Chapter 3

Flick kicked the girl, angrily scolding her for her lack of awareness.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

I slowly stood up, not wanting to explode in front of everyone, just wanting to keep some semblance of dignity between us.

Sera glanced at me and then at Jazz, but she ultimately didn’t follow me.

When I returned, everyone had eaten and sat down on the beach.

Jazz and Sera were sitting close together, their postures intimate. I quietly found a spot to sit off to the side.

Flick again tried to lighten the mood:

“Alright, let’s play a game of Truth or Dare!”

In the first round, Sera won, and Jazz lost.

Jazz chose truth, and Sera let him off easy, asking him what he had been happy about lately.

Jazz blinked and gazed at Sera affectionately:

“I met a wonderful woman; in just one day, I have a house and a car. By the way, she even took me for a midnight ride in her new Mercedes-Benz to unwind.”

After saying that, Jazz smirked at me triumphantly.

Most people present knew exactly how Jazz had gotten that house and car, but everyone typically turned a blind eye, knowing yet saying nothing.

However, Jazz bringing these matters to light changed everything.

The atmosphere thickened again; even Flick felt a bit awkward.

Noticing that I wasn’t getting angry, Flick forced herself to keep the ball rolling:

“Alright, it’s time for the second round, and look, it’s our handsome Ethan’s turn.”

When it was my turn, Jazz was the one to impose a penalty on me.

“Truth,” I said flatly.

Jazz approached me with a drink in hand:

“Ethan, let’s play big, how about a dare?”

I frowned, alarm bells ringing:

“I choose truth.”

“Let’s do a dare; I won’t make it hard on you. I heard Sera say you’re an excellent swimmer. Just swim a lap for us!”

Jazz smirked as he looked at my abdomen.

I firmly refused:

“I’m not feeling well; I can’t swim.”

Jazz looked at Sera with a pitiful gaze, and Sera, slightly annoyed, said:

“You’re a level-two athlete; swimming is your specialty; how could you not swim?

A few days ago, he apologized to you; now he’s trying to make amends. You showing him a swim will not cost you anything!”

Sera insisted, ignoring my struggles, pushing me towards the beach along with Jazz.

Jazz skillfully removed my jacket while taking a swig from a bottle of alcohol:

“Ethan, I toast to you; now it’s your turn to shine.”

With a drink in hand, I felt like I was being put on a spit to roast. I grew impatient:

“I said I didn’t want to swim; forcing me while you drink isn’t fair. Why can’t I choose truth?”

Jazz pouted, glancing at Sera. Sera’s expression darkened instantly.

She slammed the bottle of alcohol into the sand:

“What’s your problem? Swimming is your forte; he’s not making it hard on you; he’s even punishing himself with a drink! Why are you being so ungrateful?”

Looking at Sera, the “damsel saving the hero,” and at Jazz, whose eyes were reddening, I replied coldly:

“Did I force him to drink? I told him I didn’t want to swim, and he’s still pushing me; isn’t that the definition of being difficult?”

I shot back three times, causing Jazz to burst into tears.

Sera’s expression turned dark as she rolled up her pants.

“Not swimming, huh? Fine, I’ll swim with you!”

With everyone staring in shock, Sera grabbed my ear and forcefully pushed me into the water.

The cold seeped into my wound, making my scalp tingle with chill; in the next moment, seawater rushed into my nose, and I choked violently.

Sera still didn’t let go; she and Jazz held me down.

I felt like I was suffocating, my eyes turning red from discomfort as tears and snot streamed down my face.

When it felt like my lungs were about to explode, I desperately tried to push Sera away; finally, she let go.

Unfortunately, a big wave crashed in just then, and as I tried to grab Sera’s pant leg, she kicked me away.

I was swept into the sea, icy water engulfing me completely.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally swam with all my strength to the shore, gasping for fresh air.

Meanwhile, Sera was gently rubbing Jazz's head, soothing him with patience and warmth:

“Don’t be sad; I punished him.”

“He deserves it; I’ll teach him a lesson later.”

Then, she walked up to me, looking down from above:

“Apologize to Jazz! You owe him a drink! Otherwise, we…”

In the midst of everyone’s shocked gazes and Sera’s demanding eyes, I interrupted, my eyes reddening:

“Sera, wait for my lawyer to contact you; we’re getting a divorce.”

With that, Sera stared at me in disbelief, her dark eyes filled with shock.

I felt weak as I took a few steps forward. When I reached the main road, everything went black, and I collapsed.

Before losing consciousness, I heard someone nearby shouting:

“Someone’s passed out!”

“Call an ambulance! Oh my God, he’s bleeding a lot from his abdomen!”