"Ivan, I am scared.
"They are so scary. They whipped me with saltwater-soaked lashes.
"If I did not follow their orders, they locked me in a tank of water. I almost..."
She sobbed softly, her body shaking uncontrollably.
Serene trembled all over. Every word Wendy said was what she had gone through. She had once desperately hidden and sought opportunities to cry to Ivan about it.
He had told her to hold on a little longer. Just endure a bit more.
She endured until now. Until he already had someone else in his heart.
Through the window Serene saw the worried and heartbroken look on the man's face. A wave of disgust rose in her.
She pushed the door open. Wendy quickly slipped out of Ivan's arms like she was escaping. She wiped her tears timidly, looking pitiful and fragile.
"Serene."
Ivan's expression did not change. He only quietly moved Wendy behind him. One hand gently comforted her while his tone stayed soft.
"She is here to apologize to you."
He stepped forward. His gentle voice turned cold in an instant. Serene stepped back and avoided his touch.
"Ivan, I'll not apologize. I did nothing wrong."
Ivan's brows furrowed.
Wendy on the hospital bed coughed softly. She carefully tugged Ivan's sleeve.
"Ivan, forget it. Don't make things hard for Serene. I am just not strong enough. That is why I could not complete the mission."
Her voice shook with tears. Her eyes were red.
Ivan's heart softened. He pulled her into his arms.
When he looked up again, his gaze was frozen.
"Serene, can you be a little more compassionate?
"If you refuse to apologize, I'll cut off your mother's medication."
Serene froze in place. Her eyes fell on him in disbelief.
Her voice trembled.
"Say that again."
"If you don't believe me, just try it," Ivan said flatly.
Her mother suffered from a serious illness. She depended on expensive medicine to survive. It was hard to obtain, so Ivan had handled everything.
The day her mother fell ill, Ivan had knelt by the bedside and held her hand.
"I'll treat Serene well in the future. I'll treat her family well too."
But only three years later, he turned from a man praised for his devotion into someone who threatened her life.
Serene's vision blurred. She bitterly smiled.
"I can apologize, but I need to tell you something.
"I'll never marry you again."
Ivan's breath paused. His eyes flashed with shock.
"Serene, do you even know what you are saying?
"I told you the engagement still stands. Stop throwing a tantrum."
She walked past Ivan and looked straight at Wendy. Her fists were clenched tight but she had no choice but to give in.
"I am sorry."
"It is fine, Serene," Wendy said softly.
Serene let out a cold laugh. She swept a glance over them both and walked away without looking back.
That night, the team held a dinner gathering. The men went to prepare food, leaving only her and Wendy.
Wendy no longer looked weak like she had the day before. She looked pleased with herself.
"I am really sorry, Serene. I did not expect Ivan to trust me so much."
Wendy suddenly stepped forward. Serene had no time to react. She only heard a sudden cry.
"I am sorry. It is all my fault!"
Wendy quickly apologized, her face full of grievance.
"Serene, what did you do to Wendy?"
Ivan rushed in and shoved Serene away. She staggered and fell into the water pool.
Serene could not swim. Her voice broke as she called for help.
Ivan only glanced at her once. Then, he lifted Wendy from the ground.
"Serene, think of it as a lesson you need to learn."
Aksara