Chapter 865

The sea shimmered with fragmented silver light.

A private yacht cut through the waves.

Evelyn Ross stood on the deck, the sea breeze lifting her long hair.

She gazed at the massive vessel and couldn't help but ask, "Yours?"

"Hmm."

Alexander Vance stood beside her, one hand in his pocket.

Evelyn clicked her tongue. "Extravagant."

A yacht capable of deep-sea voyages like this cost billions.

The Vance family was wealthy, but not to the point of casually buying toys of this caliber.

She turned her head to look at him. "What exactly do you do?"

Back in Aldoria, at Pirate Bay, he had managed things with ease.

Could it be...

Alexander chuckled softly. "Isn't it a bit late to ask now?"

He took a step closer, his breath brushing her ear. "Mrs. Vance, you boarded my ship long ago."

Evelyn's ears grew warm.

Alexander wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

His voice was low in the wind. "Back when I was driven out of the Vance family, Grandma sent me abroad."

"During those years overseas, I didn't follow the conventional path of study."

"A few friends and I started a shipping company."

"Once, our cargo was hijacked by pirates."

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat.

She turned around, meeting his eyes.

Alexander continued, "I was young and reckless back then. I thought dying wouldn't matter much."

"So I hired a team of mercenaries and stormed the pirate island."

Evelyn's pupils contracted slightly. "You..."

"It was dangerous, I know." Alexander smiled. "But we won."

"Later, we realized seizing pirates' wealth was faster."

"So we took down island after island."

Evelyn stared at him, stunned.

This man was always like this.

Casually recounting heart-stopping past events.

She suddenly remembered his childhood.

Despised by his father, ostracized by his elder brother.

Only his grandmother protected him, but even she was powerless.

In the end, she could only send him away.

Evelyn knew the taste of lacking love herself.

But at least, she had Sophia Ashcroft.

What about Alexander?

Alone, struggling to survive in a foreign land.

She suddenly reached out and held him tightly.

"Don't ever do that again."

Her voice was muffled against his chest.

Alexander looked down. "Hmm?"

"You have me now." Evelyn looked up, her gaze serious. "I want you to live well."

A flicker of emotion passed through Alexander's eyes.

He raised his hand to stroke her cheek.

"Okay."

"Now, I don't need to take the field myself anymore."

"That stretch of sea is mostly pacified."

He paused, his voice softening further. "Besides, I can't let our future children live such a life on the edge."

Evelyn's face flushed.

"Who's having children with you..."

She pushed him away, turning to face the sea again.

But the tips of her ears were burning red.

Alexander chuckled softly, not teasing her further.

The yacht continued forward.

Finally, it stopped at a specific coordinate.

Any further would enter the Sterling Family's radar range.

Alexander took her hand.

"We need to switch to a smaller boat now."

He pointed below the railing.

A small speedboat bobbed with the waves.

Its hull was black, looking worn and shabby.

On the vast ocean, it resembled a leaf that could capsize at any moment.

Yet Evelyn didn't hesitate.

"You're risking your life with me. What do I have to fear?"

She clasped his hand in return.

Their fingers intertwined.

The two descended the gangway to the speedboat.

Only then did Evelyn realize this boat was not ordinary.

The exterior looked dilapidated, but the interior was equipped with sophisticated gear.

It had reinforced collision structures and an advanced navigation system.

Alexander explained, "A regular small boat would be gone with one wave."

"I modified it. It's safe enough."

Evelyn curved her lips into a smile.

"Then let's go."

Alexander started the engine.

The speedboat shot forward like an arrow, slicing through the water.

The yacht grew smaller behind them.

Eventually, it disappeared from sight.

Ahead lay endless darkness.

Waves slapped against the hull.

Evelyn sat beside Alexander.

Her hand never left his.

The small boat sailed steadfastly into the unknown.

Toward the place they had to go.

The sea wind howled.

The starlight dimmed.

But their direction never wavered.