Romance with the Cursed Siren

CHAPTER 23. Horrible Discovery

Crystal stayed quietly at the back platform of the boat, half of her shimmering tail submerged beneath the water while gentle waves brushed against her scales. The cool seawater glided soothingly against her skin as she lazily trailed her fingers beneath the surface.

Then suddenly, she froze.

A familiar feeling washed over her. The scent of the ocean.

The temperature of the current. Even the movement of the waves felt recognizable. Her eyes slowly widened.

Home.

Without hesitation, Crystal slipped completely into the water and dove beneath the surface. A few moments later, her head emerged again beside the boat, excitement visible on her face for the first time in days.

“Pearl!” she cried happily while swimming alongside the boat. “We’re here!”

Pearl quickly walked toward the edge and looked down at her.

“Already?” she asked while scanning the surroundings nervously.

Crystal nodded eagerly.

“Yes! This is Caro!”

Pearl inhaled deeply before gripping the side of the boat tightly.

“Alright…” she murmured, trying to calm herself. “We just need to stay careful.”

Then she pointed at Crystal seriously.

“And we wait until you switch back and grow your legs again before we go deeper into the island, understand?”

Crystal nodded obediently.

Pearl suddenly opened her bag and pulled something out.

“I seriously can’t believe I’m doing this,” she muttered dramatically.

Crystal blinked.

Then her eyes widened in alarm.

“Pearl!” she exclaimed worriedly. “Why do you have a gun?!”

Pearl grinned mischievously and raised the weapon proudly.

“Relax, dear.”

She twirled it playfully.

“This isn’t a real gun.”

Crystal looked unconvinced.

“It’s a tranquilizer,” Pearl explained proudly. “It won’t kill anyone.”

Then she smirked.

“But whoever gets hit by this will definitely regret it.” She blew dramatically at the tip of the tranquilizer gun like an action-movie heroine.

Crystal stared at her blankly for a moment before quietly saying—

“You’re strange.”

Pearl laughed loudly.

“I get that a lot.”

Crystal guided Pearl toward the cliffside area of the island where huge rocks surrounded the shore. It was also the exact same place where Gabriel used to dock his yacht.

The memory instantly stabbed Crystal’s chest painfully.

For a brief moment, she remembered his smile… his voice… the way he looked at her.

But she quickly forced herself to focus. Her parents mattered more now.

What she didn’t know was that the island was about to greet her with the same horrifying sight that shocked Gabriel the night before.

Pearl removed her clothes until only her underwear remained before carefully diving into the crystal-clear water beside Crystal.

The moment she submerged herself, her eyes widened in amazement.

The underwater scenery was breathtaking.

Sunlight pierced through the water beautifully, illuminating vibrant corals and schools of colorful fish swimming peacefully around them.

Pearl had explored countless oceans around the world throughout her life, yet somehow Caro’s waters felt completely different.

Almost magical.

The entire marine environment seemed untouched and alive in a way she had never experienced before.

And secretly, she wondered if perhaps the island remained so beautiful because a siren protected it.

Pearl continued admiring everything around her until her attention shifted toward Crystal.

Crystal’s transformation had begun.

Pearl watched in fascination as the shimmering tail slowly disappeared and transformed back into human legs beneath the water.

Even after seeing it once already, the sight still felt unreal.

Moments later, the two climbed back onto the boat and prepared for their rescue attempt.

Neither of them truly knew what they were walking into.

Slowly and carefully, they made their way through the forest. Every snapping twig beneath their feet made them freeze nervously.

“What if those men are still here?” Pearl whispered while gripping the tranquilizer gun tightly.

Crystal’s heartbeat quickened.

“I don’t know…”

The deeper they went, the heavier Crystal’s chest felt.

Then finally—

They arrived.

Crystal froze instantly.

Her face lost all color.

“No…”

The single word escaped her lips weakly before she suddenly ran forward.

Pearl’s eyes widened in horror.

The cabin was completely destroyed.

Burned. Reduced to nothing but ashes and charred remains.

Pearl immediately covered her mouth in shock.

“Oh my God…”

“NO!” Crystal screamed as she rushed toward the ruins.

“Mom! Da!”

Her cries echoed painfully throughout the forest, frightening nearby birds and animals.

But no answer came.

Only silence.

Crystal collapsed onto the ground weakly while staring at the remains of her home.

“No…” she sobbed uncontrollably. “This can’t be happening…”

Her trembling hands touched the ashes desperately as though hoping her parents would suddenly appear.

“Mom…” she whimpered brokenly. “Dada…”

Tears streamed endlessly down her face.

“Where are you?” she cried. “Why didn’t you wait for me?”

Pearl’s heart shattered watching her.

Slowly, she walked closer and tightly hugged Crystal from behind.

Crystal immediately broke down harder in her arms.

“What should I do now?” she cried helplessly. “I can’t live without them, Pearl…”

Pearl swallowed the lump in her throat.

“Maybe they’re still alive somewhere,” she whispered softly despite her uncertainty. “We’ll find them, okay?”

Crystal slowly nodded while wiping her tears shakily.

Then suddenly, she remembered something.

“My father’s yacht,” she murmured quickly. “It’s docked on the other side of the island.”

Hope briefly returned to her eyes.

“They might be there!”

Pearl immediately nodded.

“Then let’s go.”

The two hurried toward the opposite side of the island.

But when they finally arrived—

They found nothing except the remains of a destroyed dock.

The bridge connecting to the docking area had collapsed completely.

“No…” Crystal whispered heavily.

Her knees weakened again.

Everywhere she looked, pieces of her life had been destroyed.

All her life, every morning began with her parents nearby.

Her father fixing things around the house. Her mother cleaning and cooking. Both of them working tirelessly together to give Crystal a peaceful life despite their isolation.

And now…

Everything was gone.

“This hurts so much…” Crystal whispered painfully while clutching her chest tightly. “It feels too heavy…”

Then suddenly, guilt overwhelmed her completely.

“This is all my fault,” she sobbed. “If I had been more careful that day… nobody would’ve seen me.”

Pearl immediately looked at her.

“My parents wouldn’t be in danger right now,” Crystal continued crying. “I shouldn’t have run away… I should’ve stayed with them.”

Her shoulders trembled violently.

“I’m so selfish…”

Pearl quickly held both of her shoulders.

“Crystal, stop,” she said firmly. “Don’t blame yourself.”

“But it’s true!”

“No,” Pearl insisted gently. “Your parents protected you because they love you.”

Crystal lowered her head.

“They wanted you safe,” Pearl continued softly. “And I’m sure they would never want you destroying yourself with guilt.”

Tears continued falling from Crystal’s eyes silently.

“Be strong for them,” Pearl whispered while squeezing her hand. “Survive the way they always wanted you to.”

Crystal stared blankly at the sand beneath them.

“But how?” she whispered weakly. “What’s the point of moving forward if I have no reason left?”

Pearl slowly sat beside her.

“That’s not true,” she said gently.

She held Crystal’s trembling hand tightly.

“Everyone is born for a reason.”

Crystal stayed silent.

“I’ve gone through painful things too,” Pearl admitted quietly. “And I learned something.”

She smiled sadly.

“Hardship doesn’t last forever.”

Then she looked directly into Crystal’s eyes.

“You can survive this.”

Crystal still didn’t respond. But she didn’t pull her hand away either. And for now, Pearl took that as enough.

That night, Pearl eventually fell asleep inside the boat from pure exhaustion.

Meanwhile, Crystal remained half-submerged in the seawater the entire night.

She quietly prayed for her parents beneath the moonlight until sunrise finally came.

Then her transformation happened again.

But this time…

Something felt different.

“Weird,” Crystal muttered softly while staring down at her tail.

Pearl, who had just woken up, looked at her sleepily.

“What’s weird?”

Crystal slowly touched her scales.

“It didn’t hurt as much this time.”

Pearl frowned slightly.

“What do you mean?”

Crystal looked distant.

“My transformation usually feels unbearable,” she explained quietly. “Like my body is being torn apart.”

Then she lowered her eyes.

“But now… I barely felt anything.”

A bitter smile formed on her lips.

“Maybe I’m just becoming numb to pain already.”

Pearl stared at her sadly.

Then after a few moments, she softly said—

“Crystal… you’re beautiful.”

Crystal immediately looked away.

“There’s nothing beautiful about being cursed,” she replied coldly.

Pearl stayed silent.

“If not for this curse,” Crystal continued bitterly while staring at her tail, “we wouldn’t be trapped on this island.”

Her voice cracked slightly.

“I wouldn’t have to hide from the world.”

Tears filled her eyes again.

“And my parents might still be alive.”

Pearl slowly sat beside her where the waves gently splashed against Crystal’s tail.

“Crystal,” she said softly, “don’t let grief drown you.”

Crystal quietly played with the sand beneath her fingers.

“All of us suffer differently,” Pearl continued. “But the pain feels almost the same.”

She looked toward the ocean.

“It makes you afraid to continue living.”

Her voice softened.

“Especially when the people you love most are suddenly gone.”

Crystal’s hands trembled slightly.

“But think about this…” Pearl whispered while squeezing her hand again. “Would your parents want all their sacrifices to disappear just because you lost the strength to keep going?”

Crystal remained silent.

“Don’t embrace sorrow so deeply that it destroys you,” Pearl continued gently. “Instead… embrace life.”

Then she smiled softly.

“Because someday, life might give you thousands of reasons to move forward again.”

Crystal said nothing.

But Pearl could tell her words were reaching her little by little.

After a long silence, Pearl finally stood up.

“I think we should go back now,” she said while brushing sand off herself. “There’s no signal here.”

She sighed.

“Roxanne and Carol are probably worried sick already.”

But Crystal slowly shook her head.

“Pearl… I think you should just leave me here.”

Pearl immediately frowned.

“I don’t want to bring danger to you or your family,” Crystal continued softly. “You’ve already done more than enough for me.”

Pearl crossed her arms stubbornly.

“Absolutely not.”

Crystal blinked.

“There’s no way I’m leaving you alone on this island,” Pearl continued firmly. “You’re coming with me whether you like it or not.”

Crystal hesitated.

“But people will become suspicious of me eventually…”

Then she slowly moved toward the water again.

“I can’t stay with you forever.”

“Crystal, please,” Pearl interrupted desperately. “My father owns a hidden shack near the coastal inlet.”

Crystal paused.

“Hardly anyone goes there,” Pearl explained quickly. “You’ll be safe.”

Crystal remained quiet for several seconds.

Pearl held her breath nervously.

But instead of answering—

Crystal suddenly dove beneath the water.

“Crystal!” Pearl called anxiously.

Her heart sank

Slowly, Pearl climbed back onto the boat and started the engine sadly.

But before she could sail far—

Something moved beside the boat.

Pearl looked down and there was Crystal.

Swimming alongside her quietly.

Pearl smiled in relief.

_____________________________________________

“Where have you been this time?”

Joemar’s disappointed voice immediately greeted Gabriel the moment he stepped inside the mansion.

Gabriel looked exhausted.

His clothes were wrinkled, his eyes were dark from lack of sleep, and his entire body looked drained after days of searching desperately for Crystal.

Joemar sat in the living room beside Camila, both clearly waiting for him.

“You disappeared again without informing anyone,” his father continued sternly. “Not even your fiancée knew where you went.”

“Joemar, stop already,” Camila interrupted sharply before walking toward Gabriel worriedly.

“What happened to you?” she asked while cupping his face gently. “You look sick.”

“I’m fine, Mom,” Gabriel answered quietly.

“You don’t look fine.”

Before Gabriel could respond, Joemar scoffed.

“That’s because you keep treating him like a child,” he muttered. “How will he mature if you keep tolerating his behavior?”

Camila immediately turned toward him angrily.

“Behavior?” she repeated coldly. “You forced him into an engagement he never wanted.”

Joemar frowned.

“He only started becoming miserable after you chose your company over your own son.”

“Enough,” Gabriel suddenly interrupted while rubbing his aching temple.

The tension between his parents instantly fell silent.

“What are you even doing home right now?” Gabriel asked tiredly, trying to divert the conversation. “Shouldn’t you both be at the office?”

Joemar stood up.

“That’s exactly what I should be asking you.”

Gabriel remained silent.

“You left multiple appointments unattended again,” his father continued sternly. “Several clients withdrew from negotiations because of your irresponsibility.”

Gabriel clenched his jaw.

“How do you expect to become the next company president if you can’t even handle your current responsibilities properly?”

Then his father looked at him disappointedly.

“Why do you keep failing me, son?”

Something inside Gabriel snapped slightly.

“With all due respect, Dad,” he answered coldly, “how can you say I’m failing you when I’ve obeyed every single demand you made?”

Joemar stayed silent.

“I even agreed to marry Rachel,” Gabriel continued bitterly. “Only because you wanted it.”

His chest rose heavily.

“So tell me honestly…”

His eyes darkened.

“What else do you still want from me?”

Joemar said nothing.

Gabriel let out a tired breath.

“Excuse me.”

Without waiting for another response, he turned and walked upstairs toward his room.

The moment he entered, exhaustion completely swallowed him.

He fell backward onto the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.

Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out Crystal’s pearl bracelet.

The soft pearls glimmered beneath the room’s light.

Gabriel held it tightly against his chest.

“Why didn’t you wait for me?” he whispered painfully.

His eyes slowly closed.

Then suddenly—

His phone started ringing. It was Rachel.

Gabriel stared at the screen emotionlessly before immediately declining the call.

Then he turned the phone off completely.