Chapter 8: The Truth Beneath the Waves
Chrissy lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind refusing to settle. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the lighthouse. The storm. The woman plunging into the sea. Kyle's words echoed in her head.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3Bw9yhkXh
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeutALmXJOW
Her fingers curled around the necklace at her throat. She had spent her whole life feeling like something was missing. A part of her that she could never quite name. But now, with every new discovery, she felt herself being pulled closer to a truth she wasn't sure she was ready for.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99tGXffnrW
With a quiet breath, she sat up and pushed back her blankets. Her room was dark, the soft glow of the streetlight outside casting shadows across her floor. She moved quickly, slipping on her jacket and sneakers before easing the window open.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrSLaQET9r
She had to go back.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaOx7ybmr7
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFN2sQu1JK
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L75u3BcJp
Nick had been parked outside her house for hours, arms crossed over his chest, attempting to rest but never quite letting himself fall asleep. He had been on edge ever since the hurricane. Ever since he'd nearly lost her.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJIGAKtipU
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd40eolb3bv
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonK4QSM3qV
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBL7B7WDqe
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8KtT21g3E
⸻211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA2THEnaPq
Chrissy reached the shoreline quickly, the waves crashing gently against the sand. The moon hung low in the sky, its silver light illuminating the water. She didn't stop to think.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQDnoa7FOF
She stepped into the surf, the cold biting at her skin as she waded in deeper, her breath hitching as the current tugged at her. But she didn't fight it. She let it pull her forward, her body cutting through the water as she swam toward the hidden cave.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTobQAnMmr
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYvdYBLn4y
His heart stopped.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfW6EdavFXH
"Chrissy—"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNaiw7UcHM
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8KEaUpRmB
⸻211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm29pUBb4sq
Chrissy surfaced inside the cave, gasping as she pulled herself onto the rocky ledge. Water dripped from her clothes, her breath uneven. The cave felt different this time.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0YNufuqA1
Deeper.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HOc9AvNh8
More alive.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tm3f32TCb
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGNlEFRRDm
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpDjbk0icI
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLk9gZTT4nM
A gemstone.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjLvgU4HUB
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MRS964vun
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHAhx0TLrG
It was the missing piece.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnILcFcuLq0
The empty setting in her necklace.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXevwzB9q6
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T2Rv3707m
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHbzmouloM
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkzH9nm1NQ
He was soaked, his hair a mess, his eyes burning with frustration. "Are you insane?" he snapped, striding toward her. "You just—just vanished into the ocean! Do you even know what could've happened to you?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGugeAc9Qq
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTypIZO5jb
"In the middle of the night?" His voice was rising, his hands running through his wet hair in exasperation. "Do you even think about what you put me through? I thought you—" He broke off, shaking his head.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn7B9pBPWW
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLJDRZwfwl
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaegqohUix
She wasn't listening.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiBOvfR1ZH
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJ7GSrUKLN
Nick blinked. "What?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXOQNBBsPP
"The woman in the lighthouse. The one who disappeared. I think she was my mother. And the lighthouse keeper—" She swallowed hard. "I think he was my father."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhNV9CfyZG
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhmcY9tx5h
She took a shaky breath, the words pouring out of her like a flood. "It makes sense, doesn't it? Why else would I be so drawn to this place? Why do I look like her? Why is my necklace connected to all of this?" Her voice cracked. "And what if my adoptive family knew? What if they knew the truth this whole time and never told me?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BfQVfmrxR
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2SHKXAbID
Her breathing was uneven, her hands trembling. He could see the weight of everything crashing down on her all at once—the questions, the doubt, the fear of what it all meant.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4XA9gxloG
She was spiraling.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrC57H2tvM2
"Chrissy."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDBczGCQV9
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpXcF06wY3
"Chrissy—"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEUIhEJYiu
"I need—"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QihofB1s5
He grabbed her face and kissed her.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeUExmAiHL
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVITTEAfHR
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglrnFxibyU
Nick felt her stiffen, but then—slowly—she melted into him. Her hands clenched the front of his damp shirt as she let herself fall into the moment, into him.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKctjYvV9H
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyE3Bzvz2O
Nick rested his forehead against hers, his hands still cradling her face. "I need you to breathe, okay?" His voice was soft now. Steady. "Just breathe."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdlmZWpTY7
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkm7yzx4OH
Her heart was pounding.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0kJn9Jv1V
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqwq9DCAgA
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQ0pXufFfp
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmpxRiTo1m
⸻211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55JzmMC1Cx
The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICxcw1p7OE
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RxMM16gey
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8sGYll9q1
The moment it clicked into place—211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAOMbDwoNp
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ359W5V2Nqd
Chrissy gasped as the light wrapped around her skin, sinking into her like a pulse. Nick flinched, shielding his eyes. Then, just as quickly as it had come, it was gone.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzGAprz3mv
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyZ850HLT5
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WjThoVQgT
Chrissy's fingers trembled against the now-cool metal. She looked up at him, her mind racing with a hundred thoughts, but one stood out above the rest.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaXdpXqbQf
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTkcaq7ePT
Nick didn't say anything.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJiCmMI2lA
And she didn't ask.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalle20qToe
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsWBEGqMg5
Something had changed.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iMl2VHwK7
And there was no going back now.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG5ZAelYtn
然後按「加至主畫面」