Chapter 1: The Night She Died

**Third person**

“Today is the day you die,” Adam growled, his voice laced with venom as he walked towards his pregnant wife, Ashley.

Ashley, whose back was facing him, turned to look at him.

“Oh Adam, it's you.” She gave him a casual smile, clearly ignorant of what Adam had planned for the night.

Then she shut her eyes briefly and took a relaxing breath, allowing the cold night breeze to brush her skin for a few seconds before opening them back.

“The view here is wonderful, isn't it?” She pointed out. “It's really scary how the ocean can be so dark.”

Today was her twenty-fifth birthday, and she'd decided to celebrate it on her luxurious ship with friends.

The lighting on this side of the ship was dim, and so she missed the icy glare on Adam's face.

Adam took a step towards her, a smirk plastered across his face. “I'm really glad you like the view, it would have been a shame if you didn't. Especially since this is the last view you'll ever enjoy.”

“Oh, don't say that. We'll definitely visit other beautiful…”

The words died in her mouth when she spotted two men appear from the darkness. They immediately restrained her arms.

“What's going on here?” She barked, confusion etched all over her face.

They'd loosened their grip on her now, but she was caged in a corner of the ship.

“Even if you scream, no one can save you. Everyone on this ship is fast asleep, thanks to spiked drinks,” Adam explained, a cruel smirk twisting his face.

“Huh? What are you talking about?” Her gaze darted from the men in front of her to her lovely husband, Adam.

Adam clenched his jaw. “Didn't you hear what I said earlier? Today is your last day,” he yelled, unable to contain his anger.

Her naivety irritated him to the core.

She was silent, still trying to process what he had said.

Adam moved a bit closer, into the light, and the frosty look on his face made Ashley tremble slightly.

Was this some sort of birthday present?

It had to be.

“My last day?” She echoed, fear creeping into her voice. “What do you mean?”

“Look at me!” Adam shouted. “Do you think I deserve an obese woman like you?” He spat, his face contorting with disgust.

Tears involuntarily streamed down Ashley’s cheeks, and her trembling hands clutched the cold rails of the ship. Four months pregnant, she couldn't grasp what her husband was saying.

Was she dreaming?

“Me?” she finally managed to whisper, her voice shaking.

He raked his fingers through his hair frustratedly. “Oh goodness, who else could I be talking to? Aren't you shapeless and ugly?”

Ashley swallowed; his words cut deep like a knife.

“But… But Adam,” she stuttered. “You said that you didn't want me wearing makeup or even going to a beauty salon because other men will…”

“Shut up, woman!” Adam's harsh tone cut through.

Where had she gone wrong?

“S-Sorry,” she struggled to murmur. “Whatever the problem is, we can…”

“No need to apologize,” Adam interrupted, a murderous glint in his eyes. “I'll manage the company well while you're gone.”

Ashley noticed the look on his face, and a shiver coursed down her spine.

Adam wasn't bluffing? He was actually going to kill her?

Her eyes scanned the surroundings anxiously, but there was no escape.

“But, why?” She pleaded, her face a mask of confusion and terror.

For the past three years of their marriage, she's been the perfect, obedient, and understanding wife.

If Adam needed anything done, all he had to do was ask.

“Why?” she repeated, a touch louder this time. If she was going to die, she at least deserved to know.

His gaze shifted to the shadows, and from there, a figure emerged.

As it stepped closer, Ashley recognized her sister, Karen.

“Karen!” Ashley called out, relief washing over her. “Please, call for help!” she cried, a desperate plea in her voice. “It's Adam… I don't know why, but he's trying to…”

Karen’s chilling laugh cut Ashley off. “You don't get it, do you?”

Karen was standing beside Adam now. Leaning forward, they locked lips in front of Ashley's horrified eyes.

Ashley's grip on the rail tightened until she felt her hands go numb. Was this some kind of twisted nightmare?

Her tears were replaced with ragged gasps and choked sobs as she watched the betrayal unfold.

“Since when…?” She stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

“Oh, please,” Karen scoffed, giving her a condescending look. “You're just fat and stupid. Did you really think that Adam could love someone like you?”

Ashley felt her heart sink to her stomach.

How could Karen say those mean things to her? Karen was her sister and best friend.

“Karen?” Ashley croaked, her chest aching with utter disbelief.

“You know you turn me on with that sass,” Adam purred to Karen, his eyes filled with affection as he tucked Karen's hair behind her ear.

Adam leaned forward, and they kissed again, his hand reaching for her backside.

“Don't you two have any shame?” Ashley yelled, her voice finally breaking. “What did I ever do to deserve this? I…” Ashley struggled to find her words.

Her eyes were red and swollen, and she didn't even mind that the mucus dripping from her nose found its way to her mouth.

She could feel her stomach ache. Nothing made sense to her. “I’ve always been there for you both! I've…”

Before Ashley could finish, Karen had rushed to her and landed a vicious slap on her cheek. The force of the slap sent Ashley reeling back, almost toppling over the edge.

“Just throw this bitch overboard already,” Karen snarled, her chest heaving with anger. “I can't stand looking at her anymore.”

“You heard her,” Adam said coldly to the guards. “Dispose of her.”

“Please, please,” Ashley begged, the horrifying reality sinking in.

“What about our baby? Don't do this! I beg you!! With everything you hold dear,” she screamed, each word filled with desperation.

But Adam remained unmoved, his eyes filled with disgust. Had he been acting all these years, or was she just too blind to see?

The guards manhandled her while she clawed, kicked, and screamed. “No! My baby can't die!! Please, Adam! I’ll give you everything I own!”

Adam’s response was a cruel laugh. “You're even dumber than I thought,” he muttered, clenching his fists. “Everything you own already belongs to me!”

“Please! Pleaseeee!!” She cried. “It's our baby!”

Her struggles turned futile, and the men pushed her out of the ship. A tear echoed as her face collided with the sharp edge of the ship.

“Arghhh!” Ashley groaned in pain. The deep cut that ran across her face was gushing out with blood, blurring her vision, and dripping into the water.

Ashley shut her eyes to prevent more blood from entering, and her hands clutched desperately to the rail of the ship as she hung in the air.

“How pathetic,” Karen sneered from where she stood. “You should just give up already.”

“Please, Karen, have mercy,” Ashley begged, but Karen just rolled her eyes in disgust.

As she clung on for dear life, she felt her grip on the rail loosen a bit, and a cold dread coursed through her.

Was this really how she'd die? She needed to protect her child, no matter what.

“My parents will find out," Ashley blurted out. Her voice was as fierce as possible, hoping to intimidate them. “And you'll pay... Except you let me go. I won't tell…”

Adam and Karen exchanged knowing glances and then burst out in mock laughter.

“Newsflash; The CCTV on this side has been disabled. Tomorrow, everyone will believe you just slipped and fell overboard,” Karen finally spoke up, her voice was laced with pride. Their plan was brilliant.

Ashley gasped in fear, and before she could utter another word, Adam gave her a final, brutal kick that sent her hand flying off the rail.

Karen and Adam watched the struggling figure in the water for a moment. Then, hand in hand, they walked back inside, leaving Ashley to her watery grave.

They say when you're about to die, your whole life flashes through your eyes.

And as Ashley struggled to stay afloat, she started to remember,

The day she married Adam…

The way he changed afterwards…

And even the day he… he…

Then her thoughts became quiet.