I Faked My Death—Now I Have to Tame the Crazy Men I Left Behind-Chapter 50 - 48: Slowly Sliding into the Depths

「Two months ago.」

A cruise ship sailed smoothly across the sea, in a room at the end of a third-deck cabin hallway.

Mia Grant watched as the door shut right in front of her. It was followed by a CLICK as the lock was thrown from the outside.

Her eyes were red as she pounded on the door. "Let me out! You bastards!"

"I’m sorry, Miss Grant. We can’t let you out without the master’s orders."

A row of bodyguards stood guard outside.

’Just how worried were they that I’d escape?’

Furious, Mia Grant started smashing things.

A continuous series of CRASHES and SMASHES echoed from the room, accompanied by a few "kind" wishes.

The bodyguards remained unmoved, standing silently outside the door.

On the other side of the door, Mia Grant grew tired of the act. She tossed another vase for good measure, then fell back onto the bed, panting.

’I can’t believe how heavy this cabinet is.’ She had used all her strength just to push it behind the door.

She needed to rest for a bit and save some energy. She still had to swim later.

That’s right—she was going to fake her death!

She had already calculated the distance and arranged for someone to pick her up on a small, nearby island.

All she had to do was jump, and she would be free!

She hadn’t been idle during this time. She had sold off all the jewelry she could, converted it into cash, and hidden it away.

She’d done the math. As long as she didn’t gamble it away, the money she had saved up was enough to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

’I’ll be free soon!’

After gathering her things, Mia Grant pushed open the window and climbed onto the ledge.

She prepared to jump into the sea as planned.

She had intended to slip away quietly, but the door behind her was suddenly burst open.

She turned her head in a panic and saw the male leads rushing in.

Kian Keller, Silas Grant, Felix Sinclair, and Ian Sinclair.

Even in such a tense and thrilling moment, she found herself wondering for a split second: if they were all here, where was Hayes Hughes?

Among the male leads, Yates Donovan hadn’t boarded the ship, so he wasn’t here.

But Hayes Hughes was on the ship.

’Why didn’t he come? Is he still busy placating Serena Grant?’

’Fine.’

’One less is one less.’

’It doesn’t change anything.’

Behind her, she heard men shouting themselves hoarse, and what sounded like a heavy object hitting the floor. She didn’t care what it was. In that moment, she couldn’t even tell who was calling her name; their voices all blurred together.

She didn’t look back again. With no lingering attachment, she leaped forcefully from the window.

Before she transmigrated into the book, she knew how to swim. But she never expected the original female side character to be someone who couldn’t swim at all.

The instant she plunged into the sea, water rushed into her nose, sealing off all her senses.

Sinking, endlessly sinking.

The sea was pitch-black, just like that basement no one ever passed by.

She struggled to swim, desperate to escape, but her limbs wouldn’t obey.

The water behind her transformed into a thorny jungle, wrapping around her, binding her, tearing at her and forcing her to stay.

She almost truly drowned in that sea.

Powerlessly, she closed her eyes, thinking, ’Maybe I should just give up.’

’This is the fate of a side character.’

’There’s no escape.’

But in the next second, a wave of defiance washed over her.

’Anyone else in this world can die, but I’m the exception!’

She used every ounce of her strength to rip away the thorns, not caring that her hands were dripping with blood.

When she finally crawled ashore, Mia Grant let out a long sigh of relief. "Quick, get me out of here!"

After saying this to the person waiting for her, she lost consciousness completely.

——

At the dining table, the man stood as if someone had pressed pause. His back was to the living room, and he remained frozen in place for a long time.

Mia Grant blinked, her gaze brazenly studying his back.

He had taken off his jacket, revealing a white dress shirt underneath. Because he had been tidying up, his cufflinks were undone and his sleeves were neatly rolled up to his elbows. Mia squinted. She could even see the blue veins bulging on his exposed forearms.

Due to his work, he didn’t work out often, but his excellent proportions—broad shoulders and a narrow waist—were in no way inferior to the other male leads.

Her gaze lingered on his waistline before slowly moving up to his gently rising and falling back.

’Oh, so he is still breathing.’

’I thought he was a robot that could be paused on command.’

"Brother?" ’Was the question really that hard to answer?’

Mia Grant stroked her chin. ’He seems to be finding it so hard to speak. There must be guilt involved.’

’As for why he’s so guilty... could it be that he really was with Serena Grant at the time?’

The more Mia analyzed it, the more plausible it seemed.

Thinking of this, she didn’t hesitate and asked him directly, "Brother, the reason you didn’t come looking for me... was it because you were with my sister?"

’Next up should be that familiar line, right?’ Mia Grant silently counted down from three in her head.

She had only just folded down two of her three outstretched fingers when Hayes Hughes spun around. "Mia, I’m sorry..."

’Oho, called it.’

She smiled and replied considerately, "It’s alright, Brother. I was just asking casually. You don’t have to take it to heart."

"That day was my sister’s college acceptance party. Of course that was more important. It’s understandable that you stayed by her side."

’See? How understanding I am.’

’Come to think of it, there might be another main reason why Hayes Hughes’s initial ’darkening’ value was lower than the other male leads—’

’He didn’t personally witness me jump.’

’That Yates Donovan guy was probably the same way.’

"That day on the ship..." Hayes Hughes tried to explain, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he didn’t know where to begin.

Because he really had been with Serena Grant at the time.

It was as if a heavy hammer had fallen beside his ear, a verdict announced from above: his sins were grave.

He had no right to defend himself.

Mia Grant sat on the sofa, unhurriedly admiring his desolate expression.

’See? I’ve said it before, his face is perfectly suited for an expression like this.’

’It really makes one’s heart itch with anticipation.’

She couldn’t help but wonder, ’Will Hayes Hughes cry?’

’With that god-tier face of his, he must look beautiful when he cries...’

’An angel shedding tears... Just thinking about the image made Mia feel like her own heart was about to break. But... it felt so good!’

’Professional actor. Can’t break character!’

Mia Grant was afraid her smile would look too twisted.

"I’m going to the restroom." She shot to her feet, like Cinderella fleeing from the prince in a panic before the magic wore off at midnight.

Behind her, a shattering sound exploded through the room as the man knocked something over.

A plate or a bowl, Mia Grant didn’t have time to tell.

Rapid footsteps closed in. The familiar scent of cedarwood invaded her senses from behind, forming an airtight circle that trapped her completely.

Hayes Hughes hugged her from behind, lowering his head. His hot breath ghosted across her neck.

Mia Grant hadn’t expected him to rush forward like this. It didn’t fit his character profile. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Taking a deep breath, she tried to turn, but his head was resting on her shoulder. From this angle, she couldn’t see his expression.

But she could clearly feel the chest pressed against her back heaving uneasily.

’Is he...?’

While she was still stunned, a warm drop of liquid fell onto her neck. Before she could react, it slid slowly down her collarbone and disappeared.

"I was wrong."

"Mia, I was wrong."