Chapter 219

Serena's face twisted in shock, her delicate features contorted with distress. "Adrian, I can't do this alone! Needles terrify me, and all these medical tests are unbearable," she pleaded, her voice cracking as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Be strong, Serena," Adrian murmured gently, already turning toward the door. His retreating figure left behind a suffocating silence. Serena watched him go, fists clenched so tightly her nails left crescent marks on her palms. In that moment, she wished Vivian would disappear from existence.

Vivian blinked awake. The crystal chandelier above swayed gently, its harsh light making her raise a trembling hand to shield her eyes. As her vision cleared, reality crashed over her—this wasn't a dream. Confusion swirled in her mind. Was she really alive? Had someone pulled her from the ocean? Had Maxwell been the one to save her?

She glanced down at herself—dressed in fresh athletic wear beneath a silk duvet. Strangely, she felt no pain, no lingering effects from her ordeal. Sitting up, she took in the expansive room, far grander than Maxwell's yacht cabin. The pristine white walls exuded the same luxury as the Blackwood family's private vessel.

The door creaked open. A man entered wearing a crisp white shirt that contrasted with his tanned skin. His refined features softened when their eyes met, the chandelier light catching in his gaze like he was looking at something precious.

"Vivian, it's been years," Julian said, his voice like warm honey, instantly soothing the storm of panic that had gripped her all night.

Something inside Vivian shattered. Hot tears spilled down her cheeks in an unstoppable flood. She didn't know if it was fear, relief, or heartbreak—only that she couldn't contain the emotions any longer.

Julian sat beside her, hesitating only a moment before resting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're safe now." Those three words broke her completely. Sobs wracked her body as she curled into herself, knees pulled tight against her chest. All the emotions she'd bottled up came pouring out in shuddering waves.

She'd always been fortunate—someone always appeared to rescue her in dire moments. But never Adrian. No matter how many times she told herself not to expect anything from him, his face always surfaced in her mind during crises. And every single time, he disappointed her. That fragile hope she'd nurtured deep inside finally extinguished, leaving only hollow darkness.

Julian remained silent beside her, his steady presence an anchor in her emotional storm. When her tears finally subsided, she wiped her face, embarrassed. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

He handed her a tissue with a gentle smile. "Don't apologize."

They'd met during her freshman year when he was a junior. She'd mistaken him for harassing a girl when he'd actually caught her stealing. Without hesitation, Vivian had thrown her stack of heavy textbooks at him, breaking his nose. Instead of anger, he'd patiently explained the situation. That bizarre encounter sparked an unlikely friendship.

They'd bonded over shared literary passions and intellectual debates. But their connection was cut short when Julian graduated early, earning a scholarship to Ravenshore. Life intervened—family pressures and personal struggles caused Vivian to lose touch over the years.