Chapter 2 The Mermaid
Chapter 2 The Mermaid
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Jamie Brewer replied to her text, “Well, well, look who’s back. Haven’t heard from you in ages, and now you want to buy one of my islands? That’s pretty bold, Dana.”
His playful, devil–may–care tone rubbed Dana the wrong way.
But she supposed it made sense. It had been so long since they’d seen each other that he didn’t even call her by her old nickname -Dee–anymore.
Jamie had once been her and Hunter’s closest friend.
The three of them had grown up together. But two years ago, after a massive falling–out, she and Jamie had cut ties completely.
That was the year Celine came into Hunter’s life, and Dana became the city’s favorite joke.
It was Jamie who stood up for her, acting like a spoiled rich kid out of some tabloid scandal, putting everyone who mocked her in their place.
He’d offered to take her away that day, away from all the hurt and humiliation. But Dana had refused.
“I’m engaged,” she’d said. “Hunter is my fiancé.”
She could still remember the disappointment in Jamie’s eyes as he told her, “Engaged? You seriously didn’t know? Hunter’s already moved on. If he can fall in love with someone else, why can’t you?
“Dee, he doesn’t love you anymore. So how about this? Starting today, let me protect you instead.”
Dana had known what he meant. She wasn’t clueless. But back then, her heart had only room for Hunter.
They parted on bad terms and never spoke again.
But look at where that decision had brought her–battered, bloodied, and broken.
A flicker of regret crossed her mind. Maybe she should’ve gone with Jamie back then.
Still, it wasn’t too late for her to see through everything. “Cut the crap,” she said now. “Do you have one or not? Just say it–I can hear you.”
There was a pause on the line. “Your hearing’s back?” Jamie sounded stunned.
Dana didn’t reply. Jamie gave a sheepish chuckle. “Yeah, yeah, of course I have one. If you want an island, then I guess I better have one. Thing is, I’m overseas handling a few things. Three more days, tops. Once I’m done, I’ll come pick you up myself and send you there. How does that sound?”
Dana had been planning to refuse, but she quickly realized–his islands were all private. The only way there was by speedboat or yacht, and she didn’t have anyone she could trust to sell her one discreetly.
Buying it herself would attract attention, and she didn’t want anyone–especially not Hunter–knowing she was leaving.
Besides, in her condition, she couldn’t even stand on her own, let alone travel.
“Alright,” she said at last. “I’ll send you my location when it’s time.”
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2:56 pm G ppp.
Chapter 2 The Mermaid
She hung up and collapsed back onto the ground.
There was no more strength left in her to fight off the dogs circling her.
As Dana’s consciousness began to slip away, the warehouse door burst open.
Hunter was the first to charge in, calling her name again and again, his voice frantic.
Dana forced her eyes open. Was she imagining it?
Was Hunter crying?
Why? Why cry now, when he was the one who put her through all this?
She didn’t understand. Was this just another performance?
If it was, then she had to admit–he was good. Good enough to fool her for three whole years.
She blacked out again. When she woke, she overheard the sound of Hunter and his friends talking nearby.
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Hunter muttered, “The doctor said if we didn’t make it on time, she’d be dead. That was way too close. We can’t let that happen again.”
Someone else scoffed. “So what? If she dies, she dies. Trash like her–who cares?”
Hunter frowned; he cut in, firm. “That’s not an option.”
“Hunter,” another friend said, “you’ve never gone soft on her before. What’s wrong with you? Did you fall for her?”
“Don’t forget,” someone else added, “when we went hiking a few years ago and got caught in that rockslide? Everyone was hurt; you almost died. But it was Celine who risked her life to donate blood–1,200 cc! And that witch Dana? She ditched you to go on vacation overseas!”
Dana’s brows furrowed at that.
1,200 cc of blood?
Back then, it was true–Hunter was barely hanging on. He needed a massive blood transfusion. But the one who gave it wasn’t
Celine.
It was her.
The hospital had been overwhelmed with injuries. The blood bank was dangerously low. And Hunter had a rare blood type–Rh- negative. Donors were nearly impossible to find.
But Dana knew they were a match. She gritted her teeth and gave every last drop she could to make sure he had all the blood he needed.
She passed out right after, unconscious for two days. Even after she woke, she could barely move. Still, when she heard Hunter had made it through, her heart settled with relief.
She’d begged her friends not to tell him. She didn’t want him to worry. Didn’t want him to feel guilty.
To keep up the lie, she hadn’t even gone to see him. Told him she had a trip abroad.
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2:56 pm GP pp.
Chapter 2 The Mermaid
When he was discharged, they finally met again.
And after that, things changed. The man who’d always ignored Celine suddenly started to entertain her.
Their relationship grew closer by the day.
And Dana, his fiancée, became invisible–just another joke for everyone to laugh at.
For a long time, she couldn’t figure it out. Why did Hunter’s feelings change so fast?
Now she understood.
It was the story of the prince and the mermaid, with her sacrificing everything and ending up as the bubble.
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Across the room, Hunter’s face darkened at his friends‘ accusations. He shook his head. “The only one I love is Celine. I’m just repaying a favor to her family, that’s all.
“Her family was good to mine. Before they passed, her parents asked us to look after Dana. So she can’t die.”
Almost like he needed to convince himself, Hunter repeated, even softer this time, “That’s right. The only one I love is Celine.”
