Chapter 9
“Vroom!”
Calvin Beaumont and Hurst’s minds went utterly blank.
Only one thought remained–Nettle was still inside.
“Nellie!”
“Nettie!”
The two men d
didn’t even pause to board the rescue boat. Like men possessed, they hurled themselves straight into the sea.)
Just then, the weather turned savage without warning.
A howling wind drove sheets of rain against Calvin, each drop striking his skin like a bullet, making his face go deathly pale from the pain.
But he had no time to care. He forced himself onward, swimming with all his strength toward the burning wreckage of the yacht.
His sister this only family–was still out there.
He couldn’t bear to imagine how much pain she must be in. Nettle, who’d been pampered her whole life, was terrified of getting hurt Even a scraped knee would bring tears for half an hour.
After an explosion like that, she’d be crying for much longer.”
Clenching his bloodless lips, Calvin dove headfirst into the waves.
By the time Hurst realized what was happening, Calvin had already disappeared into the churning water. The icy sea cut through Hurst -like knives, threatening to numb his body and drag him under.
He ignored it. Gritting his teeth, he struck out for the shattered yacht, fighting the current as relentless waves pushed him farther away. He watched helplessly as the burning vessel seemed to shrink in the distance.ll
“Nettie!!”
Between crashing waves, Hurst shouted her name–his fiancée, the woman he loved more than anything–and his heart hammered wildly in his chest.
Suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind: years ago, he and Nettie had gone swimming together for the first time.
Back then, Nettle was still the precious princess of the Beaumont family, spoiled and delicate to the core.
If anything upset her, she’d simply turn on her heel and leave.
That day, after struggling to leam how to swim for hourg, Nettle finally gave up and started stalking off in frustration.8
Calvin was about to call her back, but Hurst had beaten him to it, laughing as he told her it didn’t matter–so long as he could swim, that was enough 3
He’d promised to be her own private lifeguard.
Now, more than a decade later, he really was trying to save her–but Nettie’s fate was hanging by a thread.
Calvin drew a shaky breath and forced himself to swim harder, arms slicing through the water toward the wreckage.}
His strokes grew weaker, his arms heavy as lead, but just as his strength was about to give out, his hand finally latched onto a piece of the ruined deck.”
And then–another thunderous explosion split the air.
Boom!2
By morning, the news had swept through Capital City like a blizzard; the Beaumont heiress had died in a tragic explosion at sea.
At first, the public was merciless. People cheered, calling her a tramp who finally got what she deserved.
Dead at sea, they sneered–no need for a grave, no one would have to see her again.
But gradually,
y, other voices emerged. Some argued that the dead deserved respect, and that no one should speak so cruelly of someone who was gone.}
ery corner of the internet.
Soon, debate raged across every
In the midst of it all, someone claiming to be a fan of Nottie’s for ten years posted a message.
The title read: “Nettie, As I Knew Her.”
the years.
The fan didn’t try to defend Nettle or paint her as a saint. Instead, they quietly listed the things Nettle had done over Every week, she visited the orphanage to spend time with the children, teaching them to dance free of charge. She had even started a
Chapter 9
foundation to help kids pursue their dreams, offering financial support to those who needed it most.
When strangers were hurt or wronged, she spoke out for them online and didn’t hesitate to use the Beaumont Group’s lawyers to fight for their cause
At the end, the fan wrote:
“I don’t know why she did the things she did. But to me, she was always a good person. She’s gone now, and I hope people won’t keep hurting her memory over something like this.”
