There was a white shell as large as a tire at the crevice of an underwater cliff, and light was emerging from it. Stefan's eyes widened in excitement. Was this the Southern Oceanic Stone he had been looking for? He quickly swam towards it, trying to ignore his throbbing head and lack of oxygen. He felt like he could barely breathe. "I found it! I got it!" Stefan endured the pain and reached out to grab the giant shell. A kaleidoscope of colours engulfed him, and memories of Renee flooded his mind. Renee's face was the last thing he saw before he blacked out.Stefan regained consciousness some time later, and he vaguely heard voices calling him. "Mr. Hunt? Mr. Hunt... Wake up!""Mr. Hunt, don't scare me. Hurry up and wake up!"Stefan groaned and slowly opened his eyes. Bright light immediately filled his vision, and he quickly put his hand up to block it. Now, he could see some people standing over him, staring at him in concern. The fishermen were there, as well as Elijah...
However, the price of peace was rather tragic. Quinton was acting arrogantly around Stefan, but secretly, he felt like he had wronged Stefan and Renee. If he hadn't been so extreme back then, Renee and Stefan wouldn't have wasted so much time apart..."Oh, there isn't any signal." Stefan's face sank. That meant he couldn't get in touch with Renee for now—he could only miss her from across the ocean. "By the way, I felt like I saw the Southern Oceanic Stone before I blacked out... I wasn't imagining it, right?" After Stefan had calmed down, he recalled what he had seen earlier. "Yeah, you did! It's a miracle!" The fishermen all tried to speak to Stefan at the same time, eager to tell him about the magical moment."It's unbelievable! We've been fishing for so many years, but we've never seen such a large pearl...""The legendary Southern Oceanic Stone isn't a legend after all! The pearl is magical—I feel healthier just looking at it. My back and leg don't hurt now!" Stefan rubbed
Stefan didn't hide anything—he told Quinton about everything that had happened to him and Renee lately.Quinton staggered back, his eyes wide in shock. "What... did you say?" He couldn't believe that his pitiful sister had faced so much in just a few months. "I'm running out of time. I have to get the four items that Owen wants in a month. I think you should go back and be with Ren since you're her brother. I won't be worried if it's you taking care of her." Stefan had been worried about Renee, but he had to find the items for the antidote. Somehow, fate had made him bump into Quinton, and it might be a sign telling him that someone needed to go back and watch over Renee. The only other person who would risk their life for Renee and protect her unconditionally was Quinton. "No!" Quinton refused instantly."You… don't want to go back?" Stefan asked slowly, looking perplexed. Was Quinton not worried about Renee? "Of course, I want to go back, but not now." Quinton frowned, looki
The process was undoubtedly dangerous, and Quinton had suffered a lot of injuries getting the items. Similarly, Chase had also suffered a lot. Once they got what they wanted, they went to a nearby hospital to treat their wounds and rushed back to Beach City as fast as they could. Quinton had tried to get in touch with Stefan, but there was no response from him. He figured that Stefan might be in a place without any signal. He cut the call and took a deep breath to calm himself, then went to Everheart Manor. He hesitated before he went in. As Renee's brother, he had failed to uphold his responsibility as head of the family. Not only did he fail to protect Renee, but he had caused her so much trouble. He felt ashamed to meet her, and stood outside the door for almost ten minutes."Mr. Everheart, why aren't you going in?" Chase asked Quinton carefully as they stood at the door of the manor. "I'm too ashamed to go in," Quinton answered honestly."Really?" Chase was shocked and touche
"Uncle! Mr. Cheever! You both are finally back!" Adie and Abby were playing hopscotch in the yard, and lit up in excitement when they saw Quinton and Chase. They quickly ran over."Kids, it's been so long. Are you doing okay? Are you listening to your mommy?" Quinton asked gently as he hugged the two children. Quinton was a serious person who wouldn't even frown when he was in pain, but right now, he was speaking softly to the children like a kindergarten teacher. It was more than Chase could bear. "Uncle, you're finally home. Mommy is seriously ill, and we don't know what to do. I'm glad you're back..." Adie held Quinton's hand and said worriedly. He saw himself as the man of the house when Quinton left, and wanted to help Renee and protect her and Abby. Lately, he hadn't been eating or sleeping well because he was stressed, but now that Quinton was back, Adie felt like a burden had been lifted off of him. He knew that no one would dare to bully Renee and Abby if Quinton was around
Quinton was happy that he had rushed back—it was obvious that the family was falling apart. "You don't have to worry so much. I'm home, so everything will get better... Your mommy is just scared, and wants someone to be with her and protect her. Just leave this to me!" Quinton patted his chest to reassure them, and the two children led him to Renee's bedroom.There was a large terrace in Renee's bedroom that stretched out to an arc-shaped balcony. Various kinds of plants and flowers had been grown there, and when it was sunny, it was nice to sunbathe there amidst the nice fragrance of the flowers.Renee rarely left her room after she had lost her eyesight, and couldn't even enjoy sunbathing anymore. Feeling the sun's warmth on her skin was a cruel reminder that she could no longer see the flowers planted there, and that she might never find happiness. Today, however, she was willing to enjoy sunbathing on the balcony to get some fresh air. Somehow, she felt like her downfall would co
"What do you mean?" Quinton frowned in disdain. "Don't liken me to that iceberg—I'm not as cruel and aloof as him.""But you both said the same thing!" Renee smiled tenderly, feeling loved. "I got myself into this mess, but you both keep blaming yourselves. Like him, you look cold and fierce on the outside, but are actually a really warm and sensitive person." Outsiders felt that Renee was miserable because she was blind and poisoned, but she really wasn't because she was loved by so many. They tried their best to cure her, and although the poison had spread to her entire body, she felt happy to be loved so genuinely."If that's the case, I need to change my opinion of him," Quinton muttered as he pulled a chair over and sat beside Renee. Surprisingly, he started complimenting Stefan. "Yes, he constantly has a poker face on, and he seems world-weary and difficult, but he's sincere towards you. Back then, I wouldn't have believed him if he said he would die for you… but now I would. H
Renee couldn't reach Stefan's phone, and he hadn't replied to any of her texts. Although Renee was anxious, she believed that Stefan would be safe and return when he had promised… but now she wasn't so sure. "He was lucky you were there that day to save him, but will someone be there to help him if it happens again? Will he..." Renee bit her lip, too frightened to think about it."Don't worry about him, he's strong. He won't get into accidents that easily." Quinton tried to comfort Renee and told her about their plan. "I discussed it with him—I'm in charge of finding the Western Hills Fruit and Northern Lake Anaconda, and he's in charge of finding the dragon's saliva. His task is more difficult than mine, so naturally, he'll come home later than me."Renee, however, could not stop overthinking. "Is the dragon's saliva even real? I feel like Dr. Wagner is just trying to give me hope, and it doesn't actually exist.""Why not?" Quinton immediately fished out the three items he had plac