Chapter 9
1586 Words
William sat on a tree branch, his hands resting behind his head.
He had seen everything that had just unfolded.
Tina, the poor girl, was willing to serve Ruby and Eric for nothing more than an uncertain promise.
It was a foolish thing to do.
With tears of grievance streaming down her face, Tina gnawed repeatedly at the fish head. She didn't know whether the salty taste was from the sea fish or her tears.
She only set the fish head down reluctantly when it yielded no more flavor. Sitting by the campfire, she wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her head deeply.
Among the three of them, she had expended the most energy and done the most work, yet all she got in the end was a meatless fish head. What saddened her even more was how she ate it with such relish.
How could Tina, who had always been her parents' cherished daughter, admired as a shining star by others, not feel sad and heartbroken?
Did she really have to endure such treatment for the sake of her dreams and career?
Ruby glanced at Tina's despondent appearance and said, "Mr. Stone, Tina looks like she hasn't had enough to eat."
Although Ruby herself hadn't eaten her fill, she had certainly eaten more than Tina.
Eric smiled as he picked a piece of fish meat from between his teeth, popping it back into his mouth.
Most of the fish had ended up in his stomach.
Eric said, "Tina, I'd love for everyone to eat their fill, but you know our situation. You only caught one fish, and splitting it between three people means no one can eat enough. Just bear with it. Once the rescue team arrives, we'll go back, and you can eat whatever you want."
Ruby added, "That's right, Tina. Honestly, it's your fault. If you had caught more fish, none of us would be hungry. Besides, it's one thing for the two of us to go hungry, but if Mr. Stone gets too weak from hunger, who's going to promote you to be the leading lady?"
Eric placed his hand on Ruby's thigh.
He said, "It's not really Tina's fault. She did her best. Tina, wake up earlier tomorrow to catch more fish. If you can catch a few more, we'll all be able to eat our fill."
Ruby, with Eric's hand resting on her thigh, gave him a flirtatious look. "Mr. Stone, I feel the call of nature. Care to come with me?"
Eric glanced at Tina's fair ankles and her delicate, sand-dusted feet, licking his lips. "Sure. Tina, do you want to join us?"
It was said that people thought of lust only after their stomachs were full, but apparently, even when hungry, Eric and Ruby were already indulging in such dirty thoughts.
'Can they really survive until the rescue arrives?' William wondered as he watched them from afar.
Tina shook her head. "No need, Mr. Stone."
Eric chuckled.
He thought it didn't matter. After all, they were all stuck on this island. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future.
Eric and Ruby got up and walked just beyond the firelight, where the sound of clothing being removed soon followed.
Then came Ruby's unrestrained moans. "Oh, Mr. Stone, you're so big! Harder! Harder! F*ck me!"
Anyone would blush to hear such sounds, let alone Tina, who had never experienced anything like this.
Her cheeks flushed under the firelight, and she quickly covered her ears, trying to block out the noise.
Five minutes later, Eric and Ruby returned.
Ruby's face showed a trace of dissatisfaction, but she clung to Eric's arm, pretending to look content.
Eric, still unsatisfied, stared at Tina with a bold, invasive gaze, like a hungry wolf ready to devour her.
Fortunately, having just been partially satisfied, he didn't make a move.
Tina, however, was terrified of his gaze and secretly gripped a wooden stick in her hand.
Eric and Ruby seemed to have tired themselves out and lay down together on the ground, falling asleep.
Tina, though exhausted and starving, felt too afraid to sleep.
What if she lost consciousness while sleeping?
She wasn't someone who could be treated like a wh*re.
Besides, being in the wilderness with no clear understanding of the situation, resting so carelessly would leave them no chance to escape if danger arose.
So, she stayed awake all night.
At sunrise, as the sunlight finally warmed her, she let out a sigh of relief. The night was always terrifying, but the daylight brought a sense of safety.
William climbed down from the tree, casting a faint glance at Tina.
She barely ate, didn't drink or sleep, and did so much physical labor, yet she hadn't collapsed.
It was almost a miracle.
But unfortunately, no matter how strong her willpower was, she was still just a pitiful pawn at the mercy of others.
Tina seemed to have realized this herself.
She had thought a lot throughout the night.
The constant hunger in her stomach reminded her that staying with Eric and Ruby would only make her a tool to be used.
They only cared about themselves. They didn't care if she could survive.
No one knew when rescue would come. To survive, she couldn't keep staying with them. She had to find a way to live on her own.
Tina watched William, who had just climbed down from the tree.
Although she thought he was also a scoundrel who had taken advantage of her, it seemed that following him offered a better chance of survival than staying with Eric and Ruby.
As for being the leading actress or anything like that, survival came first. If she couldn't stay alive, everything else was meaningless.
She gritted her teeth, made up her mind, and stood up to walk toward William.
William looked at her coldly. "What's up?"
Tina raised her head to meet his gaze, her eyes resolute.
She bit her lip lightly. "Can you... help me? Please help me survive..."
"No," William refused without hesitation.
He did have the skills to survive in the wild, but he wasn't willing to take along someone who couldn't distinguish right from wrong.
That would only bring trouble for himself.
Hearing his rejection, Tina grew anxious. "Please, I can do a lot of things!"
William replied, "That has nothing to do with me."
Without another word, William walked to the beach and began arranging two stones as a base, placing a thin slab of stone on top.
The fish meat and roe from the two fish he caught yesterday were still untouched, wrapped in leaves and hidden in his pocket. Now, they could serve as breakfast.
Tina didn't know what William was doing, but in order to survive, she approached him again.
She crouched down, her graceful neck exposed as she looked up at him with bright, clear eyes. "William, I know you're afraid I'll burden you, but you saw last night. I can catch fish and make fire. I won't be a burden to you. I can prove myself!"
William felt a bit helpless.
It seemed this woman had realized there was no way to survive by staying with Eric and Ruby.
'Should I take her along?' William thought.
To be honest, Tina was far more attractive than Ruby, and judging by her demeanor, she was likely still a virgin.
Having a woman like her around would make life and work much more interesting.
But William didn't want to agree to her so easily.
On a deserted island, there was no room for useless people.
He didn't need a burden.
If she wanted to join him, she had to prove her worth.
If Tina didn't have the necessary skills, he wouldn't take her along, even if she was beautiful.
William stayed silent as he lit a fire under the stone slab. Soon, it was heated.
He took out the fish meat he had collected the night before and placed it on the slab, crushing it with a stone.
As the temperature rose, he took out the fish roe and tossed it all onto the slab.
Sizzle—
The sound of frying fish filled the air, followed by a rich, enticing aroma.
Tina tilted her head and sniffed, her face lighting up in delight. "It smells so good..."
"Do you want some?" William asked.
Tina nodded eagerly. "I do!"
William said, "Then come with me into the jungle later."
Tina nodded without hesitation. "Okay!"
Using a thin wooden stick as a fork, William picked up a piece of fried fish roe and handed it to her.
Tina couldn't wait and grabbed it with her fingers, but it was so hot that she dropped it onto the sand.
Not caring about the dirt, she quickly picked it up, flipping it back and forth in her hands before finally eating it in one bite. She exclaimed, "Oh my gosh, why didn't I realize fish roe could taste this good before?"
"Humph," William chuckled. This type of fish had large bellies full of roe but very little meat.
The roe from two fish was enough to fill two people halfway. As for the rest, they could search for more in the jungle.
As they spoke, the aroma of the frying fish roe had already attracted Eric and Ruby.
The little bit of fish they had last night wasn't enough to sustain them until morning.
As soon as they smelled the aroma of cooked fish, they immediately got up.
- Writer
