Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Drew shot up from his seat, frowning and scanning the room. My heart skipped a beat when I noticed Ethan was missing.

I darted toward the nearest hallway. The main hall was a mess from the power outage, but the hallway was eerily silent.

I wasn't sure if Ethan had gone this way; it was just a gut feeling. After a few steps, a hand grabbed me and yanked me into a nearby room. "Don't go over there. Stay here."

It was Ethan's deep voice. I spun around to warn him, but he was already gone, shutting the door behind him. A gust of wind hit my face, sending chills down my spine. I quickly opened the door, but Ethan had vanished.

At the end of the hallway, I saw Drew's back, radiating a murderous vibe. He must've been chasing Ethan.

I kicked off my high heels and followed barefoot. The hallway split into two directions, and I hesitated. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. I followed the noise to the deck and saw a group of people, including the chairman of Unity Emporium, being led away in handcuffs by undercover cops. The chairman, who had been giving a speech earlier, now hung his head in shame.

The deck was packed with onlookers whispering among themselves. I didn't care about the arrests; I only cared about finding Ethan. But Ethan, Drew, and Dennis were nowhere in sight. Did Ethan know he was in danger? With so many cops around, would Drew dare to act recklessly?

I remembered Drew's murderous look when he mentioned Ethan earlier. He seemed like a desperate man with nothing to lose. Desperate men feared nothing. I was truly scared.

My shawl had fallen off, and I stood on the snowy deck in just a thin dress. My palms were sweating, though my back felt icy. Could Ethan have gone back to the hall?

I ran back to the hall, which was in chaos as everyone tried to get out. I was the only one moving against the crowd.

Still no sign of Ethan, and I was on the verge of tears. Suddenly, a hand pulled me behind a pillar, and I fell into an embrace.

"Honey, you're not doing as you're told. I told you to stay put."

Hearing the familiar voice and smelling the familiar scent, I instantly felt my eyes well up.

I had been wearing a mask the whole time. I didn't know how he found me or when he did, but hearing him call me "Honey" made my nose sting with emotion.

I cupped his face and asked with concern, "Are you okay?"

He looked into my eyes, serious and earnest, and said, "I'm fine. Listen to me, go downstairs. The cruise ship is very dangerous right now."

I threw myself into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"No, we'll go together. You're in danger too, you know? We'll go together."

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. Ethan grabbed me, and we hit the ground. A vase shattered nearby. I lay on top of him, gasping, my heart pounding. The bullet had grazed my ear-it was that close. Drew must have found Ethan and was desperate.

I quickly pulled a gun from my bag. I never used it before, but now it had to be useful.

Ethan didn't hesitate. He grabbed the gun, cocked it, and slid along the floor, firing at the ceiling. The hall plunged into darkness as the chandelier crashed down, seemingly hitting Drew. The police rushed in. In the darkness, Ethan pulled me into his arms, his heartbeat strong.

After a while, he helped me up, and we walked out. Dennis appeared, asking if we were okay. He recognized me without my mask and looked surprised.

Alarmingly, the police couldn't find Drew. Everyone split up to search again.

Suddenly, Ethan's eyes turned cold. He grabbed me and pulled me aside just as a gunshot rang out from above, leaving a hole in the deck.

"He's on the top deck," someone shouted.

I looked up and saw a shadow flash by on the top deck.

A group of police officers rushed up, and everyone's attention was focused on the top deck.

"Drew, stop running. You've been on the run for ten years, but you can't escape the law forever. Put down your weapon and surrender."

A police officer shouted through a megaphone, but Drew wasn't alone. His brothers might've been drugged, but I don't know how long the effects of the drug last.

I clutched Ethan's hand, scanning the area. Suddenly, a head peeked out from the stern, a gun aimed at Ethan.

Without thinking, I stepped in front of him. A searing pain shot through my chest!

"Emily!" Ethan held me, calling my name in anguish.

A cop fired at Drew, and others chased after him. Clutching his arm, Drew leaped overboard. There was a splash followed by more gunshots.

I didn't know if he'd survive or get caught. Honestly, I didn't care. As long as Ethan was safe, nothing else mattered.

My body started to slide down, and Ethan knelt, holding me, his eyes filled with panic. "Honey, hold on; you'll be okay."

I thought, 'It hurts so much, but I'm so happy! Tonight, this trip wasn't in vain!'

Because I was happy, I smiled.

I reached out to touch his face, whispering contentedly, "As long as you're okay."

"Emily, Honey, call the ambulance."

Ethan kept calling my name, but his voice grew more distant.

As the night sky drifted away, I lost all sense of sight and sound.

When I got shot, I thought I was going to die. I didn't regret taking the bullet for Ethan, but I regretted leaving my young kids behind.

I had a long dream where I kept repeating Ethan's name. When I woke up, I smelled disinfectant and saw a white figure by the bed.

Jason looked at me with sorrow, but his eyes lit up with excitement when I opened mine. "Emily, you're finally awake."The next second, Ethan rushed over and grabbed my hand. "Honey." His eyes were red, and tears were streaming down his face.

He looked just like he did when I woke up after giving birth.

Ethan was excited, joyful, heartbroken, and grateful, crying tears of joy.

I sluggishly took in the ward, feeling the texture and strength of Ethan's hand, feeling his tears burn on the back of my hand. I looked at his haggard face and the stubble on his chin. Everything felt so real.

"I'm still alive?" I murmured.

Ethan, his voice hoarse, said, "What are you talking about? It's just a minor injury. How could you not make it through?"

Was it just a minor injury?

But he was so emotional as if we had been through life and death.

And I could still remember the pain of being shot, it hurt so much.

So much so that all my senses seemed to be consumed by the pain.

"I want to go home," I said.

Ethan glanced at Jason, who thought for a moment and then nodded.

Ethan kissed my hand and gently said, "Okay, I'll take you home."

Soon, they completed the discharge procedures and transferred me home.

Finally lying in my old bed, looking at everything familiar, I felt my eyes well up.

Ethan gently stroked my hair and took a red string from around his neck, with a bullet hanging from it.

He held the bullet in front of me, and I saw my name engraved on it.

"Honey, next time, don't do something so foolish. I can take a bullet better than you can."

My eyes stung, and I gave him a silly smile.

"At that moment, I didn't have time to think. I just didn't want you to get hurt. Seeing you hurt would hurt me more. It was just instinct."

Ethan kissed me deeply, but I could see the tears glistening in his eyes.

"Honey, my life is yours," he said hoarsely.

A day later, Faris arrived.

When he appeared at the door holding a child in each arm, I thought I was hallucinating.

I had been desperately missing my kids, and it was as if God had heard my prayers and brought them to me.

It wasn't God who heard my prayers, it was Faris.

Faris walked to the bedside with the kids.

He had a stern, gloomy expression and stared at me for a long time without speaking.

It took Faris a long time to squeeze out. "You're really something! Not afraid of bullets?"

I felt a pang of sadness and didn't know what to say. Finally, I whispered, "Thank you for bringing the kids to me."

Faris placed Hunter and Harper beside me.

Both kids were crying, but I no longer had milk to feed them.

The wound was just above my breast, and Ethan had told me that due to engorgement, I had developed acute mastitis. The doctor had given me medication to stop lactation, so I was no longer producing milk. Hearing the kids cry so desperately, I felt incredibly guilty for leaving them behind to come to Starlight City. Now, I couldn't even feed them, and their cries were breaking my heart.

Ethan walked in, carrying two cans of formula and new bottles.

"Don't worry. The formula is just as good. They've been using formula all along anyway. Your health isn't good enough to provide for them."

As he set down the formula, Faris suddenly turned and lunged at him, grabbing his collar.