Eat Your Regret

My boyfriend, Christopher Linden, was short of 20 thousand dollars for his medical treatment. To get the money as soon as possible, I participated in a rich man's game onboard a lavish cruise. I didn't bat an eye as I jumped into the ocean to search for a bracelet one of their female companions had dropped in the water.

As I choked on the ocean water, I heard the man in the lead mock me, saying, "I've seen plenty of the dirty things people are willing to do for money, but you take the cake. You're even willing to give up your life for it."

Someone teased, "Your girlfriend doesn't like money and is willing to forgo everything to care for you. Do you love her?"

He snorted. "She's just a peasant from the countryside; I'm only fooling around with her. You have no idea how coarse her hands are—they disgust me whenever she touches me. How could I possibly fall for her?"

I turned ashen at his words. He was Christopher, who was supposed to be wheelchair-bound. He was also supposed to be too broke for surgery.

The peasant from the countryside he was talking about was me.

Christopher needed money for his leg surgery. To help him with that, I got a gig as a server onboard a lavish cruise without his knowledge.

After texting him, I turned to see a tall, regal figure on the cruise. It was so familiar that I was dazed for a split second. A trace of doubt crossed my heart, but I soon shook my head and rid myself of that thought.

Christopher had always been wheelchair-bound, and we didn't have money for his treatment. How could he be on this lavish cruise where businessmen and powerful people milled about?

I mocked myself for overthinking things. At the same time, I couldn't help thinking that Christopher probably would've been as handsome as that man if he could stand.

So, my determination to save up and help him treat his legs grew stronger.

Onboard the cruise, the servers all had to wear masks. Aside from the guests, no one would be able to recognize anyone else.

I was busy at work when I suddenly heard a commotion on the deck. A man's somewhat drunken voice rang out, carrying in the wind. "If anyone goes down there to retrieve the item, I'll pay them 20 thousand dollars as a tip."

I gathered from the other servers' whispers that a man's female companion had dropped her bracelet into the ocean. They were offering a grand reward for anyone who could retrieve it.

The ocean's currents were overpowering, and it was like a giant whirlpool that could suck anyone away at a moment's notice. One could lose their life if they weren't careful. I couldn't help swallowing when I saw everyone around me hesitating.

The reward was 20 thousand dollars—it was the exact amount Christopher needed for his surgery. I gnashed my teeth when I thought