No Water Like the Sea

"Donna, have you lost your goddamn mind? Who told you to go near Grace?" After Donna had Robert's beloved, unattainable ideal blacklisted and sent abroad, he completely snapped. "You're hurting me..." Trying to pull her hand back, Donna found Robert's gaze fixed on her, his eyes bloodshot with fury. He didn't let go—instead, he tightened his grip. "Hurt? You think you know what hurt feels like? Grace slit her wrists, and you still arranged to have her sent away? Did you ever stop to consider her pain?" "Tell me, what did you say to her the last time you met?" Pain paled Donna's face, yet a stubborn defiance hardened within. Fighting to keep the tears at bay, she refused to show vulnerability and glared back at Robert without flinching. "What does her life or death have to do with me? Or with you!? I'm the one you're about to marry!" "Oh, wonderful. The future Mrs. Robert. Is that it? Donna, you're just counting on me having no choice but to marry you, aren't you? You think a piece of paper can trap me?" "Hah, looks like I've spoiled you too much all these years. You're still this naive, even at your age!" Robert sneered, eyes full of mockery. Blindfolding Donna, he hoisted her onto a wire dozens of meters high. She struggled desperately, the thin cord suspending her seeming ready to snap at any moment. "Stop!" Utterly hopeless. This was the same man who once cooled a cup of hot water before handing it to her, afraid she might burn herself. Now, he stood there coldly, savoring her desperate pleas. Donna was the only legitimate heir of her generation in the family. A pity she was a girl—Michael didn't believe women should lead. So Laura took matters into her own hands. She selected six boys from affiliated families, raising them alongside Donna with the explicit understanding that her choice would become her husband and inherit the family empire. "Whoever Donna marries gets the keys to the empire!" Those six boys had always catered to Donna's every whim. As children, they were her entourage, teasing and tormenting others at her command. As adults, they accompanied her, beating the illegitimate family children into submission. Robert, the standout among them, always charged ahead, dealing the harshest blows. In Donna's eyes, that fearless brutality defined a man. So at her coming-of-age ceremony, she chose Robert as her fiancé without hesitation. She even spent hundreds of millions on advertising, announcing to the world that Donna was engaged to Robert! Only when those overwhelming ads reached Grace's ears, driving her to slit her wrists in anguish, did Donna finally realize: Robert had a cherished first love all along. And that tender "Donna" he whispered in moments of passion—that wasn't her either. Donna had tried to win Robert back, but Grace sought her out first. On one hand, Grace acted pure and proud, declaring she'd never be the other woman, urging Donna to help her go abroad. "Miss Donna, I have no interest in being a homewrecker, but you should keep your man in check. Don't let him come crawling to me—it puts me in an awkward position." On the other, she sent tearful messages to Robert, sobbing, "We're just not meant to be. Maybe in another life"—making Robert believe Donna had forced her hand. Donna's voice grew hoarse from crying, her eyes dull. The ropes cut into her skin, fresh wounds bleeding steadily. Finally, Robert deigned to crouch down and lift her chin. "Grace came back but refuses to eat properly, avoiding me on purpose." "She says as long as you're alive, she'll always be the other woman. She won't accept me. What am I supposed to do?" He thought the problem lay with Donna. Donna shook her head in despair. "I never said anything. She asked to leave herself..." She no longer had the strength to explain. Robert scoffed. "Donna, you really are heartless. I played the loyal dog for you all these years, and still you bite the hand that feeds you." With that, he gestured to someone beside him. The next moment, the rope around Donna's waist snapped... When she opened her eyes again, Donna was back at her coming-of-age ceremony, the day she chose Robert as her fiancé. "Donna, are you sure you want to choose Robert?"