"Save my sister! They threw her into the sea!" Katy had never spoken so clearly in her life.


    Castle''s expression changed drastically.


    The next second, Sue''s body went flying as he kicked her with brutal force.


    If a bodyguard hadn''t been there to break her fall, she might have gone overboard herself.


    Before she could even get to her feet, she saw a dark figure vault over the railing and dive into the ocean without a moment''s hesitation.


    Noreen couldn''t swim.


    She''d never thought it was a big deal.


    But at this moment, she realized just how important it was.


    The winter sea was brutally cold. So cold that after just a few frantic sshes, a wave crashed over her head and dragged her under.


    It felt like thousands of ice-covered needles piercing her thin dress, burrowing into every pore, chilling her to the bone.


    She couldn''t even manage a full scream.


    The bottomless sea was like a giant, greedy mouth, instantly swallowing all sound.


    Salty water flooded her mouth and nose...


    The strong, briny taste was overpowering, scraping at her throat like sandpaper. Suffocation followed, like a shadow.


    Her lungs felt as if they were being squeezed by an invisible hand.


    Air was running out, and her brain screamed in protest. She thrashed her arms and


    legs wildly, trying to grab onto something, anything.


    Even a piece of straw would do.


    But her fingers only met the cold, thick, endless water.


    Her body sank uncontrobly.


    Slowly, the lights from the cruise ship blurred and faded.


    Just before darkness consumed her, the surface of the water broke again.


    ...


    Noreen woke up with a violent feeling of suffocation.


    She gasped for air, taking in huge, desperate breaths as if to prove to herself that she was still alive.


    Castle was on the balcony, on the phone. His usual gentle tone was gone, reced by a sharp,manding voice.


    "Pleading with me is useless. She hurt someone, and she will face the consequences! I''ve already called the psychiatric hospital. Someone will be here to pick her up shortly."


    "Don''t you dare bring Harriet into this! If it weren''t for Harriet, she wouldn''t have survivedst night."


    "If the Caldwell family insists on interfering, then don''t me me for pulling my support for the Caldwell Group."


    "You should know that without the Joyner Group''s backing, the Caldwell Group won''tst three months!"


    "I have done more than enough for the Caldwell family!"


    With that, Castle hung up, ignoring the desperate pleas from the Caldwells on the other end.


    He turned and saw that Noreen was awake. He immediately walked over to her, his voice filled with concern. "Youge awake. Are you feeling ufortable anywhere?


    Noreen''s voice was hoarse. "I''m having a little trouble breathing."


    "It''s an after-effect of drowning. The doctor said there''s some swelling in your lungs."


    He poured her a ss of warm water to soothe her dry throat.


    Noreen took it and asked, "How''s Katy?"


    "She''s shaken up. She''s with a therapist right now."


    "And Sue?" Noreen asked.


    "In the room next door."


    Sensing her fear, he quickly added, "She''s being watched. The boat to pick her up will be here soon, and she''ll be taken directly to the psychiatric hospital in Glenhaven City."


    Despite his assurances, Noreen still felt a lingering fear.


    She felt a little dizzy, and Castle told her to get some rest. Her recovery was the most important thing.


    Noreen had just closed her eyes when another thought struck her. She opened them again and asked Castle, "Who saved me?"