Chapter 1The Girl Who Cried Pirate

My entire family was on a luxury yacht trip. Just because my adopted sister was curious about sea monkeys, Dad took all the crew members down into the water with her.

Soon after, pirates targeted our yacht. The situation was critical.

I called Dad on the satellite phone over and over, but no one answered.

To protect me, Mom was violated by the pirates. To buy me time to escape, my brother was chopped up and fed to the fish.

But it was all in vain.

In desperation, I detonated the fuel drums, intending to take the pirates down with me.

Hearing the explosion, Dad rushed back and saved me just in time.

But my adopted sister, due to surfacing too quickly, suffered decompression sickness and died coughing up blood.

Before she died, she looked at me with reluctance. "I always knew I was an outsider, I just didn't expect... my sister to hate me this much..."

Dad silently buried her at sea. When we got home, he didn't blame me. He even groomed me to be the heir to the company.

But on the anniversary of her death, he tied me to a giant rock and sank me into the ocean.

"I heard that sacrificing your own flesh and blood to the Sea Witch can give Cici a good reincarnation in her next life!"

"If you hadn't played tricks back then, she wouldn't have died! You owe her this!"

As a sacrifice, I died with my eyes wide open, full of resentment.

When I opened my eyes again, the pirate ship was right in front of us.

* * *

Seeing that escape was impossible, this time, I didn't call Dad on the satellite phone.

Instead, I reported the yacht's coordinates directly to the Coast Guard.

But the Coast Guard would take time to arrive. I had to ensure my brother and mom's safety before then.

The utility room was hidden. With luck, maybe we could hold out until the Coast Guard arrived.

Thinking of this, I grabbed my brother and mom, trying to pull them inside.

But my brother looked reluctant and shook off my hand.

"Harper, are you crazy? Why hide in a utility room when there's such a nice view?"

Mom was also confused. "Yeah, the weather is so nice today. Isn't it better to sunbathe outside?"

Looking at my brother's nonchalant attitude, I wanted to smack him.

But in my past life, this same carefree brother was chopped up and fed to the fish by pirates just to buy me time to escape.

Thinking of that, I gritted my teeth and explained to him.

"If we don't hide, we'll all die at the hands of pirates!"

At this moment, my brother also saw the pirate ship not far away. His face changed, but then he relaxed again.

"It's just a few guys, what are you afraid of? We have a dozen crew members on board, they aren't pushovers."

I sighed. "They all went down with Dad and Cici to find sea monkeys. Not a single one is left."

Hearing this, my brother's face changed slightly. Before I could urge him, he pulled me and Mom quickly down into the cabin.

After hiding in the utility room, I piled all the heavy objects against the door, but I was still worried.

I wanted to call the Coast Guard again, but found that Mom was already calling Dad.

She dialed several times, but no one answered.

I advised helplessly, "Mom, stop calling. Dad is underwater with Cici looking for sea monkeys. If he gets distracted, he'll definitely blame you."

Mom said firmly, "Harper, how can you say that about your father? He didn't answer because it's inconvenient underwater."

"If he knows we are trapped, he will definitely come back to save us!"

In my past life, Mom also trusted Dad unconditionally like this, but ended up being brutally violated.

Seeing her persevering to dial the number again, I was so angry I grabbed the phone and shouted.

"If you want to die, keep calling! See if Dad picks up!"

Mom was stunned, feeling wronged. But the next second, the call connected.

She looked pleasantly surprised, quickly took the phone back, and whispered.

"Honey, come back and save us! Pirates are on the yacht. We're hiding in the utility room, we can't hold out much longer!"

Mom's voice trembled with fear.

She had already heard the pirates boarding. They were searching room by room for supplies, and would be here soon.

But on the other end, Dad was angry.

"Today is Cici's birthday. I promised to show her sea monkeys. We haven't been out long, and you're calling like it's a life-or-death situation. Is this how a mother acts?"

"You're so old, yet you only know how to be jealous of Harper. I usually spoil you two too much!"

Before he finished, Mom interrupted him.

"Richard, I'm really not lying to you! There really are pirates on the yacht. They are searching the ship now. If they catch us, the three of us are done for!"

My brother also leaned over to explain.

"Dad, Mom really isn't lying. Come back quickly, or it will be too late!"

Dad's roar came from the receiver.

"Luke, as the heir to the company, you're fooling around with your mother and sister? I'm so disappointed in you!"

"Tell Harper, if she doesn't want to be a sacrifice to the Sea Witch again in this life, stop inciting you and your mother. Otherwise, I won't forgive her!"

My brother didn't understand what Dad was saying, but a storm rose in my heart.

Did Dad... come back too?

Then why did he refuse to come back and save us?

Full of questions and grievances, I couldn't hold back anymore. I grabbed the satellite phone, wanting to ask clearly.

In his eyes, are the three of us less important than his adopted daughter Cici?

But before I could speak, the call was hung up.

When I called back, it was a busy tone.

Just then, bang, someone kicked the utility room door.

"Why is this room locked? Is someone inside?"

Another person giggled. "Locked or not, watch this!"

Immediately after, another loud bang, and the utility room door cracked open.

A leering eye immediately pressed against the crack, smiling wickedly.

"What did I say? Not only people, but two women."

"I've been drifting at sea for months, haven't touched a woman in ages. Gonna have some fun this time!"

The other person kicked him. "I found them first. I get first dip, you wait in line!"

Then came a burst of lewd laughter.

Mom turned pale with fright, and I was terrified. My brother grabbed a wooden stick, shielding me and Mom behind him.

"If you dare come in, I'll kill you!"

But I knew very well that my brother, just recovering from a serious illness, was no match for those two pirates.

Just as my brain was spinning, trying to find a way out.

Mom suddenly blocked the crack in the door with clutter, took the jade bracelet off her wrist with a resolute expression, and put it on my hand, choking back sobs.

"I planned to give this to you when you get married. I'm giving it to you now."

"Harper, listen to me. We don't know when the Coast Guard will arrive. We can't sit and wait for death. The window in this room can open, and there's a small lifeboat hanging outside. You escape quickly!"

"And Luke too! From now on, you have to protect your sister for Mom!"

Saying that, she squatted down, signaling me to stand on her shoulders to climb out the window.

I hugged her. "Mom, I'm not leaving!"

My brother's eyes were red too. "I'm not leaving either. I'm a man, how can I let a woman protect me? If anyone goes, it's you two!"

Just then, the door shook, looking like it was about to break open.

Mom stomped her foot in anger. "Mom can't swim, escaping is useless!"

"If I remember correctly, your uncle's stationed island is nearby! As long as you find him, Mom can be saved. Don't dawdle!"

Saying that, she poked the window glass out with a stick, then squatted down, buried her head between my legs, stood up forcefully, and pushed me out the window. Immediately after, my brother was also thrown out by Mom.

The next second, I heard the sound of the utility room door breaking open.

Mixed with Mom's heart-wrenching roar.

"You bastards, dare touch me and I'll chop off your hands!"

I was terrified and wanted to go back to save Mom, but immediately, I was pulled onto the raft by my brother and pushed away.

"Harper, go find Uncle for help! I'm going back to save Mom!"

Looking at my brother's resolute back, I wiped away tears and rowed hard towards the island where my uncle was stationed.