Hearing Ethan's words, Sophia's face instantly turned pale. Her steps faltered, and she instinctively backed away. She quickly picked up a stick from the ground, gripping it tightly in her hand like it was her last line of defense.
"Don't come any closer! I'm warning you, Ethan—if you dare lay a finger on me, I'll fight you to the death!" Sophia's voice trembled as she tried to mask her fear with a threat, but the shaky tone betrayed her panic.
Ethan raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk curling at the corner of his lips. His eyes glinted with amusement. "Fight me to the death? Do you really think you stand a chance against me?"
Sophia clenched her teeth, trying to appear tougher than she felt. "I'm Jonathan Pierce's daughter—the chairman of the Interstellar Trade Corporation! If you so much as touch me, my father will make you pay for it!" Her voice rose, hoping her father's name would intimidate Ethan.
But Ethan just let out a mocking laugh, his eyes full of disdain.
"Miss Pierce, have you forgotten where we are? This is an uninhabited alien island in the middle of nowhere. Even if I did something to you, who's going to find out?"
Sophia's heart sank.
She wasn't some naive, sheltered girl. On the contrary, she was sharp and worldly, well-versed in the ways of people and power. Ethan's words hit her where it hurt—out here, cut off from civilization, there were no laws, no rules. She had no one to rely on.
If Ethan really wanted to do something to her, she wouldn't be able to stop him.
The thought sent a chill down her spine. Her palms began to sweat, and her heartbeat quickened. But she forced herself to take a deep breath, trying to stay calm.
She couldn't let fear take over.
"Ethan, as long as you don't touch me, I can make sure you're rewarded once we're rescued. I'll have my dad give you a promotion and a raise," she said, softening her tone, trying to sound conciliatory. "And I'll throw in 500,000 Galactic Credits. No, scratch that—5 million! How does that sound?"
Ethan tilted his head, pretending to think it over as he rubbed his chin.
Then, with a deliberately exaggerated expression of mock hesitation, he smiled. "Five million is tempting, I'll admit. But the thing is… right now, I'm more interested in you. So, what do we do about that?"
Sophia's face went deathly pale, her eyes welling up with tears. "Ethan, I'm begging you… please don't do this. I'll agree to anything you want—just don't touch me." Her voice cracked, a mix of desperation and pleading.
Ethan looked at her, and after a moment, he couldn't hold back his laughter.
Waving a hand dismissively, he said in a lighthearted tone, "Relax, relax. Don't get so worked up. I was just messing with you. Don't take it so seriously—I'm not that kind of guy."
Sophia froze, stunned.
She stared at Ethan, trying to read his face, to figure out if he was lying. But Ethan didn't say anything else. He simply turned and continued walking east along the beach.
Sophia stood there, her nerves still taut, though she felt a small measure of relief.
Even so, she couldn't let her guard down. She didn't fully trust Ethan's words—after all, in a place like this, stripped of civilization, anyone could reveal their most primal instincts in the name of survival.
Ethan didn't look back at her, his steps steady as he moved forward.
About sixty feet ahead, he stopped under a tall tree. The tree was massive, at least thirty feet high, with dense foliage and a dozen or so large, round fruits hanging from its branches.
"A coconut tree?" Ethan muttered, looking up at the fruit with a slight frown. "But these coconuts are way too big—almost twice the size of the ones on Earth." His voice carried a hint of curiosity and excitement.
He glanced around the base of the tree, searching for a good angle to climb. Once he found it, he didn't hesitate. Wrapping his arms around the trunk, he began to climb.
For someone who had once served in the Special Forces of the Interstellar Alliance, this was child's play.
Ethan's movements were swift and efficient. He clamped his legs tightly around the tree trunk, his hands alternating as he climbed higher and higher. In no time, he reached the top.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on his body. Squinting against the light, he reached out and began plucking the oversized coconuts one by one, tossing them to the ground below.
Thud! Thud! The sound of coconuts hitting the sand echoed across the otherwise silent beach.
Once back on the ground, Ethan dusted off his hands and picked up a sharp, cone-shaped rock. He struck one of the coconuts with force, the dull thuds of stone against shell breaking the stillness. After a few solid hits, he managed to crack open a hole in the coconut.
Lifting it to his lips, he tilted the coconut and let the juice pour into his mouth.
Gulp. Gulp.
Ethan drank deeply, the cool liquid sliding down his throat, refreshing him instantly. He closed his eyes, savoring the moment, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. For a brief second, he felt like he was back on a Hawaiian vacation, lounging under the sun without a care in the world.
"Ah, that's the stuff!" he exclaimed, setting the coconut down and wiping his mouth. The parched feeling that had been gnawing at him was finally gone.
Just then, a hesitant voice broke the silence behind him. "Ethan… can you share one of those coconuts with me?"
Ethan turned to see Sophia standing a short distance away. Her face was pale, her lips cracked, and it was obvious she was severely dehydrated. Though her tone carried a hint of reluctance, she had finally swallowed her pride and asked for help.
Ethan raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "And why should I?" he asked, his voice dripping with mockery.
Sophia bit her lip, trying to muster some authority. "Because I'm your boss!" She lifted her chin, attempting to assert her position.
But Ethan just let out a derisive laugh, shaking his head. "Your boss?" he repeated, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Do you still think this is the office? Wake up, princess. This is a deserted island. Out here, being a boss means nothing."
Sophia's retort died in her throat. She clenched her fists, her expression a mix of frustration and humiliation.
She knew Ethan was right. On this isolated island, far from civilization, titles and status were meaningless. The only thing that mattered was survival—and the resources to ensure it.
After a long pause, Sophia spoke again, her voice softer, tinged with compromise. "Ethan, how about I buy one from you? I'll pay you 100 Galactic Credits for a coconut."
Ethan couldn't help but laugh. He extended his hand, pretending to be serious. "Sure. Go ahead and transfer the credits to my account."
Sophia's face froze. She pressed her lips together, her voice dropping to a quieter tone. "I… I don't have my phone with me. I can't transfer anything right now. But once we're rescued, I'll pay you double. How about that?"
Ethan shrugged, his expression indifferent. "Sorry, no credit allowed in my business. But…" He paused, his eyes deliberately scanning her from head to toe, his tone turning teasing. "If you're out of money, you could always pay with your body."
Sophia's face flushed bright red. She glared at him, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and humiliation. "In your dreams! I'd rather die of thirst than sell myself to you!"
Ethan chuckled, completely unfazed by her outburst. "Suit yourself," he said casually, his tone still playful. "Let's see how long you can hold out."
With that, he turned away from her, gathering the coconuts he had collected and moving them to a shaded spot nearby.
From his pocket, he pulled out a waterlogged box of matches, along with his soaked cigarettes and damp clothes. He spread them out on a flat rock to dry under the sun.
The heat grew more intense as the day wore on, the air thick with the oppressive weight of the sun's rays. Ethan lounged in the shade of the tree, sipping coconut juice leisurely, enjoying the brief respite from the harsh environment.
Sophia, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky. She stood under the blazing sun, her lips now cracked and white, her forehead glistening with sweat.
She kept licking her lips in a futile attempt to ease the dryness, but it only made her thirst worse. Her body began to sway, her steps unsteady.
Ethan glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, a faint smirk playing on his lips. He made no move to help her, instead watching her with mild amusement, as if waiting to see what she would do next.
Sophia clenched her teeth, forcing herself to stay upright. But deep down, she knew her body was nearing its limit. If this went on much longer, she wouldn't last another hour before dehydration caused her to collapse.
...