1 It was summer break, and I'd brought my seven-year-old daughter, Luna, to our private beach for some snorkeling and fun. But then, a popular actress barged in with a whole entourage. "This private beach was specially approved by Ethan for my VIP guests! You two peasants, get out of here!" she shrieked, arrogant and overbearing, using my husband's name to threaten me. Even worse, after finding out who I was, she mocked me, calling me a parasite, clinging to my husband! I nearly laughed from sheer indignation. I, the rightful heiress of the top family in Silverwood City, a true powerhouse, reduced to a man's parasite? And for the record, his film company and all his resources? Those came from me! But when my husband finally arrived, he actually teamed up with that actress, pressuring my daughter to perform a synchronized swimming act for some sleazy investor. I let out a cold laugh. Without a second thought, I called the Sea Shark Security Team – an elite unit only the most powerful figures could summon. "Sea Shark Security, Crescent Cove. Clear the area. Immediately!" … "Luna, look what Mommy got for you!" I held out a chilled coconut water, but as I turned, I saw my daughter cornered in knee-deep water, her face etched with panic. Leading the group was a young woman in a skimpy swimsuit, her makeup heavy, her expression impatient. "Where did this wild brat come from? Get lost!" she spat, pointing at Luna. "Crescent Cove is booked by Ms. Manny today for a party. If you know what's good for you, clear out now, before you soil our place!" A tall, skinny woman, clearly a minion, echoed her. "Ms. Manny"… The name flashed in my mind. She was the rising star Ethan’s company had been pushing lately. Rumor had it, she’d exploded after a web series, and her temper had grown with her fame. My brows instantly knitted, a wave of annoyance washing over me. I hurried forward, pulling Luna behind me. "This is my private beach. You're the ones who need to leave!" I struggled to keep my fury in check. But some people just love to poke the bear. "You? Your private beach?" Manny scoffed, looking me up and down with disdain. Seeing my simple T-shirt and ordinary shorts, she laughed even more triumphantly. I narrowed my eyes dangerously and took a step forward. "Do you know who I am?" My aura seemed to momentarily intimidate Manny; she flinched. But then her lackey whispered something to her, and her fear instantly transformed into brazen arrogance. "Who do we have here? Oh, it's just Ethan Lockwood's old, drab wife, Sarah, who only knows how to spend money!" The bodyguards and cronies behind her burst into mocking laughter. "What, didn't Ethan tell you I'm using this place today to entertain some important guests?" Manny deliberately raised her voice. "Right, a leech like you, he probably couldn't be bothered to inform you. Listen up, I'm hosting my VIPs here today. You and your wild brat, get out now, or don't blame me for getting nasty!" Her smug, victorious face made my stomach churn. I forced down the anger boiling inside me and looked at the well-dressed group trailing behind her—presumably her "VIP guests." A few men and women were pointing at us, openly amused. One portly middle-aged man with a beer belly and a thick gold chain was staring at Luna, who was peeking out from behind me, with a repulsive, predatory look. Manny immediately caught his gaze and sidled up to him, fawning. "Mr. Chang, do you like this little girl?" She turned, pointing at Luna, challenging me. "How about she performs a little synchronized swimming to get things started for Mr. Chang? If she makes him happy, I'll tell Ethan to 'reward' his money-spending wife tonight!" 2 "Animal!" I lunged forward, ready to slap her, but two burly bodyguards at my side clamped down on me. The next second, Manny gestured to the two bodyguards closest to Luna. They understood, closing in on Luna, preventing her from getting back to shore. Luna, who’d never seen anything like this, instantly paled, clutching my shorts tightly. Her small body trembled, and she whimpered, "Mommy! Mommy, save me!" "I don't want to perform!" Rage surged within me. "Let go of my daughter!" Slap! A searing pain erupted on my cheek. Manny shook her wrist, a contemptuous smirk twisting her lips. "You should worry about yourself!" My eyes burned, watching helplessly as the bodyguards pushed my daughter into the water. She clearly lost her footing, choking on several mouthfuls of seawater, and began to cough violently. My eyes burned, and I clenched my fists until my knuckles were white. "I'm saying it again: let my daughter come up!" "Otherwise, you'll face the consequences!" Seeing my anger, Manny didn't back down at all. Instead, she grew even more arrogant and reckless. "Consequences? What consequences could you possibly bring?" She extended a hand, brutally slapping my face again. "An old, ugly housewife like you dares to threaten me, Manny Shen?" She then snarled, "I'm telling you, if she doesn't make Mr. Chang happy today, she's not coming out of that water! Even if she drowns, Ethan Lockwood—oh no, Mr. Lockwood—he won't shed a single tear for this wild brat!" She scoffed, "He's probably praying I keep Mr. Chang and his moneybags happy!" "Ethan will make you pay for treating our daughter like this!" But my words had no effect, only making Manny laugh louder. "Hilarious! Mr. Lockwood already said that an old hag like you can't satisfy him. He loves me! Besides, if he wants kids, I'm young and pretty, I can give him one anytime!" I stopped wasting breath on these rabid, irrational dogs. Every word was an insult to myself. I violently shoved the bodyguards restraining me, then lunged into the icy water. The frigid seawater instantly enveloped me, yet it couldn't extinguish the furious blaze in my heart. Manny Shen, I swore I would make her pay! I swam quickly to Luna, scooped her out of the cold water, and held her tightly in my arms. Luna’s face was red, and she coughed uncontrollably. She clung to my neck, whimpering. "Mommy… cough, cough… I'm so scared…" I gently patted her back, shielding her from the chilling sea breeze with my body. Manny, seeing me ruin her plans, flew into a rage. "Damn it! Who told you to pull her out?" she shrieked. "You useless idiot! You ruined Mr. Chang's mood! Can you take responsibility for that?" She shrieked, "Believe it or not, I'm calling Ethan right now to have you and your wretched daughter thrown out!" She brandished her phone, making as if to dial. However, before her words finished, a powerful roar of an engine rumbled from afar, growing steadily closer. A white speedboat sped towards Crescent Cove, coming to a steady stop not far from the shore. Ethan Lockwood, dressed in casual beachwear and sunglasses, disembarked from the speedboat, surrounded by several assistants and bodyguards. His arrival instantly drew all eyes on the beach. Manny, seeing Ethan, immediately adopted a look of immense grievance, on the verge of tears. She scurried over, dramatically flinging herself at Ethan. She grabbed his arm, her voice so cloying it made me nauseous. "Mr. Lockwood! Mr. Lockwood, you're finally here!" she simpered. "You wouldn't believe it! This woman of yours and her kid just popped up out of nowhere, claiming Crescent Cove is hers!" Her talent for twisting the truth was truly masterful. "She even offended Mr. Chang and our other important guests! I tried to kindly reason with her, but she actually tried to hit me!" She pointed to non-existent injuries on her face, dramatically accusing me of crimes. 3 Ethan took off his sunglasses, his face etched with impatience. He first glanced at Mr. Chang and the others behind Manny, whose expressions were clearly annoyed. Then, he casually swept his gaze over a disheveled Luna and me. "Ethan!" "Daddy…" Luna and I called out to him simultaneously. But he only frowned, his voice instantly accusatory. "What's wrong with you two? Who told you to come to Crescent Cove?" He continued, "Don't you know I booked this place today to entertain important guests? Now, hurry up and take the child and leave. Don't embarrass me here!" Luna’s eyes instantly welled with tears. The father before her was utterly unrecognizable. I, too, was stunned in place. "Ethan, this is clearly my private beach, how could you—" "Enough!" He cut me off, his gaze sweeping over my daughter and me with disgust. But then, he turned, offering an apologetic smile to Mr. Chang and the others. "Mr. Chang, Director Chen, I'm so sorry. Please excuse these two unruly commoners for disturbing your enjoyment." He added, "I'll make them leave immediately!" Hearing his words, I looked at him in disbelief. Luna cowered in my arms, terrified. "Mommy, why did Daddy say we're commoners? Is Daddy abandoning us…?" My brows furrowed. To save face for his guests and his mistress, he would actually put my daughter and me in such a humiliating position. A bone-chilling cold roared up to the crown of my head. In that moment, all my efforts and tolerance for him over the past decade felt like a monumental joke. It was my fault, too. For years, I had given him whatever he wanted, even pretending to be an ordinary stay-at-home wife just to let him focus on his career. I had let him believe he could walk all over me! But he had forgotten, I was still the head of the powerful, hidden elite family of Silverwood City, the Whites! I smiled. "Ethan Lockwood." I enunciated each syllable of his name, my voice terrifyingly calm. "Are you sure you don't recognize me?" I pressed. "Don't you recognize the wife you relentlessly pursued, swearing to protect her for life? Don't you recognize this daughter you once held so tenderly in your arms?" I stared him down. Ethan’s body visibly stiffened, a flicker of panic in his eyes. But he quickly averted his gaze, unable to meet mine. Manny, seeing Ethan not refute her words and instead scold us, was even more convinced he was on her side. She began to crow triumphantly. "Mr. Lockwood has spoken! Did you hear that, you useless hag?! Now get out!" She shrieked, "If you don't leave now, I'll call security to throw you two beggars into the sea to feed the sharks!" I stood still, holding my daughter, only watching Ethan, who dared not meet my gaze. "Ethan Lockwood, I'm giving you one more chance. Are you going to clarify our relationship to them or not?" Seven years of marriage, and my saying this was already granting him immense dignity and an easy way out. But he remained stiff, his back to Luna and me. Manny grew even more brazen, barking orders at the bodyguards. "What are you waiting for? Drag these two eyesores out of here! Move it! Don't ruin Ms. Manny's party or Mr. Chang's mood!" Her lackeys echoed her, cheering her on. I watched Manny, cold and still, as she leaped and screeched. Then, I cast a deep, prolonged look at Ethan, who stood silently, unwilling to meet my eyes. Fine. Ethan, this is your choice. I raised my wrist, revealing my custom-made communication watch. The strap bore the White family crest, a unique piece issued only to core family members. Calmly, I pressed a speed-dial button I knew by heart. The call connected almost instantly. A steady, powerful female voice answered, "Ms. White?" I uttered seven plain words: "Sea Shark Security. Crescent Cove. Clear the area." Manny, hearing me make a call, paused, seemingly confused. Then, she burst into even more exaggerated laughter. "Oh, wow! What an act! Calling for backup?" Tears streamed from her eyes as she laughed. Her sycophantic friends and "VIP guests" joined in, ridiculing me. "Who are you going to call? Your broke relatives to back you up?" they jeered. "Or are you going to ask Mr. Lockwood to reimburse your taxi fare so you can leave with dignity?" "A loser is a loser. Still trying to act tough when death is at your doorstep! How pathetic!" Ethan evidently thought I was just putting on a show, making him look even worse in front of his important clients and beloved mistress. He smiled apologetically at the portly Mr. Chang. "Mr. Chang, just ignore her. She's just a crazy woman." His words further solidified their contempt for me. Especially Mr. Chang, who bared a mouthful of yellowed, smoke-stained teeth and leered, pointing at Luna. "The adult can leave, but leave the girl!" "You wouldn't dare!" I snapped, my voice sharp. Luna buried her face in my arms, trembling. "Mommy, I'm scared…" But to my shock, Ethan actually hesitated! My watch vibrated, a sign that the Sea Shark Security team was close. I took a deep breath, scanning the group surrounding us. "Ethan Lockwood, are you really going to use your own daughter to curry favor with a client?" Ethan awkwardly averted his gaze, muttering, "It's just playing with Mr. Chang, it's not like she'll lose a limb…" His attitude was clear. I scoffed. "You're truly beyond help!" Manny grew impatient and quickly beckoned her men to grab Luna. "Quickly, bring the girl to Mr. Chang!" "Mommy!" Luna gripped my arm tightly. I patted her back, reassuring her. "Don't be scared, Mommy's here." Just as a burly man was about to grab my daughter's arm, a dart whizzed through the air and embedded itself sharply in his forearm. Blood spurted, and I quickly covered Luna's eyes. "Ah—" A guttural cry of pain echoed across the beach. The next second, five sleek black helicopters, each painted with a shark head emblem, descended from the sky!
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