In the end, Liam still brought Jessica to the beach without considering her answer.
The moment her feet touched the soft sand, a wave of fear surged up, dragging her thoughts back to five years ago like an unstoppable tide.
It had been their honeymoon, Liam had arranged a private luxury cruise. But that day, they were caught in a once-in-a-century storm, thrown into the sea and left with their fates unknown.
Though time had passed, the terror of drifting helplessly in the ocean had carved itself deep into Jessica’s memory, leaving scars that never fully healed.
Liam sat beside her on the beach, his expression unreadable. “Jessica, I brought you here hoping you'd understand… this was for your own good. People can’t run from fear forever. Only by facing it can they finally walk out of the shadows.”
Hearing that, Jessica almost laughed. “You really think this is considerate? You dragged me here without even asking. Liam, you’re such a jerk.”
He frowned, his tone turning cold. “Think whatever you want.”
Then he stood and walked toward Jeje. The moment his gaze landed on her, his expression softened.
He gently draped a coat over her shoulders, only to be caught off guard when Jeje splashed water onto his face.
They began to play, laughing together like a real couple.
The weather was perfect. Seagulls cried faintly in the distance. Their laughter, light and carefree, drifted toward Jessica on the breeze, sharp as salt in an open wound.
“Liam, do you remember? It was right here you caught that huge crab last year! Let’s go to the secret base later!” Jeje’s cheerful laughter drifted through the air and at that moment, the coldness in Liam’s expression melted like spring snow.
“Alright, you little rascal. Be careful, don’t trip,” he replied, his voice indulgent.
Not far away, Jessica stood still, watching as the two kissed passionately. Liam’s doting gaze pierced through her like a knife.
‘Secret base? So, during the years I was gone, he had built memories with someone else. Memories I was never part of.’ Jessica’s eyes stung.
She thought back to the night Liam had just found her again, clinging to her like a lost child.
“Since you disappeared at sea, I’ve never stepped foot on the beach,” he had said, burying his face in her chest. “Even hearing the word sea makes me panic.”
So it had been a lie. All of it.
The man who swore he hadn’t touched the beach since losing her had returned over and over with Jeje.
Their intimate figures in front of her blurred as her vision filled with tears.
In the middle of their passionate kiss, Liam suddenly remembered Jessica’s presence. He quickly pulled away from Jeje and turned toward her, searching for a reaction. But she simply stood there, her expression was calm.
He hurried to explain, “That wasn’t what it looked like. I was just running a data simulation. A high-end bionic like Jeje needs to be tested in various emotional scenarios, you know that.”
However, his wandering gaze gave him away. “Jessica, you don’t mind, right?”
“No.” She smiled with a calm grace and shook her head.
“I have some work to handle. Just stay here with Jeje for a bit,” he added, walking off to take a call.
Soon after, Jeje strutted over in a seductive swimsuit, her eyes gleaming with pride. “Thanks for the skin. It suits me perfectly.”
Jessica didn’t flinch. “Jeje… or should I say Butterfly?”
A flicker of unease passed through Jeje’s eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“You’ve never known love,” Jessica said, her voice dipping into ice. “So stop pretending. You’re just a bionic puppet. What are you hoping to gain by faking feelings for Liam?”
Jeje’s expression darkened for a second, then twisted into a smirk. “So you found out. But who do you think Liam trusts more, me, or you?”
Then, in a sudden turn, she dropped the facade and stumbled dramatically toward the ocean. “Jessica, I was wrong. I’ll leave Liam. Just let me go, please…”
She collapsed into the water, letting the waves engulf her. But her artificial skin wasn’t designed for full submersion. The sea crept into her systems and the saltwater surged toward the chip hidden at her neck, the core of her entire existence.
Liam turned his head and saw Jeje nearly submerged in the seawater, her entire body limp and lifeless. It was as if the sight tore his eyes apart.
"Jeje!" he let out a heartbreaking scream and stumbled into the waves toward the woman floating in the sea.
Jessica had been by his side for so many years, yet she had never seen such panic on his face. Not even during the shipwreck.
She stood frozen, watching as he pulled the bionic woman from the water, calling out to Jeje, who was clearly pretending to be unconscious.
"Jeje, are you okay?" he asked, panic thick in his voice.
"Liam… I can’t move my whole body…" she replied weakly, her voice trembling.
