Part 3The Depths of Betrayal

Three days later, at the marina.

The sea breeze was biting.

Julian's car was parked by the pier. He stood in the wind, holding the unopened paternity test result.

Lily, wrapped in his cashmere coat, huddled beside him, cheeks rosy, looking anything but sick.

I walked over holding the child's hand. Bodyguards blocked our path.

Julian waved a manila envelope, eyes cold. "Want this?"

He pointed to the deep, dark water below.

"Lily accidentally dropped the family heirloom ring. It's a Ford heirloom, it can't be lost."

He stared at me, a cruel smile on his lips. "Sarah, I heard you do deep-sea salvage abroad?"

"Since you're so capable, fetch it for Lily."

Naked humiliation.

The late autumn seawater was freezing, full of undercurrents.

Lily pretended to pull at Julian. "Julian, forget it."

"If the ring is lost, it's lost. The water is too cold. Sister is weak, don't make her go."

Her mouth said no, but her eyes were full of provocation and anticipation.

Julian said coldly, "That was your engagement ring. It must be found."

"Isn't she a professional? If she can't handle this small thing, how can she talk about fifty million?"

Ignoring their act, I bent down and handed the child to my assistant.

I took off my coat, revealing the black wetsuit underneath.

"Conditions."

I checked the oxygen tank and spoke coldly.

"I bring it up, the DNA test is destroyed on the spot, and the Ford family and I are done. This child has nothing to do with you."

Julian paused, then sneered. "So eager to destroy it? Guess you know the results are shameful. Fine, I agree."

In his eyes, I was just guilty.

I put on my goggles, bit the regulator, and jumped.

Splash!

I vanished into the gray-black water.

The monitor screen on the shore lit up, showing the live feed from my suit camera.

My heart rate data was a flat line.

Julian stared at the screen, brow furrowed.

Water temperature 46°F. My calmness annoyed him.

Underwater visibility was poor.

Suddenly, a strong current hit me.

Someone had tampered with the environment.

The air hose jerked violently, cutting off the flow to my regulator.

Suffocation hit instantly.

I looked up and vaguely saw the operator under the boat shaking the line violently.

Lily had bribed someone. She wanted me dead.

On the monitor, my heart rate still didn't spike.

I didn't call for help or struggle.

Calmly, I reached behind my back, cut the main air line, and opened the backup micro-tank.

This little trick wasn't enough.

Using the current, I flipped out of the turbulent flow and dove straight into the seabed silt.

Amidst scrap metal and nets, a faint glint.

I reached out, fingers clawing, and grabbed the ring.

Movement sharp and vicious.

Three minutes later, I broke the surface.

I climbed onto the dock, soaked, face pale, but eyes sharp as knives.

Julian looked at me and subconsciously took a step back.

I strode up to Lily.

In front of Julian, I held up the so-called "heirloom" ring.

I squeezed.

Crunch!

The gem-encrusted ring crushed into an oval in my fingers.

I tossed it casually. It rolled to the toe of Lily's couture shoes.

"Fake." I took off the regulator and sneered.

"Just like you. Gold-plated copper."

A piece of the plating chipped off, revealing cheap brass underneath.

Lily's face went white instantly. She looked at Julian in panic.

Julian stared at the ring on the ground in shock, then at my water-streaked face, forgetting to react.

Julian bent down and picked up the deformed ring. The mottled brass rust stung his eyes.

Face livid, he snapped his head toward Lily.

The question stuck in his throat.

The giant LED billboard on the pier suddenly lit up.