"Jones, you and Ms. Brooks seem to be getting along pretty well!" Catherine initiated a conversation with us.
Jones didn’t deny it, but instead countered, "You and Damon are on good terms too, aren’t you?"
"It’s okay. After all, we’ve been apart for so long, there are many things that need to be rekindled. But it’s okay," Catherine smoothed over her still damp hair. Her voice was soft and soothing. "We had a foundation. We didn’t split up voluntarily. So, we’ll cherish this hard-won reconciliation. Besides, the kid is important. We have to think about him too."
With that, Catherine patted Leo on the head, "Leo, go practice your handwriting. Mommy will stay here and enjoy the breeze."
Leo obediently turned and went back to the room.
I didn’t want to stick around listening to Jones and Catherine’s chat. So, I excused myself, "You guys carry on. I’m going for a shower."
"All right." Jones replied gently, "I’ll co and blow-dry your hair later."
I didn’t think it was necessary, but I nodded anyway. Jones’s eyes instantly brightened.
After a quick shower, I changed and went back to the balcony only to find that Jones was gone. He was not on the balcony, nor in the room.
I was a bit puzzled but also a little relieved. That way, I could have dried my hair myself and avoided the awkwardness if Jones really actually helped.
But even after I finished drying my hair, Jones still hadn’t returned.
I initially wanted to go to bed, but I wasn’t sleepy. So, I decided to look for Jones.
As I entered the elevator, Damon appeared at the door. He looked surprised to see in the elevator, but quickly regained his composure and entered without speaking to .
He seed to have just showered too, and he slled like the sa rose-scented hotel soap I had used.
Just as the two of us were in the elevator, I could only stare at the changing numbers on the panel.
Suddenly, I felt the elevator jerk violently. I quickly grabbed the handrail to steady myself.
Then, the elevator stopped at the fifth floor and remained motionless.
"The elevator’s malfunctioned." Damon, who had also steadied himself, looked at . His voice was steady.
"Then we need to alert the hotel staff!" I felt incredibly unlucky. Not only did I run into my ex-husband in an elevator, but then we were also stuck in it together.
Damon contacted the hotel through the elevator’s ergency system. They assured us that they were going to send soone to fix it imdiately and told us to remain calm.
The elevator fell silent again. Damon stood next to . He considered lighting a cigarette but decided against it.
Suddenly, the elevator seed to drop, but it didn’t fall all the way. My heart jumped, and I almost scread.
I was truly scared because I felt in danger, and my mind was filled with thoughts of Serena and Brandon. What would have happened to them if sothing had happened to ?
With those worries, I beca emotionally unstable.
But at that mont, I had no other choice but to wait.
"Where are you off to this late?" Damon asked, probably out of boredom.
"To find Jones." I replied casually.
"Chances are he’s with Catherine. They were college classmates and friends." Damon stated nonchalantly, hands in his pockets.
I hadn’t thought about that, considering I didn’t know whether Catherine was in her room or not.
I thought, "What could Jones and Catherine possibly have to talk about?"
I didn’t respond. I just lowered my head and started playing with my phone. The signal in the elevator was weak. So, I stopped using it after a while.
Soon, we could hear the faint sound of people talking outside. The hotel maintenance crew asked us a few questions and assured us that they were working on the issue.
But for so reason, the elevator started dropping again, in fits and starts. Each ti I lost balance, it would stop, causing no physical harm but creating a psychological shadow over .
Damon seed much more composed, but his furrowed brow indicated that he was not pleased.
"Ah!" The feeling of weightlessness ca again, but that ti, it was more intense. It was as if the elevator was plumting. The elevator shaft echoed with a loud noise. My hand tightly clutched the handrail, but I was forced to let go in the chaos.
At the critical mont, Damon grabbed my wrist. I stumbled into his arms. He held onto the handrail with one hand and held with the other. His voice was quick but calm, "Don’t be scared. The floor we’re stuck at isn’t high, and we’ve been dropping in fits and starts. So even if we fall all the way, it won’t be too serious."
I was breaking out in a cold sweat. I could only nod at Damon’s words, then reached out to hold the handrail, so I wasn’t entirely leaning on Damon.
Thankfully, Just as Damon predicted, the elevator soon stopped. But it hadn’t reached the ground yet. People outside were trying to open the door so we could get out.
"Damon, are you hurt?" I glanced at Damon and noticed blood on his arm. I wasn’t sure where he got it from, but blood was seeping out.
"It’s nothing more than a minor wound." Damon inspected his arm and dismissed it.
"Did you get hurt when you were trying to catch ?" I instinctively thought back to that mont.
"No. Don’t overthink it. We should be able to get out soon." Damon responded casually, not at all concerned about his injury.
But I couldn’t help but feel guilty. I stared at his wound for a long ti until the elevator door was finally opened.
By then, Jones and Catherine had arrived with the maintenance crew. When they saw Damon and in the elevator, both of their expressions faltered.
Damon was the first to step out. Catherine imdiately rushed over and asked, "Damon, are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Upon noticing Damon’s injured arm, her eyebrows furrowed. She glanced at subconsciously, then said, "Your arm’s injured. Let’s go back to the room. I’ll bandage it up for you."
I stepped out of the elevator, eting the deep worry and a hint of suspicion in Jones’s eyes.
He gave a once-over and asked, "Are you all right? Did you get hurt? Were you scared?"
I responded, "No, I wasn’t hurt, but yes, I was scared. I was on my way to see you. I didn’t expect the elevator to act up like this. The hotel should be held...."
Jones exhaled a of relief as he took my hand, "I had a chat with Catherine downstairs. If you ever need , just call, and I’ll be right back."
He was honest about it, not hiding the fact that he had spent ti with Catherine.
I said nothing, not feeling jealous or discontent. I was just sowhat puzzled. What could they have possibly discussed? What common ground did they share?
Once we returned to our room, Jones noticed my silence. Assuming I was scared, he brought water and comforted .
Still, his tender gestures didn’t make feel any better.
"Jones, what did you talk about with Catherine?" I finally asked.
Jones looked surprised, and a smile played on his lips, "Why? Are you jealous? Or are you worried that we’re plotting sothing?"
I found his assumption strange, I was rely curious about their conversation, not suspecting any conspiracy.
Seeing my bewildernt, Jones ruffled my hair, "Don’t worry. There’s nothing going on between us. She just wanted to talk about Serena and Brandon. She’s a bit paranoid and thinks Brandon looks like Damon. She keeps asking for reassurance."
That seed plausible. Catherine’s suspicion about Serena and Brandon was no surprise. When I first saw that Leo looked so much like Damon, I had my doubts too.
"All right, you’ve had a scare today. You should rest. I’ll sleep on the couch." Jones spoke softly.
"Okay, I’m really tired." I nodded. It was late and the issue about the elevator accident could have been dealt with by the hotel staff later.
The next day offered a couple of choices. The choices were diving together to catch seafood and preparing a al from our catch, or engaging in activities like rock climbing and bungee jumping.
I chose diving. It had been a while since I tried it.
Jones was also an experienced diver. Following the guidance of staff, we boarded a yacht. Each couple had their own yacht. Once out at sea, we began to dive. Lunch was served onboard.
I was a decent diver. I had been fascinated with it for a ti and even dived with Luna. Today, she and Mitch chose bungee jumping instead.
"Once we dive, we don’t have to stay together. Try to gather as much seafood as possible." I joked with Jones, "We don’t want to go hungry at lunch."
"All right." Jones was already in his wetsuit, carrying an oxygen tank. After giving an okay sign, we both dived into the water, leaving a staff mber in charge of the yacht.
I collected so clams and caught a shrimp the size of my palm. I returned to the yacht, feeling content.
The joy of diving was not only about the catch but also the sense of freedom swimming like a fish. After wandering around underwater for a while, I decided to go back up due to limited oxygen.
Just as I was swimming up, I felt sothing swimming below . I soon found I couldn’t move as my ankle was tangled in so sort of rope.
Soone swam by. I could tell that it was a woman from her build. Her wetsuit was a different color than mine. It was rosy red. I waved desperately, hoping she would notice . She did, but after a glance, she swam away, leaving only a vague silhouette behind.
I felt my oxygen running low and tried to swim back down to cut the rope. But without any tools underwater, it was a daunting task. The rope was thick, not so thin line.
As I struggled, I used up more oxygen. Soon I felt weak and wondered where Jones was, and if he would have noticed my absence and co looking for .
Even if he dived down, it would have probably been too late.
Forcing myself to stay calm, I found a sharp rock on the seabed and tried to cut the rope. When that failed, I found a piece of broken glass. That was my lifeline! Just as my oxygen was about to run out, I managed to sever the rope. My hand was cut in the process, but seeing my blood disperse in the water, I bore the pain and swam up.
When my head broke the surface, I heard my na, "Eliana Brooks!"
Damon was swimming towards . He didn’t have any diving equipnt on and swam straight to . I was exhausted and the oxygen tank felt like a burden. The first thing he did was to help take off so of the equipnt.
Feeling lighter, I breathed in the fresh air greedily, feeling slightly dizzy.
"Eliana!" Jones’s voice echoed, and he swam towards in a panic, He took from Damon. The diving safety officer also arrived and helped onto the yacht.
I lay on the deck, exhausted. All I wanted was to breathe and rest.
"Are you okay? What happened?" Jones asked anxiously.
"I ran into so trouble," I gasped, pointing at my ankle, "I got tangled in that rope."
Jones-imdiately checked the remaining rope around my ankle. anwhile, Damon and Catherine also boarded our yacht. Damon looked pale, probably shocked by my ordeal.
Catherine, on the other hand, looked concerned, "Ms. Brooks, are you all right?"
I squinted at her and noticed her rosy red wetsuit. A sudden realization hit . Was the woman who ignored my plea for help Catherine? If so, why did she leave when I was in trouble?
By all ans, she should not have been able to see my face clearly. Even if I were a stranger, she should have co over to lend a hand.
"What’s the matter?" Upon seeing my silence, Jones grew increasingly worried, fearing sothing had gone awry with .
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