bankrupt. Mandy, unwilling to endure hardship, eloped with her mother's help. After I married Isaac in her place, I helped him rebuild his empire, taking his business to even greater heights. His eyes gradually turned to me, but then Mandy returned. Her return meant my defeat, a complete and utter loss. No matter what I did, he only saw jealousy and malice in me. Ultimately, he never loved me. That night, they lay in the same hospital bed, Isaac holding Mandy, both sleeping soundly. I could only watch, unable to leave, sitting by their bed until dawn. The next day, Isaac was woken by a phone call. "Mr. Thornton, Liam said you ordered him to release Mrs. Thornton." Isaac instantly woke up. "I didn't. Stop him. I'm coming." After Isaac left, Mandy opened her eyes. "Nicole, a dead woman. Let's see how you'll compete with me!" How did she know I was dead? Was the guard...? Before I could think, a powerful force pulled me out, forcing me to follow Isaac into his car. We arrived at the beach. Liam was restrained, unable to move. He shouted, "Mr. Thornton, please release Mrs. Thornton! It's been two days and nights; she'll die!" Isaac approached Liam, a mocking smile on his lips. "Liam, why are you so concerned about Nicole, even disobeying my orders?" Liam said, "Mr. Thornton, Mrs. Thornton worked alongside you, lived at the company, even drank herself to a stomach ulcer for your orders. Have you forgotten?" Liam's words triggered memories. Those days were hard, but I was hopeful. I loved Isaac, since high school—from the time he threw his jacket over me in school, shielding me from a period stain. I was hopelessly in love. When I learned I was to marry him in Mandy's place, I felt like I'd won the lottery. I was willing to endure hardship with him; every moment with him felt like happiness. But this man I loved most took my life. "Enough!" Isaac roared. "She wronged me first! You defend her so much—were you also her lover?"