Warning: This chapter contains depictions of violence that may be upsetting for some readers.

As the chilly breeze caresses Astrid's skin, her summer hat slips to the ground. She attempts to reach for it, and when she finally does, she drops her wallet. Then she puts on her hat before picking up her wallet.

Upon picking up her wallet, she sees a small photograph of her and Selene. Her eyes have widened.

They are in the marina's port area, preparing to embark Athena's private motor yacht. There’s some people around the port, so Astrid has her guards up. Who knows someone might recognize her?

Astrid exhales a sigh. She turns around to face Athena. “Is Theodore not coming with us? I thought we’ll wait for him to arrive.”

When Astrid awoke yesterday, Theodore was no longer among them. Damon was the only one that accompanied them to the hotel. Athena reasoned that her confidant had a few things to attend to, therefore he would be late.

This morning, the yacht they have been waiting for arrived. They are currently boarding the ship to depart. Astrid realizes that Theodore has not yet arrived to keep them company.

Athena smiles, stepping on the yacht gangway. “As I’ve said, he has some matters to take care of. It would take him some time to catch up with us, but I'm confident he will meet us shortly. You don't have to be concerned about him, love. He's simply out there doing his job.” She reaches out her hand to Astrid.

“I see . . .” It is the only response Astrid could give before taking Athena's hand and boarding the yacht.

The yacht sets off as soon as everyone is on board. So far, no inconveniences or hurdles have prevented them from departing. Everything is going swimmingly. The sun is beaming overhead, the waves are calm, and the wind is not blowing hard. It's a beautiful day.

Is it?

As the ship sails away, Astrid sits quietly on one of the sundeck's cushion seats, gazing out at the sea's crystal-clear water. She looks up to see a flock of birds fly away.

Since earlier, Astrid has been deafeningly silent. She has already strolled about the boat, but she's not doing anything enjoyable. She only stares at the water, as though lost in contemplation, and isn't amusing herself. If she isn't staring at Athena or Damon, she is staring at the water. She also refuses to consume some snacks.

Athena notices it, but she couldn’t entertain Astrid as she is busy discussing matters with Damon, making sure that their departure is a success. After that, she approaches her lover to ask, “Is there anything wrong? You’re too quiet.”

“Yes, there is,” Astrid admits. She casts a worried glance toward Athena.

Athena frowns and takes Astrid's hand in hers. “What’s our problem? Tell me what is bothering you.”

Astrid lets out a sigh. “I still can’t get over what happened yesterday. I'm curious how my family found me considering the hotel is literally in the middle of nowhere. I've thrown away anything that might lead them to me. There’s no way they could trace me.”

Athena listens. She gives herself a moment to think. Before she could even speak, Astrid says something, “Do you think someone followed us?”

“Most likely. If someone did, then they probably followed us here as well.”

Astrid’s expression brings a small amount of surprise to Athena. Unlike the last day, she isn’t reacting apprehensively. Astrid seems calm this time, but Athena could still feel that she’s nervous. Astrid is softly trembling like a shaken leaf.

“Or . . . maybe the spy is among us?” Astrid pays her attention to Damon who is currently preparing the snacks. “You know, people could be blinded with wealth or validation, especially if they’re desperate. They will do anything to get ahold of what they want.”

Athena follows Astrid’s stare. “What’s with Damon? Why do you think he is a spy?”

Astrid pulls a Polaroid from her wallet. It's a photo of her and Selene. It's the image she saw earlier when she dropped her wallet. “I didn't recognize him right away. It's no surprise he looks so familiar. He turns out to be Selene's brother.”

“Oh. That is something I'm not aware of.”

Damon is, in fact, Selene's older brother. Even though the Gavis and Selene families have a strong kinship, Astrid couldn't identify him at first because they hardly see each other. She would see him sometimes in her brother’s office—they’re best friends . . . maybe.

Damon is kind of a loyal dog to Ares, based on Astrid’s observation. Her brother and Damon share almost a servant-master relationship, probably because Damon’s family is indebted to the Gavis. This raises the probability of him being a spy.

Upon such realizations, Astrid never looks at him the same way again. She pays close attention to everything he does. Athena, on the other hand, appears unconcerned and attempts to divert her girlfriend's attention elsewhere. She wants to relieve Astrid's stress and calm her for just a minute. Astrid has already gone through a lot.

If Damon really is Ares' spy, Astrid will find it increasingly difficult to run and hide. She has been so focused on what Demeter would do to her that she has forgotten that Ares could do worse. Ares would never do anything to hurt her, but he would to Athena. Hearing the news about her disappearance probably made Ares enraged.

As an older brother, Ares is highly domineering and possessive of her. He wouldn't allow her to leave the home most of the time, claiming that it was too hazardous for her as a woman and that she would attract deceitful males. He also wouldn't allow her to hang out with her friends sometimes, and if he thought they were a 'bad influence' on her, he would force her to cut them off. Aside from that, Astrid must obey his orders no matter what.

Although unlike Demeter, he barely causes her physical harm. If he does, he would apologize immediately and explain calmly to Astrid why he did that.

Growing up, Ares has become a reliable brother to Astrid. However, despite their close relationship, Astrid chooses to hide her true self, especially her sexuality. She has a feeling that if she comes out to him, it might not turn out so well.

Alone, Astrid stands on the promenade deck, staring into nowhere. The sun has set, and the moon is no longer visible to her. It's pitch black everywhere around the yacht. There are no lights in their vicinity. Nothing except darkness.

It is freezing outside. In the midst of the sea, the wind is bitterly cold at night. Astrid could feel it, and it’s making her nervous.

She has always been terrified of the cold and darkness. Yet she stands alone in front of the unknown, the angry waves of water coming for her feet, the wind whispering in her ears, and the breeze brushing her skin. It is this feeling once again, but this time, she’s finally free of danger.

Or is she?

The sound of footsteps reaches her ears. They become louder with each passing second. When she turns around, she sees someone approaching her. “Hi . . . Damon.”

She attempts to put on a kind façade while masking her mistrust of him. However, no matter how genuine her smile appears, she cannot hide her sharp stares.

Damon looks at her. His face takes on a melancholy expression. Just by glancing at his sunken eyes, you can tell. “I have something important to tell you,” he says, his voice low.

Inside her bedchamber, Athena dries her hair with a white towel as she steps out the bathroom, dressed in night attire. She has just finished taking a shower. She looks around, wondering why no one has greeted her. Astrid is out of sight.

She’s probably outside, she thinks.

She spends her time doing her night routine. Athena checks her unread texts from Theodore before stepping outdoors to look for her lover. As she comes into the promenade deck, she glances around. Outside, she couldn't see anything, not even the stars. The yacht's light appears to be the only source of illumination in the area.

On her approach to the bow deck, she notices Damon standing alone, his hands on the rails, looking about. Athena then looks beside her and sees a small wooden table with snacks and utensils. She grabs the knife and hides it behind her as she approaches Damon.

“Hi,” she greets him.

Damon turns around. He smiles. “Hello, Athena. Theodore called me earlier. He’s done taking care of them. He said he’s on his way to catch up with us. So far, there have been no issues. Everything is going well.”

“I see. That’s good news then.” Athena nods her head. She glances around and asks, “Do you know where Astrid is?”

Damon shakes his head. “I don’t, but I saw her recently. She’s probably just out there, strolling around. Why don’t you check the stern deck? I bet she’s staying there.”

Athena nods and crosses her arms, a skeptical scowl on her face. A breath vapor appears as she exhales a sigh. She stands beside Damon and looks at him. “Can you do me a favor?”

Damon faces her, raising his brow. He gives no effort to respond to her. He stays quiet as he looks at Athena as if he is examining her.

Then finally, after a few more seconds, he responds, “What favor?”

“This.”

Silence. Complete silence. In the complete absence of noise, Damon’s body feels numb. He couldn’t feel anything but pressure. He couldn’t move. He stands there, frozen, with a knife in his lower left abdomen.

He doesn’t realize how painful it is until blood begins to come out of his mouth. The moment it drips down the floor, he looks down at his stomach, then Gazes up at Athena.

Athena has stabbed him.