Chapter 188

Did Richard sound human?

"Richard talks about killing people like it's as easy as squashing a bug," Nina thought.

"Why so quiet?" Richard asked, clearly interested.

Nina shrank back, feeling a bit intimidated. "Nothing to say."

Richard just smiled and stayed silent.

The car sped along and finally stopped at a dock in the suburbs.

Before getting out, Nina saw a yacht at the pier.

Richard draped his coat over her shoulders and led her onto the yacht.

Nina's grip tightened. "You're not planning to sell me, are you?"

Richard paused. "Even if I wanted to, someone would have to buy."

Nina took a moment to process. Did he mean she wasn't worth anything?

Before she could think more, Richard had already pulled her onto the yacht.

The yacht started and slowly left the shore.

Nina stood on the deck, watching the shore fade away, feeling a mix of panic and fear.

As the boat sailed farther, it slowed down.

Richard let go of her hand. "Wait here," he said, heading into the cabin.

With the yacht slowing down, the sea breeze became gentler. The city's lights shimmered in the distance.

Listening to the sea and the wind, Nina's heart began to calm.

She grabbed the railing and leaned over. The sea below was pitch black.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her collar and yanked her back.

Nina felt a tightness around her neck, let go of the railing, and fell to the ground.

She looked at Richard, speechless. "What are you doing?"

Richard frowned, looking dark. "I should ask you that. What are you doing?"

"I wasn't doing anything."

Richard stared at her. "I just took you out to sea. Is that such a big deal?"

Nina was stunned.

Richard continued, "Do you know how cold this water is? How deep it is? Even if you don't drown, do you think you can swim back?"

He was angry, not just scolding.

He had never seen anyone as foolish as Nina.

It took Nina a while to react. "You thought I was going to jump?"

Her question caught Richard off guard.

Nina stood up, finding it funny.

Her laughter drifted in the sea breeze, clear and pleasant.

Richard's frown relaxed a bit. He handed her a small porcelain jar.

"What's this?" Nina asked.

"Charlie's ashes," Richard said.

"What!" Nina was startled, her hand shook, and the jar fell.

With a crash, it shattered, spilling a cloud of white powder.

The sea breeze blew it away.

Nina stepped aside, worried the ashes might get on her.

In no time, the wind had almost blown away all the ashes.

"You!" Nina glared at Richard.

Bringing Charlie's ashes here was terrifying!

Richard hadn't expected such a strong reaction. He was momentarily stunned by her actions.

Then he smirked. "He's dead and turned to ashes. Are you still afraid of him?"

Nina was speechless. 'Afraid of him? No, I was afraid of you!'

Richard glanced at the ashes on the ground and said calmly, "Remember when Charlie said if he died, he'd come back from hell to find you?"

Nina was stunned. Of course, she remembered. But she never believed it. Charlie's words were just his final desperate threats.

But Richard seemed to believe it.

"I made this jar myself," Richard said. "It's rough, but the priest said it can calm souls. The patterns were drawn by the priest too. He said if this jar is thrown into the sea, you'll be safe forever."

Richard looked at the ashes on the ground. "But your way is better."

He kicked the fragments and ashes into the sea.

"Now he's completely gone. Even if he could come back, he wouldn't have the power to harm you."

Nina was stunned by Richard's words. She had seen superstitious people, but never someone who believed so deeply.

Maybe it was the sea breeze, but her eyes stung a bit. She blinked and said, "You don't seem like someone who would believe in this."

"Yeah, I don't," Richard nodded. "But for you, I'm willing to believe once."

Nina felt a mix of emotions.

Richard approached her, eyes fixed on her. "Since I started doing business, I knew to eliminate all threats. Even if Charlie's dead, I can't leave any potential dangers."

Nina was frightened by the fierceness in his eyes. The closer Richard got, the more suffocated she felt.

She instinctively took a step back.

Noticing her movement, Richard's eyes tightened. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. "You understand why I'm doing this, right?"

Nina shook her head. "I don't understand."

"Nina!"

She avoided Richard's intense gaze, lowered her head, and said, "Mr. Cole, I've always been grateful for what you did last time. In a way, you saved my life."

Richard's grip tightened. "I don't want to be your savior. I want to be your man!"

Nina's heart skipped a beat, and a strong sense of unease and fear grew inside her.

She quickly pulled her hand back. "Mr. Cole, I don't know if I did something to make you misunderstand. If I did, I apologize. I feel nothing but profound gratitude and utmost respect for you."

Richard took a step closer. "I do!"

Nina quickly stepped back. "That's your personal business. Don't push it on me!"

Richard quietly stared at her for a moment, then asked, "So you don't like me?"