SWNOVELS Chapter 418
The plan was to live stream the rescue operation, but it was shut down due to the complexity and overwhelming criticism. Instead, the team fully focused on the search and rescue. Unexpectedly, this morning, the live stream kicked back on by itself, showing Chloe and Connor.
Ruben couldn't believe his eyes. The tech team reported that hackers had breached their system and taken full control. Despite the bizarre situation, seeing Connor and Chloe alive brought a collective sigh of relief. Marian fainted upon seeing them. For days, she'd been running on sheer belief, foregoing food and sleep. She had aged significantly, her eyes clouded and her spirit wilted, as if the flame inside her had burned out. Pax had been by Marian's side, also refusing to eat or drink. He'd gone visibly thinner. The past days had taken a massive toll on him, transforming him completely. The vibrant spark of life he once carried seemed entirely extinguished. He became a shell of himself, often lost in thought, never smiling again.
However, the moment Chloe and Connor reappeared on the stream, Pax collapsed to the ground, weeping. It was a release of long-suppressed emotions, a deep act of repentance. He remained kneeling, unwilling to rise.
Pax had a chance to save them that day. When Claire lost her mind, he could have intervened. Then Chloe wouldn't have jumped into the sea, and Connor wouldn't have gone missing during the storm in search of her. But he had frozen, watching the events unfold without reacting.
Pax lived in self-loathing, cursing his cowardice, his weakness, his folly. Seeing them alive felt like redemption for his damned soul. Thank heavens! They were still alive.
Sure, Pax also saw his uncle
propose to Chloe. Despite his own
inner turmoil, jealousy even, those
feelings were insignificant compared to the relief of their survival. As long as they were alive, he had no further delusions Given his mother's heinous actions, he harbored no hope for anything with Chloe.
Diana, too, witnessed the scene from her room. She saw Uncle Connor playfully propose to Chloe, spinning her in joy, kissing her on the beach. The usually frail Diana, fueled by rage, got up from her bed and smashed everything in her room to pieces.
Why, how could this happen?
She had been bedridden since being rescued from the sea, feverish for days, nearly meeting her maker. Barely surviving, she learned Uncle Connor had gone missing in the storm searching for Chloe. Every day, she prayed by the window for Unèle Connor's safety, for his return. She even swore to pay any price if only Uncle Connor lived. Her prayers seemed answered by the heavens.
But she never expected Chloe to be alive too! And not just alive, but together! Uncle Connor proposed, and she accepted! Their happiness was a sight to behold. Yet, to her, this happiness was the cruelest curse in the world.