Chapter 3 No One’s Coming
Though the other women didn’t scream like Elsa, their eyes told me everything—full of fear and suspicion.
Seeing their guarded faces, I smirked coldly.
If they didn’t want me around, then there was no reason to waste my time with them.
I’d been on Shadow Island for a full day and night already. Still no water source in sight.
And without water or food, every word spent arguing was a pointless drain on energy.
These women still thought a rescue team was coming. They had no idea there would be no rescue. Ever.
Right now, my top priority was to find a stable source of water.
I turned and walked away.
Behind me, Elsa’s voice rang out with her usual venom.
“Ha! Yeah, go ahead and run! If the rescue team gets here, I’m calling the cops! You won’t get away with this, Leon!”
I ignored her petty taunts.
This wasn’t some beach resort—it was Shadow Island.
Without food, they’d be too weak to stand.
Without proper clothing, they’d shiver in the cold, maybe even freeze to death.
But worst of all—without water, they’d die of thirst in three to five days.
…
I headed toward the far end of the beach.
At the edge of the sand were some palm trees.
Beyond that—hills and forest.
And on the horizon, a volcano loomed, faint trails of gray-white smoke curling from its peak.
Over the past 24 hours, I’d gotten by on coconut water and a few shellfish.
But those barely counted as food.
I needed to explore more, and fast. I had to find fresh water.
I’d only walked a couple minutes when I heard footsteps behind me.
Turning around, I saw Lily—the biology researcher—following me.
I stopped. “Why are you following me?” I asked coldly.
Lily’s tone was friendly. “Mr. Leon, how long have you been here?”
Pretty girls tend to get away with more in casual conversation—though I wasn’t exactly fond of women right now, I still had enough patience to deal with someone like her.
“Not long,” I said. “I’ve been here about a day and a night. If there’s nothing else, I’m going. I need to find water.”
I turned to leave, but Lily followed again.
“Mr. Leon,” she said softly, “since you’ve been here longer, I’m sure you’ve found some food by now… My stomach’s killing me. Could you maybe share a little?”
That lit a fire in me.
These damn women—always expecting something for nothing.
I barely knew Lily. Why should I give her my precious food?
—On Shadow Island, even one extra coconut could mean an extra day of life.
I ignored her and kept moving.
She trailed behind me, pleading in a pitiful voice.
“Mr. Leon, I haven’t eaten in so long… Please, I’m starving. You look healthy. You must have found something. I’m begging you—just a little. If you give me food… I’ll agree to anything.”
Anything?
I stopped and glanced back at her.
Lily was younger and prettier than Elsa. She had a graceful, intelligent beauty—and a figure that turned heads.
She looked up at me with watery eyes. “Please, Mr. Leon… I promise I’ll repay you.”
I looked her over. She wore nothing but a backless swimsuit—no gear, no supplies.
Aside from that pretty body, what could she offer in return?
But the truth is, I’m not made of stone.
Seeing her so desperate, I couldn’t stand the idea of her starving to death.
“Remember what you just said,” I told her. “If you betray me later, not even God can save you… Come on.”
I led Lily to a coconut tree. I climbed it easily and knocked down two coconuts.
She picked one up and started banging it against a rock.
Too bad she didn’t have the strength or the technique.
The coconut stayed intact, like it was mocking her.
She turned to me with helpless eyes. “Mr. Leon…”
I looked at her, then took the coconut from her hands.
She was clever—using beauty and helplessness to pull sympathy from me.
I wedged the coconut in a crack between two rocks and smacked both ends with a stone.
The shell split quickly.
I handed it to Lily, then cracked open one for myself.
She gulped the coconut water greedily, then licked her lips.
“Make sure you drink every drop,” I told her. “And eat the meat too, if you can. Pretty soon, even coconuts will be gone.”
Lily blinked. “Won’t the rescue team be here in, like, a week?”
I shook my head. “Give it up. No one’s coming.”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
