Ethan Sullivan and Sophia Sullivan had just climbed ashore.
Their clothes clung to their drenched bodies.
Water dripped from Sophia's hair.
Blood still seeped from Ethan's arm.
Hurried footsteps approached in the distance.
Julian Roscente arrived with a group of men.
His usual cheerful demeanor was gone.
His brows were furrowed, his expression grave.
He and Ethan had been close friends for years.
One glance at the scene told him everything.
"I'm late! Are you both alright?"
Julian quickly scanned their surroundings.
Traces of an explosion were everywhere.
Flames still flickered in the distance.
He was relieved he'd made it in time.
A few minutes later...
The consequences would have been unthinkable.
"Don't speak yet. Let the doctor check you first."
Julian issued firm orders.
He pushed forward a wheelchair.
"Ethan, sit down."
Even though they were abroad now,
people back home would still be watching.
Ethan's secret about his legs couldn't be exposed.
Sophia observed silently.
This CEO Roscente was thorough.
Leaves still clung to his clothes.
Clearly, he had rushed here in a hurry.
"Clean up the scene. Make it spotless."
Julian instructed his men.
His tone was icy, leaving no room for argument.
He turned to Sophia with a polite smile.
"Ms. Sullivan, we owe you our thanks this time."
But his eyes held a probing look.
"Still... who exactly was behind this?"
"The scale of the explosion was unusual."
His suspicion about Sophia's identity was evident.
Sophia lifted her gaze, her expression innocent.
"Maybe they kidnapped the wrong people."
She trembled slightly, as if still shaken.
"Thankfully, Mr. Sullivan pulled me into the sea."
"Otherwise, neither of us would have survived."
She sighed.
"Those kidnappers were too greedy."
"They fought over the money."
"Someone triggered the bomb."
Julian raised a brow.
Professional killers fighting over money?
That explanation was flimsy at best.
But Ethan nodded calmly.
"They were indeed insatiable."
"Now they've reaped what they sowed."
His composed tone backed up Sophia's story.
Julian immediately understood.
He shrugged and dropped the subject.
"Understood."
"I'll handle it as you've described."
He signaled the medical team.
"Take them to the yacht for treatment."
"I'll deal with things here."
The police would arrive soon.
Everything would proceed as planned.