Ch. 261..270
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.261
In everyone's view, Eric's action earlier looked like he was deliberately letting go of life.
When Mitchell saw this, he quickly ran over to stop Eric.
He was afraid that Eric would do something stupid again.
“President, are you alright?“
Eric's eyes were tightly closed. He laid lifelessly on the seat without any reaction.
Mitchell subconsciously placed his fingers over Eric's carotid pulse and sighed in relief before he looked at Kai gratefully.
“Thank you, Young Master Stanton. President Ferguson must've been too tired since he hadn't slept for several days.“
Kai glanced at Eric with complicated eyes.
“Take him back. Leave your people here to work with me.“
Mitchell immediately nodded in agreement. If Kai refused the manpower as well, he would have to worry whether Eric would skin him alive when he woke up.
Kai called someone to piek him up, hung up the phone, and saw Mitchell seemingly hesitant to speak.
“Is something wrong?“
Mitchell pursed his lips and thought about it before opening his mouth.
“Young Master Stanton, I know that you were saying all those just now because you wanted President Ferguson to back down.“
Kai turned away. It did not matter whether or not Mitchell guessed his intentions.
Kai was no saint, but he was not so cruel to watch Eric lay waste to himself either.
Mitchell continued, “After President Ferguson and Ms. Stanton divorced, he had been reflecting on the past. He's constantly in pain since. There were some misunderstandings that he did not mean to cause, yet they indirectly hurt Ms. Stanton. He always wanted to make up for it, though to no avail. But Young Master Stanton, President Ferguson never fakes his emotions. The regret he felt was real, so are his feelings for Ms. Stanton.“
At those words, Mitchell felt like he had overstepped his boundaries and said too much.
If Ms. Stanton was here and heard those words, what would she feel?
Kai was silent for a few seconds. However, he did not stay and went to the other helicopter that came to pick him up.
When Kai reached a passenger ship below, he looked up at the sky.
He had to admit that if not for the many things that happened between Eric and Nicole, those two would have been a match made in heaven in every aspect.
Unfortunately...
Kai's chest overflowed with grief. It did not matter whether or not Eric had feelings for Nicole because she would never come back...
Kai stood on the deck, ignoring the cold as the bone- chilling sea wind struck his face.
That handsome, flawless face had become pale with several unpolished traces. His pair of once glittering eyes were now dull with grief...
On an island a thousand nautical miles away.
Nicole slowly opened her eyes and saw damp leaves messily cluttered on the ground.
She found that she was unable to move because she was tied up by something.
As soon as she turned around, she saw an indigenous person squatting next to her, scrutinizing her. A variety of colored markings streaked over his dark skin. Nicole could not help but let out a shocked cry.
The man smiled at her.
He was bare-chested and had long, messy hair. His neck was adorned with animal bone-like ornaments, and there was a circle of leaves around his lower body.
Nicole trembled in fear. 'Was that a smile of death...?'
She sat up in terror and scooted away from him, surveying her surroundings.
She was in a simple tent-shaped hut made out of many branches and leaves. The branches were the same as the most common kind of trees in the jungle.
The curvature of the branches was very flexible, and the dense branches and leaves stacked layer by layer kept out the wind and rain.
However, the space was small and there was no ventilation. It was damp and dim inside.
Nicole's sluggish face was pale and miserable. The feeling of being cold, thirsty, and hungry became more unbearable as she woke up.
'I'm still stuck in this hellhole?! '
Her fingers clenched so tightly that her fingertips went white.
The man stepped forward to touch her, but Nicole screamed and dodged.
When she turned her head, she saw dozens of identically dressed men not far away.
They looked fierce with deep, protruding features. They looked like the indigenous people she saw in documentaries.
Her heart sank deeper like it was falling into an abyss. 'W-Where the hell am I?!'
When Nicole saw the situation, a fierce chill went down her spine. 'Are these the people who carried me here by my limbs?'
The tribal people stacked up firewood in front of them. There was a strong man who looked like their chief sitting there.
The others took slender pieces of wood and rubbed the sticks on a thick, dry log. Soon, the bottom of the stick began to smoke.
As the fire gradually grew, it was placed on another pile of dried leaves. The fire spread immediately as the firewood burned swiftly.
'Rubbing sticks for fire? A primitive civilization?' Disbelief was written all over Nicole's face.
'God must be playing a huge prank on me! '
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.262
Nicole did not want to stay in this hellhole a moment longer!
Before she could sink deeper in despair, she saw one of the burly men pointing with his finger in the direction of where Nicole was. Then, he pointed at the fire and to his mouth, making an eating gesture.
Even a fool would be able to understand what that meant. These indigenous people were going to roast her!
What rotten luck!
Nicole trembled in panic and raised her eyes to look at the man who was watching her.
She revealed a smile that looked worse than a frown. “Sorry for the trouble. Bye now! “
Nicole rolled to her feet and ran, but before she could take two steps, she tripped and fell over the many sticks and branches littered on the ground.
She was already very dizzy and feverish, and only managed to feel slightly better after some sleep. After the fall, her mind went completely blank.
Nicole laid on the ground and did not come back to her senses for a long time...
Another man saw the situation and went over to another man that was wearing shoes, gibbering and gesticulating.
Wait. Although the shoes worn by that man in front of her were covered in so much mud that she could not tell what they originally looked like, the shoes had laces!
This was a primitive tribe. How did he get shoes with laces?
Nicole's eyes lit up. With a surge of strength that came out of nowhere, she suddenly climbed up to tug his shoes.
The man was tall and sturdy, so how could Nicole possibly shake him?
She saw the vague trademark. La Sportiva, a top Italian brand in the world. Their outdoor sports equipment was world-famous.
'Is someone like me stranded here too?'
Nicole subconsciously looked up to see the man. She could not see his facial features since it was painted with lots of markings, but his eyes twinkled brightly as he winked and smiled at her.
Once their eyes met, she suddenly had a strong sense of familiarity...
“You're...“
A fake native!
Before she could finish, someone suddenly approached her and roughly yanked her by the arm, dragging her towards the fire.
Never in her wildest dreams did she expect to be roasted and eaten by a cannibal tribe!
“Nonono... Help...“
She screamed as more and more people gathered. She glanced around and could no longer tell which one was the fake native she saw earlier!
Surrounded by the thick jungle, the sky was dim, and in the surrounding darkness, the distant sea breeze howled like a wild beast crouching in the dark, waiting for the opportunity to devour everything.
The bonfire burned brightly as the group of indigenous people stared at her like prey.
Although they were of varying heights, they were all mostly naked and grimy. Their faces were painted with various colors, and the lower half of their bodies were covered with a simple skirt made of branches and leaves. They looked extremely terrifying and fierce.
They looked like indigenous people who she had only seen on TV.
“Hello? Annyeonghaseyo? Bonjour? Konnichiwa? Hola?“
Nicole tried saying hello in sixteen languages, but the people in front of her did not respond and merely babbled on in another language.
Their non-responsiveness was despairing!
Where was that fake native who wore shoes earlier?
Nicole did not know if she had misheard, but among the exchange of gibberish, she suddenly heard a distinct snicker.
That gloating laugh was clearly something that could only come from city folk like her.
She snapped her head up and looked into a pair of bright eyes.
Before she had time to rejoice, several men lifted her and headed in the direction of the bonfire.
She felt terribly cold. Only one thought ran through her mind. 'Are they really going to roast me alive?! '
“Cannibalism is illegal! “
Nicole yelled in horror as the men suddenly let go and dropped her to the ground.
She did not care about the pain she felt. Just as she was about to stand up, she saw the men surrounding her while holding branches that were lit with fire that they had picked up from the bonfire.
The circle was small, but gradually, more people joined the circle, making it larger and larger.
The indigenous people held torches and formed a circle as they sang and danced around her. It was an extremely strange sight.
Nicole felt more and more panicked. Every time she tried to run out of the circle, the group waved their torches at her, forcing her back into the middle.
They would not let her out.
As the temperature rose, the flames licked at her body and the smoke caused her to cough incessantly.
Nicole was running in circles frantically. She simply did not know what to do.
'Somebody... Save me...'
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.263
Nicole coughed violently while covering her nose and mouth. Tigger, who had been quietly playing dead, scratched at her pocket.
“Mama, I searched my database. It's some kind of ancient sacrificial ritual.“
Nicole's heart went cold at the words. 'Am I really going to die?!'
“Tigger, you're a tiger, right? Can you pounce out and bite them?“
Tigger was silent for a few seconds before speaking cutely.
“Molly Stewart gave me zo% aggressiveness in her original design, but after the Great God Maverick remodeled me, my aggressiveness became zero.
Mama, you can pounce and bite them yourself...“
Nicole was speechless. 'Haha... I've just been dissed by a stupid tiger...'
She was just about to ask Tigger where she could run to when the people around her suddenly stopped singing and dancing. Their expressions turned serious.
Nicole immediately shut her mouth. She could not let them notice Tigger's presence.
Otherwise, she would even lose the only person (tiger) she could talk to!
Just then, everyone stopped talking and tilted their
head back to look at the sky with strange expressions.
It was so quiet that only the crackling of the firewood could be heard. It sounded very eerie, scary, and chilling.
Just then, the leader of the group with a scepter in hand took a few steps back, opening up a gap in the circle.
An older woman with a wrinkled face came in holding a large leaf with both hands.
The woman looked at Nicole, put the leaf in front of her, and said something Nicole did not understand.
Then, the woman pointed to the items on the ground and back to her mouth, making a gesture of eating.
She untied the tough branches that restrained Nicole's wrists, then walked away.
The people around Nicole formed a circle around her again.
Everyone quietly looked at Nicole in the center of the circle. Countless eyes stared at her like wild beasts in the dark.
Nicole looked down. What was on the leaf were dried meat, dried fish, as well as two wild fruits.
Her stomach growled instantly. She had not eaten for several days.
She swallowed her saliva. Throwing caution to the wind, she picked the food up and stuffed it into her mouth.
There was no need to worry about whether it was poisoned or not. How would a hellhole like this place have high-grade goods like poison?
Nicole's etiquette, education, and manners at this moment scattered like ash!
Although she did not know what kind of meat it was, it smelled good and was salty and full of flavor. It just lacked a little seasoning, but it was the most delicious meal she had ever eaten in her life.
The group of indigenous people watched her devour everything on the leaf and looked very satisfied.
Suddenly, before she could react, she watched as they threw the torches in their hands on the ground.
In an instant, the flames spread in a circle and trapped her.
Nicole stood there in shock. She shivered as an inexplicable chill went down her spine.
The branches were dipped in fish oil and burned wildly when it was lit with fire. The flames of more than three feet high gradually approached, making the circle smaller and smaller.
The smoke was suffocating, causing her to cough uncontrollably. Thick smoke kept drilling into her lungs.
'They... Really wanted to roast me to death?! '
Indeed.
When Nicole realized this reality, she shuddered in horror and could not contain her anger.
The group of people outside sang and danced in excitement like they were completing some kind of sacrificial ritual!
In their eyes, Nicole had just eaten their offering, so she had accepted her role as a sacrifice.
Nicole wanted to run. She could not just sit there and wait to die.
However, nothing could be seen in the darkness except the smoke. All she could hear were their devilish chants and movements!
Just as the circle of fire narrowed to only about five feet away from her, lightning cut through the bleak and dreary sky. Black clouds gathered and thunder came rolling along.
The indigenous people looked at each other strangely. Some of them stared unhappily at Nicole, who was standing in the middle of the fire ring.
The next second, icy rain poured down. Everyone fled and looked for a place to hide from the rain. No one paid attention to Nicole anymore.
The torches that were about to burn her to death were doused by the torrential rain.
While the smoke rose, Nicole was just about to take advantage of the chaos to run away when a man suddenly scurried in to grab her hand and run away.
Nicole's struggle was completely useless against him, so she could only follow him miserably...
When they ran out of the smoke, she subconsciously looked down. It was that fake native with shoes!
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.264
Nicole sighed in relief when she noticed the fake native.
The torrential rain plunged the night into a cold abyss.
The leaves around them rustled loudly as they were drenched in the downpour. Accompanied by the crashing waves from the sea and the wind howling, it was almost phantasmal and despairing.
Nicole was soaked to the bone and shivered in the cold. The chill seemed to drill all the way down to her marrow.
She had just stopped to gasp for breath when she suddenly heard the flurry of heavy footsteps catching up behind them. It was extraordinarily clear in the darkness.
Nicole and the fake native exchanged a glance. They then continued to run without hesitation.
The cold rain pelted her face like a sharp knife...
After just a few minutes, she felt like her heart was about to jump out, and her legs stopped listening to her brain. The surrounding environment was dark, and in addition to the rain, it was impossible to see anything at all.
The ground was littered with branches and leaves, but they could only continue to escape, even if it meant crawling away!
The indigenous people chased after them relentlessly and even threw branches at them. Nicole's back was hit several times, but she merely gritted her teeth and got up to run again.
Her hands had countless wounds after being cut by twigs and thorns, but she was numb to the pain.
The fake native in front of her moved quickly with agility. His body was nimble, and he had strong athletic qualities.
Nicole did not dare to lag behind and ran for her life.
The sounds behind them were getting closer. If the indigenous people caught up to them, that would mean certain death!
Suddenly, her foot hooked onto a tree trunk, hurling her to the ground. She could not help but let out a scream when a jolt of pain shot up her elbow.
The fake native turned around. Nicole gritted her teeth and pulled herself up.
“I'm fine! Run! “
All of a sudden, after she stepped over the tree trunk, her foot lost its ground and she found herself freefalling!
Her hands desperately reached out for anything she could grab. She managed to wrap a flexible vine around her arm.
The full weight of her body hung from that vine, and her hands were already bleeding from the thorns lining the vine.
Nicole could feel her body trembling. She was well aware that her body was at its limit.
The sounds of the indigenous people behind her were like a death knell for her, sinister and frightening.
The feeling of hopelessness had never been so strong before, and the chill swept through every pore of her body...
However, the next moment, the fake native that should have run away suddenly appeared in front of her.
He reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her out of the pitfall.
It was like she was handed a lifeline.
Before Nicole could sigh in relief, she subconsciously looked back at the trap and saw countless thick branches that were shaved into sharp spikes in the pit.
For a moment, her hair stood on end.
It was a trap set by those indigenous people.
If she had not grabbed onto the vine, then she would have lost everything on this freezing rainy night.
The man yanked her. “Run! “
Nicole wiped her face, not knowing whether it was the rain or her tears.
There was no time to think. She could only run forward stiffly and numbly.
She could not turn back. She could not stop. She could not even have a second's rest.
There were more paths ahead of them after running through this section of the jungle. The fake native turned a few corners in front to throw off their pursuers. Soon, the sound of footsteps behind them gradually faded away.
The fake native finally stopped and looked back at her.
Under the dark moonlight in the rustling shadows, Nicole was completely drenched and muddied, and her face streaked with tears.
It took her less than thirty seconds to go from silence to sobbing, to weeping, then to full-out bawling.
Nicole finally had the strength to let go of the tears that she had held back over the past few days.
Her cries were hysterical, but they were drowned in the rain, so they did not seem out of place at all.
The fake native crouched in front of her. His voice was a little helpless. “Don't cry...“
Nicole felt much better after letting it all out, but now was not the time to relax.
The indigenous people would notice their tracks at any moment, so they could not stay here for too long.
She wiped her face and said in a soft and hoarse voice, “Let's go...“
The fake native's face painting was washed away by the rain, revealing his original face. Defined features, flawless skin, an appearance that looked slightly like someone of mixed heritage, and such bright eyes. He was even slightly more handsome than Kai. At a glance, it was clear that he was a handsome young man.
This person must be a gift from heaven!
The man was a little stunned by how quickly Nicole collected her emotions, but he still walked in front to lead the way.
“You'll be safe soon. Don't worry."
After calming down, Nicole had a million questions in her heart. She did not even know where to start.
“How did you get here? Where are your clothes? How long have you been here?"
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.265
The man laughed. It was a mellow and clear sound in the darkness of the night.
A sly look flashed in his eyes. “I'm not telling! “
Nicole was speechless.
However, his relaxed state made her feel much better.
Nicole looked at her only partner in front and inexplicably felt a closeness with him.
She followed him with a smile and touched his bare arm which was painted with all sorts of colors. It was somewhat rough and firm, but she did not touch him to take advantage of him.
“Are you cold? Do you want my coat?“
She moved to take off her tightly wrapped windbreaker as she spoke.
There was no other meaning. She was simply afraid that he would freeze to death.
A hand stopped her from moving, and the man said, “No need. I'm not cold.“
Nicole did not insist because she suddenly remembered that Tigger was still in her pocket.
“I'm Nicole Stanton. What's your name?“
Hearing that name, the man's back stiffened slightly. He turned around to ask her, “Is Kai Stanton your brother?“
Nicole's shocked eyes lit up.
“You know my brother? You know me?! “
The man nodded and asked another question.
“Weren't you constantly on the trending topics some time ago?“
Nicole was shocked again. “You just arrived here?! “
After all, the trending topics were something relatively recent.
The man smiled and continued pulling the branches away in front of him. His voice was light and brisk.
“Yeah. I got here a month before you.“
He just arrived, but he was able to get along so well with the indigenous people and even became one of them!
If not for those shoes, Nicole would not have noticed him at all.
How amazing! He truly was talented! Nicole was full of admiration for him.
Then, her heart sank slightly. She immediately felt a boulder pressing on her chest, heavy and depressing.
He had been here for a month but had not been saved, so when would she be able to get out of this hellhole?
“What's your name? “ She asked with great interest.
“Nathaniel Ferguson.“
The man sighed helplessly and sped up his pace. “Ferguson? Are you related to Eric Ferguson by any chance?“
The man was silent for two seconds and answered, “ How could I be related to such a rich guy like him? I'm just an independent explorer.“
Nicole nodded.
After all, of all the rich young men she knew, no one would be senseless enough to come here and get killed.
However, she could not help but think of that person at the mention of his last name.
She wondered what he was doing now.
A thousand nautical miles away, on a cruise ship.
Countless helicopters hovered and whirred overhead. Drones surveyed for material and signs of life under the sea.
Even special military survey equipment was used, but nothing was found.
Kai received a call from Grant. “Eric Ferguson's back home.“ “Okay.“
In Ferguson Villa.
The family doctor came out of Eric's room. Old Master Ferguson hurriedly went up to ask.
“How is Eric doing?“
The family doctor sighed and spoke in a grim tone.
“Young Master Eric went without sleep for several days. His body is completely spent and has reached its limit. Now, what he needs to do is rest well.
Replenishing his nutrition is the most important thing.“
Old Master Ferguson nodded and hurriedly ordered all kinds of expensive tonics to be brewed.
From the side, Quinn said indignantly, “That jinx Nicole Stanton only knows how to bring harm to my son! Fortunately, heaven dished out justice and killed her. Otherwise, I'll never let her off the hook! “ Old Master Ferguson glared fiercely at her.
“Shut your mouth! If word were to get out, do you think the Stantons will let you go?“
Quinn mumbled in embarrassment, “This is our home...“
Old Master Ferguson's gaze was heavy as he pondered, and Quinn took advantage of the situation to speak.
“Dad, Nicole is dead. Can we bring Ingrid back?“
Old Master Ferguson did not even look at her. He felt it ridiculous that this woman with no IQ was his daughter-in-law.
“Do you think this is appropriate just as something happened to the Stanton family? Are you trying to tell the Stantons that you're so eager to celebrate Nicole's death? If Grant Stanton starts targeting our company, will you be able to step up and handle it? ”
Quinn's face paled, and the disappointment in her eyes could not be concealed.
”Old Master, Young Master Eric is awake... ”
Everyone was overjoyed. Old Master Ferguson quickly stepped into the room. ”Eric... ”
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.266
When Eric opened his eyes and saw the familiar furnishings around him, he sat up in shock. He was about to rip off the needle stuck in his arm and leave.
“Where are you going?! “
Old Master Ferguson's face was red with anger. His aged voice was imposing and forceful.
The butler and servants at Eric's sides stopped him. No one dared to speak for a moment.
Eric's expression became nasty as he spoke with a firm tone.
“I'm going to look for Nicole...“ “She's already dead! “
Old Master Ferguson's words hit Eric like a bolt of thunder out of nowhere. Everyone already knew that, but Eric was still in denial.
Those words suddenly touched the deepest reality buried in his heart.
Eric felt like a deer in headlights. That taut nerve pulled and snapped.
He looked up with bloodshot eyes, his face tight and cold.
“She's not dead. She won't die like that! “ His voice was surprisingly cold.
'How could I leave Nicole alone in the sea? No matter what, I must take her home! '
Eric stood up and was just about to walk out, but Old Master Ferguson immediately shot the butler a look. The butler came forward with the servants and pinned the frail Eric firmly in his bed.
“Young Master, your body hasn't recovered yet...“ “Get out of the way! “
Eric's voice was icy like a winter night.
Old Master Ferguson frowned in dissatisfaction.
“I know that you've always felt that our family owes that girl. If she's alive, I won't stop you from doing things for her, but she's already dead. There's no need to throw away your life for her. Do you want our entire family to be buried with her? Do you know what kind of rumors were flying around outside while you were searching for her during this period? Our family is becoming a joke! “
“I don't care! She's not dead. I have to find her! “ Eric had to tell her in person how important Nicole was to him.
He had to apologize and confess his love to her as solemnly as he could.
No one knew that when Eric learned the news of Nicole's accident, his heart felt like it was being hollowed out.
His soul was gone.
Old Master Ferguson looked at his grandson that he was most proud of. Eric was outstanding, decisive, and fierce. In just a few years, he became a
permanent resident on the Forbes list.
Now, Eric was throwing his life away for a mere woman?!
“Watch the door and don't let him take a single step out of this room! “
Old Master Ferguson ordered as he turned to leave.
Even if he had to use extreme measures, Old Master Ferguson could not let Eric, who he raised through painstaking efforts, lay waste to himself because of a woman.
Time would smooth everything out eventually. Once Eric accepted this reality, he would be able to think straight again.
By that time, that woman would no longer be important.
The air was silent and cold.
They did not dare to leave without permission, but they were also afraid that Eric would fight back.
Everyone could feel the crushing grief that Eric's body exuded.
That kind of sadness and despair overflowed from his bones, which even made the surrounding people feel his deep sorrow.
Eric suddenly shrunk into a ball. A trace of vulnerability and remorse crossed his firm and weathered face.
“I regret it, Nicole... I regret the divorce...
Old Master Ferguson, who had walked to the door, suddenly froze. He looked back at Eric with a complicated expression.
The room was silent, and everyone breathed carefully.
They had never seen Eric like this before. Eric Ferguson had always been confident and proud. He was an invincible legend.
However, just one woman could make him bow down and admit defeat. She even made him admit his regrets...
It was clear that this woman was more important to him than life itself...
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.267
After walking for more than twenty minutes, Nicole felt her legs go numb. Her feet were also worn with blisters, and her muscles ached incessantly.
The downpour stopped just as she followed him to their destination.
The sound of the waves on the surface of the sea was more intense. Wind surged, huge waves beat against the reefs and scrubbed the beach. The sound of the waves crashing was particularly harsh.
After leaving the jungle, the sand near the sea was soft and wet, making it impossible to lift one's feet.
The man in front of Nicole walked firmly and strongly. Despite running for so long, he did not seem to have any trace of fatigue.
It seemed like he was accustomed to this environment.
Nathaniel walked past the reef to the leeward side of a hill, then moved a rock that was half his size to the side.
He called out to the shocked and dumbfounded Nicole before he entered the small cave behind the rock.
There was a cave here?
Nicole followed him into the small space that could only accommodate two people. The trickling seawater flowed down from the gap, unable to pool anywhere.
Nathaniel went sideways through a gap less than 1s inches in diameter.
He called out to her from inside, so Nicole followed his example and shimmied in. The space suddenly opened up.
There were actually lights here.
The inside was neat, with dry and clean branches all around. The air was a little humid, but it was ten times better compared to the outside.
Nicole smiled and watched as Nathaniel took out a backpack from a high rock. It was a classic model of the La Sportiva brand.
She recognized at a glance that it was the same brand as the shoes he was wearing.
Nathaniel took out a men's windbreaker that was a classic model from Scarpa, a very famous outdoor brand.
Then, he took out a pair of pants from the same collection. Just as he bent down to wear them, he suddenly seemed to realize something and looked straight at Nicole.
Nicole was staring at him. She was not blushing, nor did her heart race. She just watched him like a hawk, as if she was afraid that he would suddenly vanish into thin air.
Nathaniel chuckled helplessly.
“Nikki, if you really wanna watch, I don't mind... “
Nicole froze before immediately snapping back to her senses. She then hurriedly turned her back on him.
Her face subconsciously heated up.
“Aren't you thirsty? There are tools beside you. Go get some seawater and come back. I can distill it into freshwater.“
Nathaniel deliberately tried to dispel the awkwardness. “Okay.“
Nicole had not touched freshwater for a long time. She missed tasteless water so much!
She left subconsciously and looked at the “tools“ on the rock with slight hesitation.
This was just a container formed by tying a few leaves together.
'Forget it... In a place like this, this is the best I can get!'
Nicole went out gloomily and selected a spot with clean seawater from the crevice on the side.
When she went back, Nathaniel was already dressed, looking tall and lean. He was sitting on a pile of leaves with one leg curled up as he looked down and carefully fiddled with the tools in his hand.
His head of messy hair was gone, and he had clean and short hair now.
His features were delicate and handsome. Even if he did not clean up much, his deep features under the light were extraordinarily attractive, especially his bright eyes that seemed to be able to reflect the Milky Way thousands of miles away.
Nathaniel looked to be around the same age as her. However, that was not what surprised Nicole.
“You were wearing a wig?“
Nathaniel nodded. “You know what they say. Do as the locals do...“
That was true, but...
The corners of Nicole's mouth twitched. “Who would carry a wig wherever they go?! “
Nathaniel blinked at her and smiled, pure and recklessly.
“I'm an explorer, so of course I came prepared. My social media content specializes in filming and researching primitive tribes.“
“So, you came here on purpose?“ Nathaniel nodded.
“I chose this island at random. It's the smallest island on the north side of the Atlantic Ocean, so I originally didn't hold much hope. I really didn't expect there to be indigenous people here. They're a genuine primitive tribe.“
Nicole watched as he took out a black earphone- sized camera from a leaf on the side. It was extremely inconspicuous, but considering where they were now, it was also extremely rare.
“In other words... You have a way to leave this place?“
That was her main point of concern.
Nathaniel pursed his lips and frowned slightly. “Not really..."
“Then how will you go back? Aren't you going back after your research?"
“Well... I didn't exactly think about that before coming here... My other explorer friend dropped me off on the island by helicopter. He then went to the South Pole for an expedition, so... I don't know if he's still alive or not..."
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.268
The South Pole?!
Nicole's heart sank fiercely.
It was not certain if that explorer friend of his would survive or not, let alone expect him to come and save them.
That was just wishful thinking!
So, when all was said and done, there was still no hope?
Nicole turned pale. Nathaniel did his own thing and took out a lighter from his bag before beginning to boil water.
“Then... Can you contact the outside world?“
Nathaniel gave her a sincere look that dispelled all her hopes.
“No.“
“Haven't you thought about how to leave this place?! “
“I have. I thought that a fool would come here so that when someone comes to her rescue, they can take me along as well! In any case, I'm almost done with the content I'm looking for.“
Nicole was speechless.
'Is he saying that I'm a fool?!'
This knowledge completely dispelled her joy. What a tragedy!
Nathaniel skillfully distilled the seawater, then proceeded to distill the already-distilled seawater. After repeating this process of distillation several times, he finally lowered his head to taste it. He took a sip and handed the rest to Nicole.
“Drink up! You haven't had water for several days, right?“
Nicole took it. “I haven't had anything to drink since coming here...“
She still remembered that the last thing she drank before coming here was a glass of rosé handed to her by the flight attendant.
Nicole chugged the distilled water in a few gulps and looked at Nathaniel bashfully.
“There's no more...“ She said sheepishly. “Next time then...“
It was because she only brought a small amount of seawater back!
Not much was left after distillation! “Did you have enough?“
Nicole clearly saw that he did not drink much.
Nathaniel looked at her with raised eyebrows and smiled. “For explorers like us, we can still live in the absence of freshwater and tools.“
In extreme conditions, even urine could be a lifesaver.
However, looking at Nicole's delicate appearance, it seemed like she would rather die than rely on that to preserve her life.
“Have you been disguising yourself as an indigenous person the entire time you're here?“
Nicole could not help but ask. She did not understand why those indigenous people wanted to roast her but did not do the same to Nathaniel.
Nathaniel saw through her thoughts and nodded.
“If you don't want to be their enemy, you can only be one of them. They're not too intelligent, so they can't really tell the difference.“
Nicole nodded. 'If only I met him earlier...' She truly regretted that they met so late!
When Nicole remembered the scene of her being roasted alive, the lingering fear in her chest rose again.
She did not dare to think what would happen if not for the timely rainstorm. She might have turned into a pile of ashes by now...
Nicole's expression was puzzled and confused.
“Then do you know why they wanted to roast me?“
“It's probably a sacrifice. I once read in a journal jointly published by some anthropologists from Europe and Africa that certain primitive tribes would usually offer up strange and unfamiliar things to the heavens. That way, they'll get blessings if they send you to heaven. The ritual uses fire as a guide. Then, they'll give you their best food. When you eat the food, it means that you'll bless them with more food
later. But if it fails halfway through, they have to stop immediately. That's why I took you and ran once it rained...“
Nicole pursed her lips. It was similar to what Tigger said.
'Forget it... I shouldn't think about such unhappy thoughts...'
This horrifying experience was one too many in her lifetime!
Her originally gloomy mood improved slightly. This was probably the most relaxed moment she had in the past few days.
She smiled and suddenly remembered something important. She asked in slight confusion, “Is this island on the map?“
Logically speaking, her family would not stay put if something happened to her.
If they could not find her in the sea where the plane crashed, they would unquestionably expand the search scope.
However, it had been so many days, yet there was not a single sign of someone coming to her rescue. It was as if she was forgotten by the whole world.
Nicole could not help but wonder if this place truly existed.
Nathaniel's expression was somewhat heavy as he sighed.
“It is, but...“
“But what?“
Nathaniel pondered and said, “But this place is listed as an international forbidden zone. That's because the surrounding seas hundreds of nautical miles from this island are often infested with pirates. No matter which country's ships pass by, it would cause international disputes and huge losses. The pirates even blocked this place from the satellite map with special instruments...“
Nicole was completely speechless.
It turned out that her situation could get worse... She felt like a huge boulder fell on her heart.
It was so heavy that she found it hard to breathe.
Every time she felt that there was a chance of survival, reality smashed head-first into her.
“In other words, we can't leave this place and have to continue staying here...?“
The rescue helicopters and ships would not search here, and they certainly could not expect a group of pirates to rescue them either. They might as well be offered up as a sacrifice by those indigenous people earlier...
Nathaniel sensed that the atmosphere was becoming a little gloomy.
He gave her a relaxed smile. “Don't worry, you're not alone.“
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.269
Nicole's eyes felt sore. “They must think that I'm dead... My dad and my brothers must be so sad right now..."
Nathaniel paused and looked up at her. He felt a little heartache at her expression of despair.
“We still need to have a little hope..." “What hope?"
Nicole looked up at him with shining eyes, as if reflecting a sea of stars.
Nathaniel froze before saying, “Throughout history, there have accounts of people who have crossed the seas by swimming..."
Nicole said, “Will you shut up?!" “Okay..."
Nicole laid down on a pile of leaves and unknowingly drifted off into a deep sleep.
When Tigger realized that they were no longer in danger, it poked out of Nicole's pocket and went to explore the cave.
Nathaniel caught Tigger with nimble movements and appraised it.
“Nikki carries a pet with her?" Tigger's four legs flailed in the air. “Let go! I'm a tiger, not a pet!"
Nathaniel's eyes shined. “It's a talking fake tiger! “
Tigger's whiskers trembled with anger. This was an insult to his self-esteem as a tiger!
“I'm a real tiger! “
Nathaniel chuckled and spun Tigger in circles by its tail, like a cat toying with a mouse.
Tigger yelled in anger, “Mama, save me! I'm gonna get killed...“
Nathaniel immediately covered Tigger's mouth and cast a guilty glance at Nicole, who was still fast asleep, before he sighed in relief.
“No more screaming! “
He let go of Tigger, who jumped to the ground and held its head high proudly.
Unfortunately, Tigger was dirty, so no one could see its clean and lovely appearance from before.
Tigger tilted its head and looked up at Nathaniel cutely.
“I know you! Nathaniel Ferguson is a well-known social media influencer. Your adventure documentary has won five consecutive international awards, and you have fans all over the world! You're also the great-grandson of the Chairman of Ferguson Corporation. You're from a powerful family.“
Nathaniel was originally just surprised, but when he heard the last sentence, his eyes darkened slightly.
“You know quite a lot, huh...“
When Nathaniel first got popular, his close friends found out his identity, but the news quickly disappeared.
“Of course! My database has information from all around the world. As long as something appears on the internet once, I'll know about it!“
Nathaniel smiled and picked Tigger up, placing it on his palm.
“You can't tell Nikki that Eric is my uncle, otherwise I wonder if those indigenous people like to eat tigers...“
Tigger's eyes widened and spun around “You dare threaten a tiger?! “
Nathaniel said, “Uh-huh...“
Tigger's vigor weakened significantly.
“Mama hates the Ferguson family the most! You're afraid that she'll abandon you when someone comes to her rescue, right?! “
Nathaniel raised his brows. 'Hah! This fake tiger read my thoughts? It's quite capable, huh...'
Nicole finally got a good night's sleep without having to worry about being roasted by the indigenous people.
The waves washed over the rocks, and the loud howling wind woke her up.
When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Tigger squatting next to her. It stared at her
with wide, round eyes, looking so ditsy and adorable.
As soon as Nicole reached out, Tigger tacitly jumped into her hand and nuzzled her chin.
“Nathaniel went to fetch seawater. Mama, I love you Nicole smiled and stretched her back. “I love you too...“
When Nathaniel came back, he started distilling freshwater from seawater.
He had no choice. Nathaniel could handle anything himself, but this melodramatic woman Nicole could not.
Nicole pondered. She could not just sit here and wait. She began to pick up some relatively reflective stones on the beach and arranged the SOS symbol on the huge boulders.
Just in case a helicopter passed by and saw it...
Tigger reluctantly helped Nicole push the stones with its cute and tiny tiger legs.
“Mr. Ferguson...“ “Just call me Niel.“
Nathaniel leisurely held a cup of precious freshwater and took a sip. He winked at her with a smile and was very friendly.
His naturally approachable personality made Nicole feel very comfortable around him.
Nicole paused. 'Well, sure... As long as he's okay with it.'
”Nie1, do you have any wishes? I 'll help you realize them when we get back.”
Nathaniel paused and looked at her very seriously. ”I lack money.”
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.270
Nicole already had a feeling that Nathaniel lacked money. After all, why would he do such a dangerous job if he was not short of money?
She patted his shoulder.
“Don't worry, I have nothing if not money. If we ever get out, you never have to worry about not having money to spend as long as I'm around! “
Nathaniel instantly grew emotional and looked at her with hot tears in his eyes.
“Nikki, I 'll leave the rest of my life in your hands.“ “No problem! “
Nicole agreed easily. With her wealth, was it hard to
take care of a friend's financial needs? In the capital of Mediania.
Maverick heard about Nicole's accident when he finally came out of the research institute laboratory. Without a word, he immediately took a helicopter to that sea.
Kai had not returned, which meant that the matter was not settled yet.
The celebrities and dignitaries who had friendships with the Stantons also did not dare to poke at their heartbreak at this time.
However, those who thought highly of themselves and fancied themselves smart rushed to inquire about Nicole's residence so they could send condolence flowers.
This caused Floyd, whose health had just improved, to be readmitted to the hospital again after a fit of anger.
Grant immediately issued a ban. Whoever dared to send another flower wreath would have it returned to whoever sent it.
With that, those who refused to sit still finally became quiet.
Anything related to Nicole's accident also became taboo for online news outlets.
The media gave a desperate order for no one to talk about this matter.
Everyone could tell that the Stanton family refused to admit that Nicole was dead. They really loved her a s a daughter and sister...
At sea, two thousand nautical miles away from the island.
Maverick was on a flight for ten hours before reaching the cruise ship that Kai was on.
A large amount of wreckage from the plane was salvaged, but not a single person on board was found.
They might already be buried in the bellies of fish.
The more time passed, the more unpleasant Kai's expression became.
As soon as Maverick arrived on the ship, he saw Kai drinking away his sorrows while watching the underwater camera feed. Kai's eyes were completely bloodshot, and Maverick wondered how many days it had been since Kai had a wink of sleep.
Logan did not dare to talk Kai out of this, so he was very pleasantly surprised when he saw Maverick.
“Second Young Master Stanton! “
Maverick nodded slightly and had his computer equipment moved to the ship.
“Stop drinking. Dad's going to donate all our family assets, including yours...“
Kai did not seem to care. He simply looked devastated.
“Just donate it all...“
Maverick gave him a sideways glance.
“Haven't you ever thought about what Lil N will do if she comes back and finds herself penniless?“
Kai frowned. “Then Dad shou1dn't donate... Wait, do you mean... Lil N can still come back?! “
Maverick tapped away on the keyboard with a heavy expression. He stared intently at the string of words that flew across the screen and nodded without hesitation.
Kai jumped up in excitement. He ran over to Maverick with snot running down his nose.
“Really?! Are you serious?“
In the Stanton family, Grant had the most authority second to Floyd, and Maverick was the one with the highest IQ This was a well-known fact.
Kai had no advantage other than being good-looking.
Maverick's words strengthened Kai's confidence in the fruitless search for their baby sister, so he got very emotional.
Maverick said in a calm and composed voice, “The black box on the plane was taken away by the Liberty government, but I contacted a hacker friend to crack the flight record in the black box.“
Kai's eyes widened. 'Would this not cause an international dispute?'
“Just one minute before the plane exploded, there was a huge deviation in the plane's flight path. The place where it exploded and crashed was in this part of the sea, but...“
Kai was anxious and hurriedly asked, “But what?“ Maverick pursed his lips and spoke with a deep gaze.
“But in that one minute, a mysterious signal tried to correct the flight deviation. That signal was sent by Tigger, and the location where it finally disappeared was a thousand nautical miles away from the crash. If Tigger was a qualified AI robot, it wou1d've guided Lil N to safety and gave her an early warning.“