Chapter 4: A Choice That Changed Everything

Hendrix stared at me in silence.

It was then that Yana stepped out from behind him and glanced at Andrew, who was standing behind me.

She questioned, "Yvonne, did you get on his boat? But when the incident happened, there was no other yacht nearby. It was pitch black all around. How were you rescued?"

I was confused. What was Yana implying?

"Also, even though you and Hendrix were engaged, you were both competing for the Arden City project. You weren't the person in charge of this project, so why were you on that yacht with him?"

Before I could answer, Hendrix frowned and interrupted.

"Yana, enough. Yvonne has just survived an accident."

Yana bit her lip innocently.

"I'm only asking because I care. The timing is just too strange."

I let out a cold laugh.

"Whether you believe me or not has nothing to do with me."

"The yacht sank. I survived. That's all that matters."

Andrew stepped forward calmly.

"Miss Lewis was found drifting alone in the sea. My crew and I rescued her."

"If you have further questions, you may ask the Coast Guard after they complete their investigation."

His composed voice immediately silenced everyone.

Hendrix finally noticed the jacket draped over my shoulders.

"Yvonne... are you injured?"

"You came back for me quite late," I replied indifferently.

His expression stiffened.

"The weather suddenly became terrible. I lost contact with the rescue team for hours."

"I never intended to abandon you."

I smiled faintly.

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"After all, I was the one who asked you to save Yana first."

For some reason, instead of feeling relieved, Hendrix's chest tightened painfully.

He had imagined many possibilities on the way here.

He even thought I would cry the moment I saw him.

Instead, I looked at him as though he were a complete stranger.

"Yvonne..."

"There's no need to explain."

I interrupted him before he could continue.

"This accident made me realize something."

"Life is too short to force people to stay beside someone they don't truly love."

His pupils contracted.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean our engagement is over."

"From this moment onward, you're free."

Silence instantly fell over the dock.

Several police officers exchanged surprised glances.

Yana's eyes lit up for only a brief second before she hurriedly hid her excitement.

"Yvonne, don't be impulsive," she said softly.

"Hendrix has always cared about you."

"Really?"

I looked directly at her.

"Then congratulations."

"From now on, no one will stand between the two of you anymore."

Hendrix's face darkened.

"Yvonne, stop making things sound so ugly."

"Yana and I grew up together. That's all."

"Whether that's true or not is no longer my concern."

I turned toward Andrew.

"Mr. Grant, shall we go?"

Andrew nodded without asking another question.

"Of course."

As we walked toward his car, Hendrix suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"Yvonne, you're my fiancée."

"You can't just leave with another man."

I slowly lowered my eyes to his hand.

"Hendrix."

"The moment you chose someone else over me, you lost the right to decide who I walk away with."

"Now let go."

For the first time in two lifetimes, I shook off his hand without looking back.

Standing in the pouring rain, Hendrix watched my figure disappear beside Andrew.

An unfamiliar panic quietly spread through his heart.