Carlos didn't have much time to think. He made a beeline to the wheelhouse.
The cruiser sailed on against the wind. Waves slammed against the craft, dumping more water on deck. Debbie watched the huge waves in terror. "Carlos!" she screamed.
But Carlos already knew what was going on. "Sit tight. If the boat comes apart, jump into the water. Be careful not to swallow any. Preserve your energy," he told her. Neither of them had a phone, not like it would do them much good. They were a few miles offshore, and out of range of most cell towers. They had to find a way to survive.
Blood drained from Debbie's face. "Don't go," she said.
Another raging wave struck the boat. Debbie was almost thrown out of her chair. She grabbed the chair as tightly as she could. Her hands hurt.
Carlos approached the wheelhouse quickly. But he couldn't get the door open. Someone had locked it.
Just then, a furtive man wearing a straw hat made his way to the stern stealthily and closed the door to the cabin.
Debbie saw him and shouted, "Carlos, that man is locking the door!"
Carlos shot over there to stop the man, but it was too late. The door was locked.
Debbie turned to look at the other end. Luckily, the bow door was still open. "Carlos, that way!"
Hearing her, he rushed over to Debbie and took her towards the front door of the cabin.
They got there quickly, but the man with a straw hat had been just as quick, trying to lock this door as well. He didn't know who he was facing. Carlos kicked the man hard and sent him sprawling onto the deck. The man rolled on the deck in pain, covering his chest with both hands. His straw hat flew away.
Huge waves kept hammering the boat. The water inside the cabin had reached her thigh.
Carlos took her into his arms and said, "Don't be afraid. I'll find something you can hold onto in the water. If things get too dicey, I want you to jump overboard. Look. Two o'clock. There's a small island over there. Swim that way."
"Okay. Let's do it together." Debbie felt death was holding her hand now. Horror got hold of her. She clutched his hand and didn't want to let go again.
Carlos looked at her affectionately and kissed her hard on the lips. "For luck," he said.
Her eyes brimmed with tears. Even death would make her happy if she could die with Carlos. But that would leave their daughter an orphan, and she couldn't bear that thought.
They walked quickly out of the cabin. Normally, there would be life preservers, hooks, and ropes on both sides of a boat, but those items were missing. Carlos was certain that this was sabotage.
Who was the target? Who knew? Carlos, or Debbie…maybe even both of them.
Carlos wasn't able to find anything to help them on the boat. He looked at Debbie and said, "Hope you swim well. We need to make for that island."
"Got it."
She forced herself to smile for him. "Carlos, if we survive this, could you please dig up some dirt on James?" That old fox had been careful these days. Debbie hadn't been able to find anything to use against him.
It didn't matter if Carlos got his memory back or not. Debbie was determined to make James pay for what he did.
Carlos gripped her hand with an unfathomable smile. "What do I get out of it?" he asked.
Debbie embraced him with one arm and wrapped the other around his neck. "I'll do anything," she answered with an enchanting smile.
He held her by the waist. "Even divorce?"
She was in a daze for a few seconds. Then, "Sure," she said. "But it won't happen that quickly."
She and Ivan had been married for only a short time. His mom had just stopped nagging him. So they couldn't get divorced so soon.
Carlos didn't know why they married. He scoffed when he heard her. It wasn't the reply he was hoping for. "Why? Don't you want to divorce him?"
"What gave you that idea?"
"Because he's good in bed?"
Debbie rolled her eyes at him. She took one step back and walked up to the deck with him, holding his hand. "Mr. Huo, If we can survive this, I'll divorce Ivan in some time, but will you cancel your engagement with Stephanie?"
"No problem," he said immediately.
Debbie smiled. The sea wind blew hard. They stood at the bow of the boat, hand in hand, and jumped over the side.
With a splash, the two disappeared in the sea.
Soon, the drenched boat capsized and was devoured by the unrelenting ocean.
But the heaving seascape separated Debbie and Carlos.
With difficulty, Debbie surged to the surface of the water for air, but before she could take a breath, a massive wave sent her back underwater.
Breathing was becoming more and more difficult for her. When she thought she was going to die, somehow, she calmed down. 'God, please bless Carlos and Evelyn Huo. Make sure they will be safe and happy. Even if it costs me my life, ' she prayed.
Meanwhile, Wesley watched the sky and didn't feel right. When he and Blair boarded another cruiser, he grabbed a sailor and asked, "Is it going to rain?"
The man looked at the sky and said, "Unlikely. It's sunny now. But the weather at sea is capricious. A squall could blow up before you know it. You never know."
Gloom occupied Wesley's face. "What's the chance of rain?"
"Perhaps… Look! Over there! See those clouds? Low-hanging, and steel-gray. That means rain. But don't worry. If it rains, our helmsman will bring the boat back in."
Wesley felt something was amiss. "Go back to the resort. Wait for me. Don't go anywhere before I come back," he told Blair.
"Why not? You're so bossy. We came here on vacation, so why can't I go outside?" Blair complained.
"Carlos and Debbie are in danger," he said seriously.
"What?" She stood straight from shock. "It's just rain. The sailor says the helmsman will bring the boat back to port if it rains."
Wesley was too anxious to explain further. "Be a good girl and go back to the village. I'll be back soon."
"Okay, be careful." He always worried her.
"I will. Inform Kinsley and Niles." Wesley urged Blair about something else before he asked a pilot and some good sailors to take him out. The boat started sailing in a hurry.
The expression on Wesley's face became graver and graver as it rained more and more heavily.
Since Carlos and Debbie didn't have their phones, Wesley couldn't reach them. They might be out of cell distance anyway.
He was sure something bad was happening to them. He grabbed a sailor and asked, "Who was the crew on that boat?"
The sailor shook his head. "I dunno. Never seen them before."
