When their ship capsized, Zebulon wrenched the life jacket from his wife, Sabina, to save Yvette. Left to drown in the freezing depths, Sabina survived—barely. But the woman who returned from the sea was cold and silent. "If I had fought for it," Sabina asked him later, "would you have saved me first?" Zebulon’s silence was her answer. She had always known she was just a substitute in their three-year marriage. That night, she drafted the divorce papers and walked away without a single tear. Everyone assumed Zebulon would go running after his love. But as the divorce was finalized, he fell to his knees before Sabina. "I realize now," he gasped, "it was always you — the one my heart chose." Sabina almost laughed. "But I never loved you, Zebulon." The truth shattered him when Caleb—the city's most powerful tycoon—knelt before her with a ring. As she took Caleb's hand with genuine warmth, Zebulon finally understood. The long way back to her heart was a road he could never travel...

Chapter 1When the freezing seawater violently flooded the cabin, Zebulon Sherman only saved Yvette Sherman.Sabina Donovan, his wife, was swept away by the crushing waves. By the time she was finally pulled from the water, she was barely clinging to life.In the aftermath, she didn't cry or throw a tantrum.A flicker of confusion crossed Zebulon's habitually cold face. "Sabina, in all these years, you've never made a scene with me.""If I had made a scene, would you have saved me first?"Zebulon pressed his thin lips together in silence.Sabina wasn't surprised. Having played the role of his flawless understudy for so many years, she knew all too well that in the presence of the woman who held his heart, she didn't have the luxury of throwing a tantrum.Yvette was the girl the Sherman family had taken in. When she turned eighteen, she developed inappropriate feelings for Zebulon, resulting in a scandalous incident where she tried to drug him and trap him in her bed. Furious, Zebulon had sent her abroad.But no one knew that Yvette wasn't the only one harboring inappropriate feelings.Sabina's features bore a striking resemblance to Yvette's, especially her cold, expressive eyes. Zebulon loved those eyes.To silence the public gossip, he married Sabina. Three years later, when the scandal had completely died down, he finally brought Yvette back.Three days ago, ignoring the severe hurricane warnings, Yvette had practically dragged Sabina and Zebulon out on a private yacht for an island camping trip. Piercing winds had swept across the ocean, and a massive wave instantly tipped the vessel.Without a second of hesitation, Zebulon had shielded Yvette in his arms.Sabina had managed to grab a single life jacket, but Zebulon snatched it away and strapped it onto Yvette. Glancing at Sabina, who was struggling to hold on, a two-second battle flashed in his dark eyes. "Yvette is terrified. I have to get her out first."Another colossal wave crashed into them. Sabina was sucked beneath the surface. The freezing water flooded her nose and mouth, the suffocating grip of death entirely consuming her. In her final, fading moments of consciousness, a large hand clamped firmly around her wrist.When she woke up, three days had passed.Lying in the hospital bed, Sabina groggily opened her eyes, immediately greeted by the sound of low, muffled weeping."She's awake. Sabina is awake," Yvette cried out."Sabina, are you feeling any better?" Zebulon asked, stepping closer to her side.Sabina didn't answer. Her throat was painfully dry.Yvette was still sobbing, acting as if she had been the one who nearly drowned. "Sabina, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. If Zebulon hadn't focused on saving me first, you wouldn't have been in a coma for days. I'm just awful."Zebulon tightened his jaw, shooting Yvette a look laced with reluctant sympathy. "Stop crying, it wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known there would be a hurricane. Sabina is kindhearted; she won't hold this against you."Sabina forced a small, dry smile, her eyes turning glacial as she looked at Zebulon."Get some rest, Sabina. My grandmother knows you're in the hospital. She said she'll come to see you tomorrow."At those words, Yvette, standing right behind Zebulon, nervously tugged at the hem of his jacket.He glanced back at Yvette, hesitating for a moment, before turning his attention back to his wife. "Sabina, there's one more thing I need your help with."Her voice was terrifyingly light. "Go ahead.""You know my grandmother doesn't like Yvette. If she finds out Yvette was the one who insisted on going to the island, she'll be furious and punish her. So, just tell her that it was your idea to go."Sabina stared at him. If she claimed it was her idea, it wouldn't just mean taking the blame—it would mean she deserved to almost die. To protect Yvette from a simple reprimand, he really had it all figured out.Suppressing the bitter curl of her lips, Sabina put on a troubled expression. "But what if she punishes me?""Then you'll just have to endure it. You're older than Yvette. It's only right that you bear a little more responsibility for her sake."Sabina pressed her lips together, swallowing the icy glint in her eyes, and replied with absolute obedience, "Okay."Zebulon frowned slightly. Looking at Sabina's pale, compliant face, a flicker of guilt finally arose in his chest. "You really did suffer this time. Here's a check for thirty million. It's my compensation to you. Focus on recovering."Sabina accepted the check with a perfectly clear conscience.In the past, this would have shattered her heart But now?What was more important than money?Confusion flickered in Zebulon's eyes. His lips pressed into a hard line, as if there was something he wanted to say but couldn't quite bring himself to voice."Get some rest. I'm taking Yvette home. She's completely shaken up and can't be away from me right now."Sabina lowered her eyelashes, offering no response.She had just tucked the thirty million dollar check away when her best friend, Tilda Grayson, burst into the room."You're finally awake! You scared me to death! I just saw Zebulon leaving with Yvette. Why isn't he staying here with you? You almost died!""Yeah, I almost died."Sabina pulled the blanket tighter around herself, suddenly feeling thoroughly chilled to the bone."You're so lucky someone managed to save you. If no one had been there..." Tilda didn't dare finish the thought. "Did you get a good look at who it was?"Sabina shook her head. The situation had been too chaotic. All she remembered was someone grabbing her wrist; there hadn't been time to process anything else.But the grip had felt familiar. It felt a lot like Caleb Holt.Then again, her breakup with Caleb had been incredibly messy. When Caleb's old flame had returned, Sabina had dumped him immediately, leaving without a single word. Even if Caleb had miraculously been there, he probably wouldn't have bothered saving her."I didn't see."After a moment of silence, Sabina looked up. "Tilda, I'm getting a divorce.""A divorce? Because of Yvette?"Sabina let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah.""But you and Zebulon have been married for three years. Even with Yvette back, it shouldn't actually affect your position. You need to think this through.""I have."Sabina had nearly died this time. She didn't want to stick around to find out what the next disaster would be.Besides, even before Yvette's return, Sabina had discovered a velvet jewelry box in his closet. Inside was a diamond ring—and it wasn't her size. It was for Yvette.Zebulon was likely already planning to end the marriage. She might as well be the one to initiate it. After playing the perfect replacement for so many years, she knew exactly when to bow out."Help me find a lawyer to draft the divorce papers. And draft a resignation letter for me too.""You're quitting Sherman Group?""Of course. If I'm cutting ties, I'm cutting them clean."...The next day, Tilda had the divorce agreement and resignation letter delivered.Over the phone, Tilda said, "I'll send you the lawyer's contact info. If there's anything you want to change in the agreement, just let him know.""Got it."Sabina hung up. Holding the divorce papers, she stared thoughtfully out the window.Marrying Zebulon three years ago, she had known he didn't love her. But surely, she'd thought, after years of sharing a life, there would at least be some affection.It wasn't until he snatched the life jacket from her, utterly indifferent to whether she lived or died, that she truly understood. Zebulon felt absolutely nothing for her.And a marriage like that wasn't worth clinging to....That afternoon, Zebulon came to the hospital to check on her.The room was cold and empty. Sabina was nowhere to be found.His brow furrowed. Spotting a document resting on the table, he walked over and reached out to open it..."Zebulon!"Yvette suddenly bolted into the room, nervously grabbing his arm."Eleanor is here! What do we do? I'm so scared. Will Sabina actually cover for me like she promised yesterday?"Zebulon looked down at her. "Don't panic. She's always been perfectly obedient and understanding. She will."Sabina walked in just in time to hear those words.He was right. For years, she had been so 'obedient and understanding' that Zebulon had convinced himself she didn't have a temper at all."Sabina? Where did you go?"He looked her over. She was wearing a hospital gown with a knitted cardigan thrown over it, looking exceptionally fragile as she stood in the draft."The sink in the bathroom was broken. I went down the hall to wash my hands."Yvette pouted. "I thought you ran away. You promised you'd tell Eleanor that going to the island was your idea."Sabina walked back to her bed, her gaze landing on Yvette.Yvette was dressed in a pristine white cashmere coat, her petite, delicate frame pressing close to Zebulon. When she looked at Sabina, her clear, weak eyes were practically overflowing with smugness.Sabina withdrew her gaze, hiding the cold gleam in her own eyes. "Don't worry, I won't run."A moment later, Eleanor arrived.Sabina lowered her long eyelashes, adopting her usual gentle, submissive posture.Eleanor looked at her with profound heartache. "My poor Sabina! Tell me, whose terrible idea was it to go to that island? Does no one check the weather forecasts anymore?"Sabina's eyes immediately reddened. She stole a quick, timid glance at Zebulon's face, then lowered her head, letting her tears fall with calculated perfection."Grandma, it's all my fault. I knew there was a hurricane warning, but I dragged Zebulon and Yvette out there anyway. If Zebulon hadn't prioritized saving Yvette when the boat flipped, she could have been seriously hurt. I'm so sorry. It's all my doing. Please, punish me severely..."Yvette blinked rapidly and stepped forward. "Exactly! If we hadn't been accompanying you, Zebulon and I wouldn't have been in danger either. Honestly, you can be so reckless sometimes..."Hearing this, Eleanor's face turned to absolute ice. She whipped around and slapped Yvette hard across the face.*Smack.*The sound echoed loudly through the room.It sounded... incredibly satisfying.Yvette clutched her cheek, completely stunned. "Eleanor, why?""You have the nerve to blame Sabina?! The moment you get back, you start causing trouble. Don't think for a second I don't know whose terrible idea this actually was.""Grandma!" Zebulon's voice went dark as he stepped up to block Eleanor."You're still protecting her! Did you really think making Sabina take the fall would fool me? Sabina is the most sensible person in our family. Why would she ever demand a trip to an island during a hurricane warning?"Sabina weakly pushed herself up from the bed and gently pulled at the older woman's sleeve. "Grandma, please don't hit her."Internally, she was thinking: *Slap her again. She clearly hasn't learned her lesson.*"Sabina, don't try to stop me."Sabina's eyes swam with unshed tears. She let out two frail, delicate coughs, her pale face making her look utterly pitiful."Take a good look, Zebulon. Look at what she's done to your wife."Yvette clutched her red cheek, biting her lip so hard it almost bled as huge tears rolled down her face. "I know you've never liked me! It's all my fault! I shouldn't have come back just to make you angry. I'll go back overseas right now..."Sobbing, Yvette turned and bolted out of the room.Zebulon instinctively moved to chase her, but Eleanor barked, "Zebulon Sherman, figure out who your actual wife is!"Zebulon looked back at a frail-looking Sabina, his eyes lowering. He hesitated for two excruciating seconds—and then ran out after Yvette anyway.Chapter 2When the freezing seawater violently flooded the cabin, Zebulon Sherman only saved Yvette Sherman.Sabina Donovan, his wife, was swept away by the crushing waves. By the time she was finally pulled from the water, she was barely clinging to life.In the aftermath, she didn't cry or throw a tantrum.A flicker of confusion crossed Zebulon's habitually cold face. "Sabina, in all these years, you've never made a scene with me.""If I had made a scene, would you have saved me first?"Zebulon pressed his thin lips together in silence.Sabina wasn't surprised. Having played the role of his flawless understudy for so many years, she knew all too well that in the presence of the woman who held his heart, she didn't have the luxury of throwing a tantrum.Yvette was the girl the Sherman family had taken in. When she turned eighteen, she developed inappropriate feelings for Zebulon, resulting in a scandalous incident where she tried to drug him and trap him in her bed. Furious, Zebulon had sent her abroad.But no one knew that Yvette wasn't the only one harboring inappropriate feelings.Sabina's features bore a striking resemblance to Yvette's, especially her cold, expressive eyes. Zebulon loved those eyes.To silence the public gossip, he married Sabina. Three years later, when the scandal had completely died down, he finally brought Yvette back.Three days ago, ignoring the severe hurricane warnings, Yvette had practically dragged Sabina and Zebulon out on a private yacht for an island camping trip. Piercing winds had swept across the ocean, and a massive wave instantly tipped the vessel.Without a second of hesitation, Zebulon had shielded Yvette in his arms.Sabina had managed to grab a single life jacket, but Zebulon snatched it away and strapped it onto Yvette. Glancing at Sabina, who was struggling to hold on, a two-second battle flashed in his dark eyes. "Yvette is terrified. I have to get her out first."Another colossal wave crashed into them. Sabina was sucked beneath the surface. The freezing water flooded her nose and mouth, the suffocating grip of death entirely consuming her. In her final, fading moments of consciousness, a large hand clamped firmly around her wrist.When she woke up, three days had passed.Lying in the hospital bed, Sabina groggily opened her eyes, immediately greeted by the sound of low, muffled weeping."She's awake. Sabina is awake," Yvette cried out."Sabina, are you feeling any better?" Zebulon asked, stepping closer to her side.Sabina didn't answer. Her throat was painfully dry.Yvette was still sobbing, acting as if she had been the one who nearly drowned. "Sabina, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. If Zebulon hadn't focused on saving me first, you wouldn't have been in a coma for days. I'm just awful."Zebulon tightened his jaw, shooting Yvette a look laced with reluctant sympathy. "Stop crying, it wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known there would be a hurricane. Sabina is kindhearted; she won't hold this against you."Sabina forced a small, dry smile, her eyes turning glacial as she looked at Zebulon."Get some rest, Sabina. My grandmother knows you're in the hospital. She said she'll come to see you tomorrow."At those words, Yvette, standing right behind Zebulon, nervously tugged at the hem of his jacket.He glanced back at Yvette, hesitating for a moment, before turning his attention back to his wife. "Sabina, there's one more thing I need your help with."Her voice was terrifyingly light. "Go ahead.""You know my grandmother doesn't like Yvette. If she finds out Yvette was the one who insisted on going to the island, she'll be furious and punish her. So, just tell her that it was your idea to go."Sabina stared at him. If she claimed it was her idea, it wouldn't just mean taking the blame—it would mean she deserved to almost die. To protect Yvette from a simple reprimand, he really had it all figured out.Suppressing the bitter curl of her lips, Sabina put on a troubled expression. "But what if she punishes me?""Then you'll just have to endure it. You're older than Yvette. It's only right that you bear a little more responsibility for her sake."Sabina pressed her lips together, swallowing the icy glint in her eyes, and replied with absolute obedience, "Okay."Zebulon frowned slightly. Looking at Sabina's pale, compliant face, a flicker of guilt finally arose in his chest. "You really did suffer this time. Here's a check for thirty million. It's my compensation to you. Focus on recovering."Sabina accepted the check with a perfectly clear conscience.In the past, this would have shattered her heart But now?What was more important than money?Confusion flickered in Zebulon's eyes. His lips pressed into a hard line, as if there was something he wanted to say but couldn't quite bring himself to voice."Get some rest. I'm taking Yvette home. She's completely shaken up and can't be away from me right now."Sabina lowered her eyelashes, offering no response.She had just tucked the thirty million dollar check away when her best friend, Tilda Grayson, burst into the room."You're finally awake! You scared me to death! I just saw Zebulon leaving with Yvette. Why isn't he staying here with you? You almost died!""Yeah, I almost died."Sabina pulled the blanket tighter around herself, suddenly feeling thoroughly chilled to the bone."You're so lucky someone managed to save you. If no one had been there..." Tilda didn't dare finish the thought. "Did you get a good look at who it was?"Sabina shook her head. The situation had been too chaotic. All she remembered was someone grabbing her wrist; there hadn't been time to process anything else.But the grip had felt familiar. It felt a lot like Caleb Holt.Then again, her breakup with Caleb had been incredibly messy. When Caleb's old flame had returned, Sabina had dumped him immediately, leaving without a single word. Even if Caleb had miraculously been there, he probably wouldn't have bothered saving her."I didn't see."After a moment of silence, Sabina looked up. "Tilda, I'm getting a divorce.""A divorce? Because of Yvette?"Sabina let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah.""But you and Zebulon have been married for three years. Even with Yvette back, it shouldn't actually affect your position. You need to think this through.""I have."Sabina had nearly died this time. She didn't want to stick around to find out what the next disaster would be.Besides, even before Yvette's return, Sabina had discovered a velvet jewelry box in his closet. Inside was a diamond ring—and it wasn't her size. It was for Yvette.Zebulon was likely already planning to end the marriage. She might as well be the one to initiate it. After playing the perfect replacement for so many years, she knew exactly when to bow out."Help me find a lawyer to draft the divorce papers. And draft a resignation letter for me too.""You're quitting Sherman Group?""Of course. If I'm cutting ties, I'm cutting them clean."...The next day, Tilda had the divorce agreement and resignation letter delivered.Over the phone, Tilda said, "I'll send you the lawyer's contact info. If there's anything you want to change in the agreement, just let him know.""Got it."Sabina hung up. Holding the divorce papers, she stared thoughtfully out the window.Marrying Zebulon three years ago, she had known he didn't love her. But surely, she'd thought, after years of sharing a life, there would at least be some affection.It wasn't until he snatched the life jacket from her, utterly indifferent to whether she lived or died, that she truly understood. Zebulon felt absolutely nothing for her.And a marriage like that wasn't worth clinging to....That afternoon, Zebulon came to the hospital to check on her.The room was cold and empty. Sabina was nowhere to be found.His brow furrowed. Spotting a document resting on the table, he walked over and reached out to open it..."Zebulon!"Yvette suddenly bolted into the room, nervously grabbing his arm."Eleanor is here! What do we do? I'm so scared. Will Sabina actually cover for me like she promised yesterday?"Zebulon looked down at her. "Don't panic. She's always been perfectly obedient and understanding. She will."Sabina walked in just in time to hear those words.He was right. For years, she had been so 'obedient and understanding' that Zebulon had convinced himself she didn't have a temper at all."Sabina? Where did you go?"He looked her over. She was wearing a hospital gown with a knitted cardigan thrown over it, looking exceptionally fragile as she stood in the draft."The sink in the bathroom was broken. I went down the hall to wash my hands."Yvette pouted. "I thought you ran away. You promised you'd tell Eleanor that going to the island was your idea."Sabina walked back to her bed, her gaze landing on Yvette.Yvette was dressed in a pristine white cashmere coat, her petite, delicate frame pressing close to Zebulon. When she looked at Sabina, her clear, weak eyes were practically overflowing with smugness.Sabina withdrew her gaze, hiding the cold gleam in her own eyes. "Don't worry, I won't run."A moment later, Eleanor arrived.Sabina lowered her long eyelashes, adopting her usual gentle, submissive posture.Eleanor looked at her with profound heartache. "My poor Sabina! Tell me, whose terrible idea was it to go to that island? Does no one check the weather forecasts anymore?"Sabina's eyes immediately reddened. She stole a quick, timid glance at Zebulon's face, then lowered her head, letting her tears fall with calculated perfection."Grandma, it's all my fault. I knew there was a hurricane warning, but I dragged Zebulon and Yvette out there anyway. If Zebulon hadn't prioritized saving Yvette when the boat flipped, she could have been seriously hurt. I'm so sorry. It's all my doing. Please, punish me severely..."Yvette blinked rapidly and stepped forward. "Exactly! If we hadn't been accompanying you, Zebulon and I wouldn't have been in danger either. Honestly, you can be so reckless sometimes..."Hearing this, Eleanor's face turned to absolute ice. She whipped around and slapped Yvette hard across the face.*Smack.*The sound echoed loudly through the room.It sounded... incredibly satisfying.Yvette clutched her cheek, completely stunned. "Eleanor, why?""You have the nerve to blame Sabina?! The moment you get back, you start causing trouble. Don't think for a second I don't know whose terrible idea this actually was.""Grandma!" Zebulon's voice went dark as he stepped up to block Eleanor."You're still protecting her! Did you really think making Sabina take the fall would fool me? Sabina is the most sensible person in our family. Why would she ever demand a trip to an island during a hurricane warning?"Sabina weakly pushed herself up from the bed and gently pulled at the older woman's sleeve. "Grandma, please don't hit her."Internally, she was thinking: *Slap her again. She clearly hasn't learned her lesson.*"Sabina, don't try to stop me."Sabina's eyes swam with unshed tears. She let out two frail, delicate coughs, her pale face making her look utterly pitiful."Take a good look, Zebulon. Look at what she's done to your wife."Yvette clutched her red cheek, biting her lip so hard it almost bled as huge tears rolled down her face. "I know you've never liked me! It's all my fault! I shouldn't have come back just to make you angry. I'll go back overseas right now..."Sobbing, Yvette turned and bolted out of the room.Zebulon instinctively moved to chase her, but Eleanor barked, "Zebulon Sherman, figure out who your actual wife is!"Zebulon looked back at a frail-looking Sabina, his eyes lowering. He hesitated for two excruciating seconds—and then ran out after Yvette anyway.Chapter 3When the freezing seawater violently flooded the cabin, Zebulon Sherman only saved Yvette Sherman.Sabina Donovan, his wife, was swept away by the crushing waves. By the time she was finally pulled from the water, she was barely clinging to life.In the aftermath, she didn't cry or throw a tantrum.A flicker of confusion crossed Zebulon's habitually cold face. "Sabina, in all these years, you've never made a scene with me.""If I had made a scene, would you have saved me first?"Zebulon pressed his thin lips together in silence.Sabina wasn't surprised. Having played the role of his flawless understudy for so many years, she knew all too well that in the presence of the woman who held his heart, she didn't have the luxury of throwing a tantrum.Yvette was the girl the Sherman family had taken in. When she turned eighteen, she developed inappropriate feelings for Zebulon, resulting in a scandalous incident where she tried to drug him and trap him in her bed. Furious, Zebulon had sent her abroad.But no one knew that Yvette wasn't the only one harboring inappropriate feelings.Sabina's features bore a striking resemblance to Yvette's, especially her cold, expressive eyes. Zebulon loved those eyes.To silence the public gossip, he married Sabina. Three years later, when the scandal had completely died down, he finally brought Yvette back.Three days ago, ignoring the severe hurricane warnings, Yvette had practically dragged Sabina and Zebulon out on a private yacht for an island camping trip. Piercing winds had swept across the ocean, and a massive wave instantly tipped the vessel.Without a second of hesitation, Zebulon had shielded Yvette in his arms.Sabina had managed to grab a single life jacket, but Zebulon snatched it away and strapped it onto Yvette. Glancing at Sabina, who was struggling to hold on, a two-second battle flashed in his dark eyes. "Yvette is terrified. I have to get her out first."Another colossal wave crashed into them. Sabina was sucked beneath the surface. The freezing water flooded her nose and mouth, the suffocating grip of death entirely consuming her. In her final, fading moments of consciousness, a large hand clamped firmly around her wrist.When she woke up, three days had passed.Lying in the hospital bed, Sabina groggily opened her eyes, immediately greeted by the sound of low, muffled weeping."She's awake. Sabina is awake," Yvette cried out."Sabina, are you feeling any better?" Zebulon asked, stepping closer to her side.Sabina didn't answer. Her throat was painfully dry.Yvette was still sobbing, acting as if she had been the one who nearly drowned. "Sabina, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. If Zebulon hadn't focused on saving me first, you wouldn't have been in a coma for days. I'm just awful."Zebulon tightened his jaw, shooting Yvette a look laced with reluctant sympathy. "Stop crying, it wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known there would be a hurricane. Sabina is kindhearted; she won't hold this against you."Sabina forced a small, dry smile, her eyes turning glacial as she looked at Zebulon."Get some rest, Sabina. My grandmother knows you're in the hospital. She said she'll come to see you tomorrow."At those words, Yvette, standing right behind Zebulon, nervously tugged at the hem of his jacket.He glanced back at Yvette, hesitating for a moment, before turning his attention back to his wife. "Sabina, there's one more thing I need your help with."Her voice was terrifyingly light. "Go ahead.""You know my grandmother doesn't like Yvette. If she finds out Yvette was the one who insisted on going to the island, she'll be furious and punish her. So, just tell her that it was your idea to go."Sabina stared at him. If she claimed it was her idea, it wouldn't just mean taking the blame—it would mean she deserved to almost die. To protect Yvette from a simple reprimand, he really had it all figured out.Suppressing the bitter curl of her lips, Sabina put on a troubled expression. "But what if she punishes me?""Then you'll just have to endure it. You're older than Yvette. It's only right that you bear a little more responsibility for her sake."Sabina pressed her lips together, swallowing the icy glint in her eyes, and replied with absolute obedience, "Okay."Zebulon frowned slightly. Looking at Sabina's pale, compliant face, a flicker of guilt finally arose in his chest. "You really did suffer this time. Here's a check for thirty million. It's my compensation to you. Focus on recovering."Sabina accepted the check with a perfectly clear conscience.In the past, this would have shattered her heart But now?What was more important than money?Confusion flickered in Zebulon's eyes. His lips pressed into a hard line, as if there was something he wanted to say but couldn't quite bring himself to voice."Get some rest. I'm taking Yvette home. She's completely shaken up and can't be away from me right now."Sabina lowered her eyelashes, offering no response.She had just tucked the thirty million dollar check away when her best friend, Tilda Grayson, burst into the room."You're finally awake! You scared me to death! I just saw Zebulon leaving with Yvette. Why isn't he staying here with you? You almost died!""Yeah, I almost died."Sabina pulled the blanket tighter around herself, suddenly feeling thoroughly chilled to the bone."You're so lucky someone managed to save you. If no one had been there..." Tilda didn't dare finish the thought. "Did you get a good look at who it was?"Sabina shook her head. The situation had been too chaotic. All she remembered was someone grabbing her wrist; there hadn't been time to process anything else.But the grip had felt familiar. It felt a lot like Caleb Holt.Then again, her breakup with Caleb had been incredibly messy. When Caleb's old flame had returned, Sabina had dumped him immediately, leaving without a single word. Even if Caleb had miraculously been there, he probably wouldn't have bothered saving her."I didn't see."After a moment of silence, Sabina looked up. "Tilda, I'm getting a divorce.""A divorce? Because of Yvette?"Sabina let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah.""But you and Zebulon have been married for three years. Even with Yvette back, it shouldn't actually affect your position. You need to think this through.""I have."Sabina had nearly died this time. She didn't want to stick around to find out what the next disaster would be.Besides, even before Yvette's return, Sabina had discovered a velvet jewelry box in his closet. Inside was a diamond ring—and it wasn't her size. It was for Yvette.Zebulon was likely already planning to end the marriage. She might as well be the one to initiate it. After playing the perfect replacement for so many years, she knew exactly when to bow out."Help me find a lawyer to draft the divorce papers. And draft a resignation letter for me too.""You're quitting Sherman Group?""Of course. If I'm cutting ties, I'm cutting them clean."...The next day, Tilda had the divorce agreement and resignation letter delivered.Over the phone, Tilda said, "I'll send you the lawyer's contact info. If there's anything you want to change in the agreement, just let him know.""Got it."Sabina hung up. Holding the divorce papers, she stared thoughtfully out the window.Marrying Zebulon three years ago, she had known he didn't love her. But surely, she'd thought, after years of sharing a life, there would at least be some affection.It wasn't until he snatched the life jacket from her, utterly indifferent to whether she lived or died, that she truly understood. Zebulon felt absolutely nothing for her.And a marriage like that wasn't worth clinging to....That afternoon, Zebulon came to the hospital to check on her.The room was cold and empty. Sabina was nowhere to be found.His brow furrowed. Spotting a document resting on the table, he walked over and reached out to open it..."Zebulon!"Yvette suddenly bolted into the room, nervously grabbing his arm."Eleanor is here! What do we do? I'm so scared. Will Sabina actually cover for me like she promised yesterday?"Zebulon looked down at her. "Don't panic. She's always been perfectly obedient and understanding. She will."Sabina walked in just in time to hear those words.He was right. For years, she had been so 'obedient and understanding' that Zebulon had convinced himself she didn't have a temper at all."Sabina? Where did you go?"He looked her over. She was wearing a hospital gown with a knitted cardigan thrown over it, looking exceptionally fragile as she stood in the draft."The sink in the bathroom was broken. I went down the hall to wash my hands."Yvette pouted. "I thought you ran away. You promised you'd tell Eleanor that going to the island was your idea."Sabina walked back to her bed, her gaze landing on Yvette.Yvette was dressed in a pristine white cashmere coat, her petite, delicate frame pressing close to Zebulon. When she looked at Sabina, her clear, weak eyes were practically overflowing with smugness.Sabina withdrew her gaze, hiding the cold gleam in her own eyes. "Don't worry, I won't run."A moment later, Eleanor arrived.Sabina lowered her long eyelashes, adopting her usual gentle, submissive posture.Eleanor looked at her with profound heartache. "My poor Sabina! Tell me, whose terrible idea was it to go to that island? Does no one check the weather forecasts anymore?"Sabina's eyes immediately reddened. She stole a quick, timid glance at Zebulon's face, then lowered her head, letting her tears fall with calculated perfection."Grandma, it's all my fault. I knew there was a hurricane warning, but I dragged Zebulon and Yvette out there anyway. If Zebulon hadn't prioritized saving Yvette when the boat flipped, she could have been seriously hurt. I'm so sorry. It's all my doing. Please, punish me severely..."Yvette blinked rapidly and stepped forward. "Exactly! If we hadn't been accompanying you, Zebulon and I wouldn't have been in danger either. Honestly, you can be so reckless sometimes..."Hearing this, Eleanor's face turned to absolute ice. She whipped around and slapped Yvette hard across the face.*Smack.*The sound echoed loudly through the room.It sounded... incredibly satisfying.Yvette clutched her cheek, completely stunned. "Eleanor, why?""You have the nerve to blame Sabina?! The moment you get back, you start causing trouble. Don't think for a second I don't know whose terrible idea this actually was.""Grandma!" Zebulon's voice went dark as he stepped up to block Eleanor."You're still protecting her! Did you really think making Sabina take the fall would fool me? Sabina is the most sensible person in our family. Why would she ever demand a trip to an island during a hurricane warning?"Sabina weakly pushed herself up from the bed and gently pulled at the older woman's sleeve. "Grandma, please don't hit her."Internally, she was thinking: *Slap her again. She clearly hasn't learned her lesson.*"Sabina, don't try to stop me."Sabina's eyes swam with unshed tears. She let out two frail, delicate coughs, her pale face making her look utterly pitiful."Take a good look, Zebulon. Look at what she's done to your wife."Yvette clutched her red cheek, biting her lip so hard it almost bled as huge tears rolled down her face. "I know you've never liked me! It's all my fault! I shouldn't have come back just to make you angry. I'll go back overseas right now..."Sobbing, Yvette turned and bolted out of the room.Zebulon instinctively moved to chase her, but Eleanor barked, "Zebulon Sherman, figure out who your actual wife is!"Zebulon looked back at a frail-looking Sabina, his eyes lowering. He hesitated for two excruciating seconds—and then ran out after Yvette anyway.