10 Chapter 10
When I learned of their tragic end, I felt nothing. To me, they were ghosts from another life-people who had left their mark but could never touch my world again. My future was here, in the clear blue waters of Greece, with a man who had been waiting for me all along. 1
The news of Xavier and Jennifer’s fate reached me two years later. After his arrest, Jennifer’s family had abandoned him completely.
Years ago, when he was struggling with a family crisis, he had come to a remote dive resort to clear his head. He had recklessly attempted a dangerous cave dive, getting trapped by a current where no one could see his distress.
Seeing his desperate, haunted face, I felt nothing but cold resolve. Without a word, I walked to the local police station and reported him for harassment.
After that, I was gone. He told me he had searched for me for years, just to thank me in person. But I had seemingly disappeared, and despite his best efforts, he could never find me.
I happened to be on a research trip nearby and noticed his distress signal, quickly alerting the local rescue team.
Xavier seemed unable to process my final rejection. He continued to stalk me, calling out, “I don’t accept this. We shared a life together. Don’t all those perfect years mean anything to you?”
Despite my initial hesitation, Jasper didn’t give up. Instead, he became a trusted friend, often joining me on expeditions. His quiet strength and unwavering support were a comfort, and he slowly became an essential part of my life.
Jennifer, with her health failing and her family in turmoil, was left with no options. She passed away in a Swiss clinic, alone.
Hearing his story, I was struck by the incredible serendipity of our connection.
The ensuing legal battle exposed all his secrets. In his desperation, Xavier tried to blackmail the family, leading to further charges.
Later, I sent one final, anonymous message to Jennifer’s family, detailing Xavier’s
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10 Chapter 10
location in Greece and his last-minute abandonment of her transplant in Monaco.
Years later, he finally saw me again-on the cover of a magazine announcing my marriage to Xavier. Not wanting to disrupt my life, he kept his distance.
From international news reports, I later learned what happened next. The family, furious and desperate, used the information to pressure Xavier. When he refused to cooperate, they leaked everything to the authorities—his financial crimes, the shell corporations he used, and the entire plot to illegally harvest my kidney.
“You swore you would love me forever. Why are you throwing it all away?”
The scandal was explosive. Xavier was ruined, facing international prosecution. Jennifer, betrayed and without a donor, passed away a few months later. They had destroyed each other.
It turned out a research paper I had published as a student had inadvertently helped his island community win a legal battle against a developer, preserving their ancestral fishing grounds. He had admired me from afar ever since.
Xavier was sentenced to a lengthy prison term, his empire dismantled.
During this time, Jasper was a constant, steady presence in my life. Eventually, I learned that he had known of me for
years.
