Chapter 866

The small boat rocked violently on the sea.

A wave crashed against it, tilting the hull sharply, almost capsizing it.

Alexander Vance steadied the helm, using some method to keep the boat stable.

Evelyn Ross sat on the deck beside him.

Moonlight spilled onto the sea, cold and intense.

"This sea," she said softly, "seems capable of swallowing everything."

It was too deep, too dark.

Pitch black.

Alexander smiled. "On this boat, it's not scary. But soon, we'll have to abandon ship."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "Our identities?"

"Eloping lovers." Alexander looked at her. "You caught the eye of a crime boss. I helped you escape. Now he's chasing us. We have to abandon ship, drift to the Sterling Family's island, become two homeless drifters."

Evelyn's lips twitched. "That's... too far-fetched, isn't it? A crime boss fancied me?"

"With your face, it's not strange." Alexander chuckled. "With my face, you'd be willing to elope with me, also not strange. Besides—"

He pointed to the distant cruise ship fading into the distance.

"The crime boss is on that ship."

Evelyn sighed helplessly. "You've arranged everything? What else?"

"For authenticity," Alexander said, "we'll throw the ballast overboard soon. The boat will lose balance, be overturned by the waves. Evelyn, you can swim, right?"

"Yes."

Last time she fell into the sea, she nearly died.

In the half-month back in New York, she practiced swimming every day, just for this moment.

Alexander nodded. "Then we're only missing the final preparation."

"What?"

As soon as she spoke, Alexander pulled out a pistol, aimed at his own thigh, and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The gunshot exploded across the sea.

Evelyn's pupils contracted sharply. "Alexander! What are you doing?!"

She lunged forward, saw blood gushing out, and her eyes instantly reddened. "Are you insane?!"

They were at sea. What if he was injured?!

Alexander merely smiled faintly. "Since it's a crime boss, there must be a gun."

Evelyn, eyes red, tore a strip from her own clothes, tightly wrapping his wound. "We could have made up another reason!"

"My storytelling skills are limited." Alexander's voice was calm. "Only a crime boss is convincing. Only he could force us to flee to sea, force us not to dare go home. Otherwise, what if the Sterling Family deports us?"

He ruffled Evelyn's hair.

"It's the perfect excuse. I'm fine."

He paused, then added, "But I can't call you Evelyn anymore. The name is too obvious. We need new names."

Evelyn wiped her eyes and snorted. "Then call me Evelyn."

"Call me Alexander?"

"Evelyn Vance."

"Alexander Sterling."

They looked at each other and suddenly both laughed.

Evelyn shook her head. "Sounds awful. Let's drop the surnames."

"Okay." Alexander said gently. "With your given name, bearing my surname."

Evelyn leaned against his shoulder, pointing at his leg. "Doesn't it hurt? You still have the mind for this."

"I'm used to it." Alexander said. "Fought pirates before. A bullet nearly hit my heart. I survived."

Evelyn leaned against him silently.

Alexander spoke again. "We're almost there. Evelyn, I need to jettison the equipment. The last two kilometers, we row ourselves. Okay?"

"Okay."

Alexander pressed a button.

The boat noticeably lightened, rocking more violently in the waves.

Evelyn looked toward the Sterling Family island two kilometers away, a smile curling her lips.

She was back.

Just as the thought formed, a massive wave struck.

The boat capsized.