Ten days stranded on a deserted island after a company retreat gone wrong. Finally, a ship appeared on the horizon. Everyone was ecstatic, screaming and waving. But my husband, Mark, the CEO, stopped us. He handed the only flare gun to the intern, Chloe, with a look of pure adoration. "Let Chloe be the hero who saves the team," he said. Chloe fumbled with the gun, whining about how heavy it was, wasting precious time. Seeing the ship about to turn away, I snatched the flare gun from her hands and pulled the trigger. We were saved. Back in the city, Mark promoted me to General Manager, skipping several levels. But at my first performance review, he handed me over to our biggest rival company as a "gift"—a plaything. I cried, begging him for an explanation. His eyes were full of hate. "If you hadn't stolen Chloe's moment, she wouldn't be depressed right now!" "Since you love the spotlight so much, I'll make sure you get plenty of attention!" I was used, abused, and eventually sold into trafficking rings across the globe. I died alone, humiliated, in a foreign land. When I opened my eyes, I was back on the island. Back to the moment Chloe held the flare gun. This time, I smiled as I watched her fire the only flare we had—straight into a tree. Chapter 1 When Mark insisted on shoving the flare gun into Chloe’s hands, everyone looked annoyed. Everyone except Chloe, who looked like she’d just been crowned Prom Queen. "Markie, thank you for letting me be the hero," she cooed. She lifted the gun with trembling, delicate hands, aiming it at the sky, then lowered it again with a whimper. "Markie, I don't know how to pull the trigger. Teach me?" The ship we had waited ten days for was getting smaller. Panic set in among the team. "Can she do it or not? If not, let me!" "Stop wasting time! We're all going to die here!" Instead of hurrying, Chloe turned her big, tear-filled doe eyes to Mark. "Markie, they're being mean to me..." "Am I too stupid? I'm sorry, I can't be the hero..." Mark’s face darkened instantly. He glared at the employees like a wolf protecting its cub. "Say one more word and you're fired the second we get back!" Everyone shut up. Silence fell over the beach. Mark was the boss. In this economy, losing a job was a death sentence. Most of us were fresh grads with student loans or parents with mortgages. We couldn't afford to cross him. Mark gently wrapped his arms around Chloe, patiently explaining the mechanics of a flare gun like he was teaching a toddler. Chloe praised him with every breath, looking at him with worship in her eyes. Mark ate it up, rambling on about his "military knowledge" from video games. Only when the ship was a speck on the horizon did Mark stop talking. Chloe posed again, lifting the gun. In my last life, I couldn't stand it. I grabbed the gun and saved us. I saved everyone's life, and Mark hated me for stealing Chloe's thunder. He destroyed me for it. This time, I stood at the back of the crowd, arms crossed, watching the show. Just as the ship was about to vanish, Chloe finally squeezed her eyes shut and pulled the trigger. Bang. The red flare shot out—and slammed directly into the trunk of a palm tree ten feet away. Chapter 2 Our only chance of rescue fizzled out in the branches. With death staring us in the face, nobody cared about their jobs anymore. "Chloe, are you brain-dead? There's one tree in that direction! A blind person could have missed it!" "You want to play the clumsy cute girl, fine, but don't gamble with our lives!" Chloe's eyes welled up. She looked at Mark helplessly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." "It's my hand... ever since I pulled my brother out from under that car three years ago, I damaged the tendons..." "It spasms uncontrollably. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to feel guilty, but I can't hide it anymore..." Mark was moved to tears. He hugged her tight. "Chloe, it's not your fault. It's mine..." "Don't worry, I will get you out of here!" An impatient girl from accounting rolled her eyes. "The flare is gone. How exactly are we getting out?" Mark smirked, pulling a GPS locator out of his pocket like it was the Holy Grail. "Relax. Before the trip, I set up a failsafe with security. If we don't check in for two weeks, they send a chopper." A collective sigh of relief washed over the group. People started counting their remaining protein bars, calculating how to survive four more days. But then, Chloe’s face went pale. "I... I took the SIM card out and threw it away..." Dead silence. Even Mark looked shocked. Chloe stammered, "I just wanted the retreat to be more exciting! More authentic! I didn't think we'd actually get stuck!" "Markie, punish me. It's all my fault." She looked like she was about to fall to her knees and beg for forgiveness. Mark softened immediately. He pulled her up. "It's okay, it's okay. I know you love adventure. You just wanted everyone to experience real survival. Your heart was in the right place." Chloe smiled through her tears, the guilt vanishing instantly. "Then... will you come explore that cave with me? I'm not done having fun!" Mark nodded, completely enchanted. They walked hand-in-hand toward the dark cave entrance. I couldn't help myself. I called out, "Careful! That cave is full of snakes." Mark froze. He was terrified of snakes. Even a picture on a screen made him sweat. But Chloe didn't notice. She tugged on his arm. "It's just a few little snakes. Markie will protect me, right?" Mark puffed out his chest, glancing at me with disdain. "Chloe is braver than you'll ever be. You think everyone is a coward like you? Always scared of everything." With that, they disappeared into the cave. I nearly passed out from anger. We'd been married three years. I helped Mark build his company from nothing. Every decision he made, I analyzed the risks. At first, he respected me. He called me his partner. But as the company grew, he started seeing my caution as weakness. He gave decision-making power to Chloe, the new intern. Chloe was reckless. She made messes, and I cleaned them up. Mark took the credit, Chloe took the praise, and I took the blame. My fault for being a doormat in my last life. I touched the single vial of antivenom in my backpack. They were definitely going to get bit. And there was only enough serum for one. Let's see if the "brave" couple is still so fearless when death comes knocking. Chapter 3 While they played explorer, I led the team in weaving nets to catch fish. Our food was almost gone. After two hours, we caught a pot full of small fish. We boiled them whole, guts and all, to maximize the calories. It tasted awful, but everyone ate like it was a Michelin meal. Suddenly, Mark burst out of the cave carrying Chloe. "Help! Snake bite!" We rushed over. Both had two bloody puncture wounds on their fingers, oozing dark blood. Mark was sweating buckets, screaming at me. "Sarah! Do something!" Now he remembers me. I put on a panicked face. "That looks like a highly venomous viper! We need to amputate the fingers immediately. It might save your lives." Chloe wailed. "No! No! If I lose a finger, how will I wear my wedding ring?" She buried her face in Mark's chest. Mark stomped his foot, turning his rage on me. "You knew we were coming to an island! Why didn't you bring medicine?" "I'm not asking you to—" He choked on his words. Because Chloe wanted "adventure," Mark picked this remote island. I tried to stop him, but he threatened divorce. Before we left, I packed first-aid kits for everyone. But Mark said I was overreacting. "Why carry this junk? It's heavy." Chloe chimed in, "Is Sarah trying to curse us to get hurt?" So Mark ordered everyone to dump the kits to make room for Chloe's skincare products. Only I kept mine. Mark and Chloe's arms were turning black. They collapsed on the sand, breathing hard. Just as they were about to pass out, I slowly pulled the antivenom from my bag. "Oh, right. I forgot I had this." "But... there's only one dose." "You two decide who lives." Death by poison was too easy for them. In this life, I wanted them alive to suffer. Mark cursed me for not bringing more, but Chloe was faster. She snatched the vial. "Markie, you're a man. You're strong." "Let me have it. Or I'll die." Mark wasn't backing down. "If you hadn't insisted on exploring that cave, we wouldn't be in this mess! Don't drag me down with you!" He tried to grab the needle. Chloe played her trump card. "Markie... you said you'd love me forever. You said you'd do anything for me." Mark scoffed, about to argue, when Chloe clutched her stomach. "Baby... Mommy is sorry. I couldn't find you a good daddy." Mark froze. "Chloe... you're pregnant? From that one time?" Chloe smiled sadly. "What does it matter? We're both going to die anyway..." Mark didn't hesitate. He plunged the needle into Chloe's arm. But he stopped before it was empty, saving a third for himself. Having temporarily cheated death, Mark looked at me coldl.y "Don't worry. When the baby is born, you can be the godmother." "Childbirth is hard. Chloe is doing it for you. You should be grateful to her!" In the past, I would have screamed. Now, I didn't bother. Chloe whined that she needed nutrients. She grabbed the pot of fish soup and chugged it. A second later, she gagged and vomited everything onto the sand. "Gross! It smells so fishy!" She kicked the pot over, spilling the rest into the ocean. Chapter 4 That was the food we spent hours catching. The team looked ready to murder her. But Mark stood in front of her, shielding her. Emboldened, Chloe pointed at me. "You! Go catch me some sea cucumber!" The team finally snapped. "Are you blind? Look at Sarah's injuries!" "Sea cucumber? Why don't you eat sand!" Night fell. The cold wind stung my wounds. On the first night, while building a shelter, Chloe "accidentally" tripped me. I fell down a rocky slope. I was covered in cuts and bruises. When I tried to use my first-aid kit, Mark took it away. "Why were you standing in her way? If Chloe gets a scar on her face, I'll never forgive you!" He used all the antiseptic and bandages on a tiny scratch on Chloe's cheek. Ten days later, my wounds were infected. Mark looked at my leg, almost softening, but then glanced at Chloe's stomach. "Chloe is pregnant. She needs good food." "You're just hurt. Is your pain more important than my child?" I laughed coldly and refused. Mark grabbed my collar and dragged me toward the water. The salt water burned my open wounds. I screamed. The more I screamed, the more excited Mark seemed. I realized with horror—the snake venom. It made him aggressive. He grabbed my hair and dunked my head underwater. Suddenly, a sharp pain in my lower abdomen. Warmth spread between my legs. I reached down— In the moonlight, I saw blood. A shapeless mass floated in the water. My miscarriage. Mark stared at the blood, stunned. Then, insanely, he scooped up the tissue and ran to Chloe. "Chloe! Look! Nutrients! Eat this for the baby!" I vomited bile. Just then, someone shouted. "A boat! There's a boat!" We waved torches. Without Chloe sabotage, the fishing boat docked. Mark picked up Chloe and rushed the gangway. The captain blocked them. "Only one of you can board."
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