Olivia Montgomery's husband, Mason Carter, forced her into bed with his brother, Ethan Carter.

She ran away, but Mason, while pleading for her forgiveness, conspired with Jasmine to send her back to the bridal chamber.

From that day on, she was locked up during the day and raped by Ethan at night.

After half a month, she secretly found a chance to escape and returned to the Montgomery family. However, the Montgomery family had taken $1,500 from the Carter family to help Ethan get married.

The Montgomery family, considering a married daughter as water spilled out, tied her up and sent her back to the Carters after their men came.

On the night she returned to the Carter family, Ethan broke her left leg and chained her like a dog, keeping her imprisoned for five years.

During those five years, her several failed suicide attempts only led to even more perverse beatings and humiliations from Ethan until she became pregnant and gave birth.

Whenever she disobeyed, Ethan would beat the child, sometimes even submerging the child's head in a water vat to force her into submission.

For the sake of her child, she compromised and lived like a walking corpse.

The child she raised with her life and dignity, when grown up, not only failed to understand her but also thought she was too old, crippled, and divorced, unable to support herself. They told her to accept reality and stop making trouble.

Realizing that she wanted a divorce, Ethan beat her unconscious again.

Waking up in the middle of the night, she closed the window and turned on the gas valve, avenging herself and ending her humiliating and miserable life.

When she woke up again, she found herself back thirty years in the past, on the very day she was raped by Ethan.

Jasmine, hearing no movement inside, worriedly called out by the door. "Ethan, are you okay?"

Olivia, startled by Jasmine's voice, feigned terror. "Let me go. Please let me go."

While begging, she crawled to the bed, pushed open the small window, and tore apart the old screen.

She placed the red wooden dowry chest given by the Montgomery family on the bed. Standing on the chest, Olivia climbed out of the window.

Ethan gradually regained consciousness, clutching his head and searching around. Looking up, he saw Olivia halfway out of the window.

"Olivia, you're not getting away." Ethan, ignoring his headache, stood up with a grotesque expression and reached for Olivia's foot.

Hearing Ethan's voice, Olivia kicked out with all her strength. "Die."

Already unsteady, Ethan fell back onto the dilapidated bed with a scream.

"Ah, don't you dare run, Olivia. You little slut, I'll break your leg so you can't go anywhere."

Mason, squatting in the courtyard with his head in his hands, rushed over upon hearing the shouting and tried to push the door open. "Olivia, don't run."

Seeing this, Jasmine dropped the broom she was holding and started pounding on the door. "Mason, something's happened to Ethan. Kick the door in, quickly."

Upon hearing Mason's words, Olivia's heart filled with even more resentment.

If Ethan was the evil spirit, then Mason was the accomplice, aiding and abetting the villainy.

Mason's deception was the root cause of her miserable fate.

Olivia had barely managed to climb out of the window when the door was smashed open.

Mason, in a panic, was about to shout, but froze when he saw the eyes of Olivia, filled with loathing, glaring at him.

His inner conflict and hesitation left him speechless.

Jasmine gave Mason a shove. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and chase after her. If you can't bring her back, don't bother coming home. I disown you as my son."

Ethan, having somewhat recovered his strength, staggered out as well. "Hurry, we can't let Olivia get away."

Olivia, her heart brimming with hatred, wished she could just kill the entire Carter family.

But she was just a weak woman; she couldn't fight them head-on. She had to escape first, and then she'd have her chance for revenge.

Despite hearing Mason's cries, Olivia wouldn't stop.

If she had been deceived in her previous life and was deceived again in this one, then it was her own fault.

Mason, Ethan, Jasmine, and Liam ran out of the house and spread out to chase after Olivia.

The Carter family lived on the very edge of Trislandia, and with Olivia cornered, she had no choice but to head toward the sea.

"Olivia, that's a cliff over there. You won't get away. Come home with me. If you just behave, I'll stand up for you," Mason coaxed Olivia. If Olivia ran away, her father and Ethan would blame him for the rest of his life.

He couldn't bear such a heavy burden of guilt, nor did he want to live the rest of his life under the moral blackmail of Ethan and his parents.

Olivia's expression was cold. With the sea at her back and a look of venomous hatred in her eyes, she glared at these people who were worse than ghosts. "Mason, Ethan, every single one of you Carters deserves to die a miserable death."

With that, Olivia jumped into the sea without hesitation.

She'd rather die than relive the humiliation and misery of her previous life.

"Olivia!" Mason screamed, running to the cliff by the sea. His voice was hoarse with regret.

"Olivia!" Ethan, limping, caught up just in time to leap, but Liam and Jasmine stopped him.

"There's a drop of dozens of feet here. Are you crazy enough to risk falling to your death?" Jasmine punched her eldest son, Ethan, on the back.

Seeing her two sons so distraught over Olivia, Jasmine was furious.

Then Liam said, "Stop crying and shouting. Hurry to the village and find some help. Otherwise, if a person like Olivia disappears at our place, the police will be on our doorstep in no time."

Jasmine, quick on her feet, ran toward the village, shouting, "Help! Someone, please help! Olivia sleepwalked and jumped into the sea!"

The once pitch-black Trislandia gradually lit up with scattered lights as people came out to help search.

Olivia had grown up in Trislandia and had been fishing with her parents since she was seven or eight. She was an excellent swimmer.

Jumping into the sea might just give her a slim chance of survival.

At the moment she hit the water, she felt a tremendous force pulling her straight down to the seabed.

No matter how much Olivia struggled, she couldn't break free from the force that dragged her under.

Olivia cursed her bad luck. Had she time-traveled only to drown in the sea without avenging herself?

Just then, the string around Olivia's neck broke, and a beautiful yellow Meloria Pearl floated in the seawater.

This was the Meloria Pearl Olivia had extracted from a giant conch shell, her favorite and only piece of jewelry.

However, in her previous life, it had been stolen by Ethan, sold, and the money squandered on drinking and gambling.

Olivia reached out and grabbed the Meloria Pearl, holding it in her palm.

The moment the Meloria Pearl touched the wound on Olivia's palm and came into contact with her blood, it burst into a golden glow.

Olivia felt the Meloria Pearl disappear from her palm, leaving her hand empty.

But to her surprise, she discovered she could breathe underwater and see the colorful underwater world.

Soon, however, Olivia calmed down. If she could time-travel, what was more bizarre than that?

With her long, slender legs kicking rapidly, Olivia's body rose swiftly to the surface.

After a while, Olivia was floating on the surface of the sea when she saw not only a bright light but also a commotion. A group of soldiers with crew cuts, dressed in military uniforms, was training at sea.

"Mr. Sullivan, there seems to be someone over there," a soldier shouted loudly, pointing in Olivia's direction.

At that moment, Olivia was splashing her hands in the seawater and crying out for help. "Help! Help!"

Noah Sullivan, a stern-looking man, followed the soldier's finger and indeed saw someone in the water.

Without hesitation, Noah dove into the water, swimming towards Olivia with the ferocity of a dragon entering the sea. In just a dozen breaths, Noah reached Olivia, wrapped his strong arm around her neck from behind, and shouted, 'Don't struggle.'

This voice, loud and resolute, inexplicably reassured Olivia. It was the trust she had in the soldiers, the protectors of the people.

Olivia stopped struggling, making it easier for Noah to rescue her.

Once Olivia was safely pulled out of the water, Noah noticed her disheveled clothes. Large patches of her snow-white skin were exposed, and her full chest heaved with panic and fear. There were many alarming fingernail marks on her upper body, a harrowing sight.

After three years in the army, even a sow could look as pretty as a beauty queen. Olivia, with her delicate skin, curvaceous figure, big, watery eyes, and beautiful appearance, was even more striking.

"About face," Noah commanded loudly, quickly taking off his jacket and throwing it over Olivia.

The soldiers, upon hearing the order, immediately turned their heads, silently reproaching themselves for their earlier discourtesy.

Olivia, hit by Noah's military jacket, realized that her red wedding dress had been torn to shreds by that beast, Ethan. She had been so focused on escaping that she had completely forgotten about it.

In a panic, Olivia put on the military jacket. At her height of five feet eight inches, it felt like she was wearing clothes that were too big for her. The jacket alone covered most of her body.

After the exercise ended, Noah ordered the return voyage and then turned to Olivia. "Who are you? Why were you in the water?"

Encountering the soldiers, the protectors of the people, Olivia felt safe. Her eyes turned red as she cried and said, "My name is Olivia. I'm a villager from Trislandia. Today was my wedding day, but I ran away."

Not only was Noah curious, but the soldiers were also very interested. "If you ran away, why did you agree to get married in the first place?"

Sadness welled up in Olivia's heart. "I was in a relationship with Mason from Trislandia. We had a wedding ceremony today, but the person who burst into the bridal chamber tonight, intending to consummate the marriage, was Mason's older brother, Ethan."

"I hit Ethan on the head with a bedside lamp. I thought Mason didn't know, but on the contrary, when Mason was a child, he was mischievous. His brother got injured saving him and ended up with a disability, a limp. Mason used me to repay his brother's kindness," she added.

Olivia continued, "I didn't agree, so I climbed out of the window and ran away. They chased me, cornered me, and I had no choice but to jump into the sea. I'd rather die than be deceived and humiliated."

"Scumbag," Soldier James Donovan cursed. "Olivia, don't worry. This is a new society. What they did is illegal."

"Thank you," Olivia said gratefully, thinking of a place to take refuge. Trislandia had a vicious in-law family and a Montgomery family that only cared about their son and money. She was in danger there.

She would cling to staying in Fourwinds, which not only had villagers but also a naval garrison. Even if the Carter and Montgomery families came looking for trouble, they wouldn't dare to act out in Fourwinds.

Twenty minutes later, Olivia arrived in Fourwinds, and a new life was about to begin.

Noah's eyes were deep and piercing, his stern face unusually serious. They were already ten nautical miles away from Trislandia. Could a young woman really swim this far after jumping off a cliff? He didn't believe it.

Naturally, Noah wasn't about to bring Olivia, whose identity hadn't been verified yet, to the military base's family compound. After some thought, he decided to take her directly to the police station.

Officer Sophia Chambers, upon seeing a dozen crew-cut young men, immediately recognized the most handsome one among them—Noah. "Mr. Sullivan, what's going on?"

Noah briefly recounted the process of rescuing Olivia from the sea. "Sophia, could you temporarily accommodate Olivia here?"

Upon hearing Olivia's story, Sophia's smile turned into a serious expression. "Mr. Sullivan, rest assured. She'll be safe with me. Tomorrow, I'll head to Trislandia to investigate and verify."

Noah nodded. "Thanks." With that, he led his team back to their base.

Olivia filed a report, and Sophia took the statement. When Sophia and another female officer saw the bruises and fingernail marks on Olivia's body, they gasped in shock. "This is just evil. Such a monster should be sent to prison."

Olivia wrapped herself tighter in the military jacket, grateful for all the kind people she had encountered that night. "Sophia, thank you."

Sophia comforted Olivia. "The Carters are breaking the law. Don't be afraid. Let me boil some water for you. You can take a bath and wear my daughter's clothes first."

Sophia took Olivia to the dormitory behind the police station and boiled some hot water. "Olivia, don't mind. These are my daughter's clothes, brand new." Sophia, being a grassroots police officer, was warm-hearted, kind, and responsible.

Olivia changed into a clean set of autumn clothes—a purple blouse and black trousers. "Sophia, once I start earning money, I'll definitely thank you properly."

Sophia, thinking of her daughter who was in high school in the city, said, "Our grassroots police station is here to help the community. It's my duty. Are you hungry? I've made you a bowl of noodles."

They went to the police station's kitchen, where a large bowl of seafood noodles awaited—filled with shrimp, oysters, and seaweed. It was steaming hot and smelled delicious.

Olivia, who had been drugged and unconscious in the bridal chamber since noon and hadn't eaten or drunk anything until now, was extremely hungry.

After soaking in the seawater for so long, she felt her stomach was caving in. She first took a spoonful of the soup, which was both fresh and fragrant, warming her entire body. Olivia quickly finished the large bowl of seafood pasta.

"Olivia, are you full? If not, I can cook some more," Sophia said kindly.

Olivia shook her head. "Sophia, I'm full. Thank you. Could I borrow a basin to wash Mr. Sullivan's clothes?"

"Sure, I'll get it for you. It's right next to the water tank," Sophia said, leading Olivia to the basin.

Olivia placed Noah's military jacket in the basin, filled it with water, added a bit of detergent, and began to scrub. As she applied a little force with her hands, the jacket tore open with a large rip.

Did she wash it wrong?

Olivia was shocked and couldn't believe it. Military jackets were known for their durability, and Noah's jacket should be no exception.

Then it hit her. The Meloria Pearl's transformation not only allowed her to breathe underwater and improved her vision but also granted her superhuman strength.

She saw a brick nearby and struck it with her palm. The brick snapped in half?

Olivia was astonished. Her strength had increased dramatically.

Unbelievable, she thought, looking at the large water tank. She stood up, walked over, and with both hands, lifted the tank, which was filled with hundreds of pounds of water.

Overjoyed, Olivia cried tears of happiness. With superhuman strength, she was no longer a weak woman and finally had the ability to protect herself.

Olivia slept soundly in Sophia's daughter's room that night, experiencing an unprecedented sense of peace and tranquility in her dreams.

The next morning, Sophia left Olivia a note explaining that there was an urgent case at the police station and asked her to wait until she finished before accompanying her back to Trislandia.

Olivia was delighted. In the past, she couldn't fight back against the Carters and the Montgomerys, which was why she had sought protection from the police.

Now that she was strong enough to fight back, she was determined to take revenge. However, she knew she couldn't just go around beating people with the police around.

Determined to take matters into her own hands, Olivia left a letter for Sophia and went to the Fourwinds dock, where she hitched a ride on a fisherman's boat back to Trislandia.

At the Trislandia dock, Jasmine was explaining to others, "The Montgomerys tricked us into a marriage. Olivia is pretty, but she's insane."

"Late at night, she wandered out of the house in a daze, and none of us could catch up to her. She fell off a very high cliff into the deep sea. We don't even know if she's dead or alive. What a pity about my $1,500. How many fish do I have to catch to earn that back?"

A nearby woman chimed in, "If Olivia is alive, you might get your money back. But if she's dead, forget about that $1,500. Consider it money down the drain."

Isabella Montgomery, hearing these remarks, became indignant. "Olivia is fine. She's only been married to the Carter family for one day, and now she's missing. We're going to call the police. Your are guilty of murder for money."

Jasmine jumped up in retort, insisting that Olivia was insane. "The Montgomery family tricked us into this marriage, bringing an insane person into our lives."

As soon as Olivia heard Jasmine's sharp and bitter voice, she was reminded of every day in her previous life, filled with Jasmine's insults. Her blood boiled, and she rushed over, grabbing Jasmine's hair with one hand and slapping her face with the other.

"The Carter family is all rascals. It was clear yesterday that I was marrying Mason, but Ethan was the one who came to our bridal chamber last night. Mason owes Ethan a leg, but why should I repay that debt with my body?"

"Ethan tried to rape me. If I hadn't run, I'd never have escaped. Your whole family is vicious and deceitful, tricking me into this marriage. I'll beat you to death, you old hag."

Jasmine was known in the village for being a fierce and skilled fighter, but Olivia's newfound strength made it impossible for Jasmine to break free. Olivia's large palms slapped Jasmine's face repeatedly, causing her to scream in agony.

"Murder! Olivia, you ungrateful wretch, I'm your elder!"

"Elder, my foot!" Olivia slapped Jasmine again, drawing blood from her mouth. "Last night, you were on your knees, begging Mason to give me to Ethan, even threatening to die if he didn't comply."

"I'm human, not an animal, and certainly not a thing to be traded around or used to repay debts."

Jasmine's face was now a bloody mess. "Help! Somebody, help!"

The madams mending fishing nets at the dock were terrified by Olivia's ferocity.

Isabella, seeing Olivia, was overjoyed and rushed over. "Olivia, thank goodness you're alive. Stop hitting her. If you kill this old woman, you'll have to pay with your life. It's not worth it."

Olivia, on the verge of madness, gradually regained some clarity upon hearing Isabella's plea. However, she still forcefully yanked a large clump of hair from Jasmine's head, causing the old woman to scream like a pig being slaughtered.

Isabella quickly asked, "Olivia, is what you said true?"

With no men around and not caring about appearances, Olivia unbuttoned her blouse and took off her pants, revealing the marks on her body. The onlookers were shocked, their faces turning pale as they gasped in unison.

At that moment, Olivia was only wearing a tank top and a pair of briefs. Her exposed skin, especially her chest and the insides of her thighs, was covered in bruises and marks from fingernails. Everyone present, being women themselves, knew how much pain these injuries caused.

"The Carter family are really bastards," Isabella cursed, quickly helping Olivia dress. "Do they think the Montgomery family is pushovers?"

Though the villagers of Trislandia had their daily squabbles, these were mostly trivial domestic matters. In the face of the vast and unpredictable ocean, fishermen had to unite to survive. Thus, while the villagers could be fierce toward outsiders, they rarely treated their own with such malice.

Initially, the women had felt sympathy for Jasmine, but upon seeing Olivia's injuries, their gazes turned to contempt.

Amelia Thornton, ever the loyal friend, spoke up. "The Carter family' scheme was so bold that even Mazu could hear it. Their son, who got into college and landed a decent job in the city, tricked the prettiest girl in the village into marrying his lame eldest brother. How impressive."

"Exactly. No wonder Olivia jumped into the sea. It's a miracle she didn't die. If she had, the Carter family would have spread rumors that she was mentally ill," another woman chimed in.

Isabella, no longer concerned with mending the fishing nets, took Olivia's hand. "Come on, let's go home. We can't just let this slide."

Jasmine, having regained her composure, spat out the blood and broken teeth from her mouth. Her face, bruised and swollen, and her mouth, now missing a few teeth, gave her a pitiful appearance. "Of course we can't let this slide. We want our money back."

Isabella led her niece, Olivia, back to the Montgomery home, while Jasmine, ignoring the pain on her face, rushed back to her own home to gather the men and her two sons to confront the Montgomery family.

Olivia returned to the Montgomery home once more, looking at the newly built tile-roofed house. It had been built with her money.

Seeing Olivia standing at the doorstep, Isabella reassured her. "Olivia, don't be afraid. You have the Montgomery family behind you. We'll stand up for you."

Olivia's eyes welled up. If they wouldn't stand up for her, she would do it herself. Whoever had taken her money would have to give it back. She wasn't getting married.

Charlotte Montgomery was short and plump. Seeing Olivia's return, she cried and scolded, slapping Olivia's back with the back of her hand. "You ungrateful girl, where have you been? You scared me to death. I thought you were dead."

Olivia was indignant. "When I jumped into the sea, you didn't even go to the Carter family to look for me. Instead, you sat down to a feast with four dishes and soup, including meat and vegetables. It's clear you don't care about me at all."

"The Carter family said you were sleepwalking," Charlotte argued. "How could you just jump into the sea for no reason?"

"Do you believe everything the Carter family says?" Olivia's voice was hoarse with rage. "I'm eighteen years old. Have I ever sleepwalked even once? Last night, I almost got raped by Ethan. Mason, that scoundrel, used me to repay his brother's favor. We haven't even gotten a marriage certificate yet. This marriage is off. I'm not getting married."

Lucas Montgomery slammed his fork onto the table. "Even if you've been wronged, you can't talk to your mother like that when you come back. No respect at all."

Before he could finish, Jasmine burst in with a crowd of the Carter family.

Ethan's lecherous gaze fell on Olivia, and he thought of the previous night when she had almost been his. His heart raced, and he swallowed hard.

"Olivia, you're already married to us. Come back with us now," Ethan urged impatiently, pushing Mason forward. "Hurry up and take Olivia away."

Seeing the Carter family, Olivia remembered all the beatings she had endured in her past life. It was time to fight back.

She quickly grabbed the shovel leaning against the mud wall. "Ethan, you rapist; Mason, you fraud. Your whole family deserves to die. I've already called the police. I'm not getting married, and you'll all be going to jail."

Ethan sneered. "If you won't marry, then give us back the $1,500 we paid."

The Montgomery family had used the money to build their house and were now in debt. They had no way to repay it.

"Everyone, shut up," Lucas barked. "Who gave my daughter those bruises? She was supposed to marry Mason. Why did Ethan end up in the bridal chamber?"

Ethan quickly denied it, unwilling to admit the truth since no one had seen what happened. "Nothing happened. Olivia is lying. She married Mason."

Ethan gave his younger brother Mason a meaningful look.

This was a matter of the family's honor, and Mason, with a heavy heart, had to go along with the lie. He would make it up to Olivia later.

"Olivia, what are you talking about? It was me. You were drunk and didn't see clearly. Let's just forget about it. I'll take you to the city. We don't have to stay in the countryside," Mason said.

Olivia scooped up a clump of chicken droppings from the ground and threw it at Ethan. It landed right on his face.

"Are you deaf? No matter what you say, I'm not getting married. If I hadn't run away last night, I would have been tied up like a dog."

"Ah!" The stench hit Mason, and he quickly wiped the droppings off his face, smearing them all over his face and hands. He rushed to the water tank to wash up.

Liam, with a gloomy expression, was usually quiet and slow at home, but he was the most sinister of them all.

"Lucas, this was supposed to be a happy occasion for both families. But since Olivia won't marry, you need to give us back the money, as well as the money spent on clothes and the wedding feast. Seven thousand dollars, not a penny less," Liam demanded.

Lucas had wanted to put on a show of authority, but the thought of their already empty pockets and the $1,200 they owed to friends and family made him feel small.

"Liam, children have their squabbles, but we elders mustn't take offense. A married daughter is like water spilled out. She's your daughter now, so take her back," Lucas said.

Hearing this, Olivia felt a chill to her bones. She had given up on the Montgomery family. "Let me say this one more time. I'm not getting married. Whoever doesn't want to repay the money can marry me."

Lucas pointed at Olivia. "You ungrateful girl, have you lost your mind? Who's in charge of this family, you or me?"

Olivia stood her ground, raising the shovel in her hand. "I'm eighteen years old. I make my own decisions. Today, anyone who tries to force me will die by my hand."

"Anyone here who doesn't want to get hurt or splattered with blood, step back," she warned.

The villagers, seeing Olivia's desperate and almost frantic state, retreated one after another. It was one thing to watch the spectacle and take sides; it was quite another when there was a real possibility of someone getting killed. They didn't want to get involved in any trouble.

In the middle of the courtyard, only the Montgomery family and the Carter family remained.

Lucas had always favored boys over girls. When it came to choosing between money and his daughter, he didn't hesitate to pick the money. "The wedding was already held yesterday; she's your Carter family's problem now. If you can take her away, do so; if you can't, that's your incompetence."

Hearing this, Liam's eyes gleamed with malice. "Then I'll take my daughter-in-law back. A disobedient wife deserves a beating. If one isn't enough, I'll give her two."

The four members of the Carter family, like ravenous wolves, gradually closed in on Olivia.

Olivia's eyes widened as she stared intently at the Carter family.

The four Carter family members formed a semicircle around her. If they all approached at the same time, Olivia might not be able to handle them all at once.

Thus, Olivia took the initiative, charging forward and swinging her shovel from left to right.

If she could take one of them down, it would be worth it.

If she could somehow eliminate the Carter family, that would be even better.

After all, they were the ones who started this. If she killed them in self-defense, she wouldn't be sentenced to death.

Ethan was standing at the far end. He hadn't anticipated Olivia's swiftness and couldn't dodge in time. The shovel in Olivia's hand sliced through the air and cut into his shoulder, causing blood to gush out instantly.

Mason, being physically fit and agile, quickly retreated backward and managed to evade the attack.

Jasmine and Liam weren't so fortunate. One got hit on the hand by the shovel, while the other grazed his arm.

Mason was so frightened that he broke into a cold sweat. "Olivia, murder is a crime," he warned.

Enraged, Olivia cursed and swung the shovel at Mason. "Even if I die, I'll drag all of you to hell with me."

At that moment, Olivia reached a conclusion: when you're not afraid of death, others will fear you.

Seeing Olivia's ferocity, Mason was terrified and turned to run. The shovel in Olivia's hand sliced through the air again, this time cutting into Mason's back.

"Ah!" Mason let out a painful scream. "Help! Help!"

In that split second, Olivia couldn't catch up to Mason and was about to throw the shovel at him with all her might.

"Stop it, Olivia! Stop right there!" Sophia, out of breath and in a hurry, finally arrived and saw Olivia about to use the shovel to kill someone.

Upon hearing Sophia's voice, Olivia's frantic mind finally came to its senses. She tightly gripped the shovel that was about to be thrown.

The force was so strong that her veins bulged in her arms and hands, and the handle of the shovel snapped in half.

"Olivia, murder is punishable by death," Sophia said, still shaken. If she had arrived just half a minute later, Olivia might have actually killed someone.

Olivia didn't cry when she saw the sexist Montgomery family or the vicious Carter family. But Sophia's selfless concern made her feel that there were still good people in this world.

"They've pushed me too far. If I don't fight back, I have no way to survive," Olivia choked out. "My parents wouldn't stand up for me. To avoid repaying the Carter family the $1,500, they let the Carter family take me away. At the Carter family', I would lose my freedom, be beaten, tied up, and live a life worse than a pig or a dog."

Sophia patted Olivia on the back and whispered, "Don't cry. Aurania is a place that values the law. Women and children are protected. You can even get a divorce after getting a marriage certificate, let alone just having a wedding feast."

"Our police station has accepted Olivia's report and will investigate Ethan's attempted rape and the Carter family's marriage scam. As for the $1,500 the Carter family gave, you can ask whoever they gave it to."

Jasmine and Liam, clutching their wounds, felt particularly uneasy when they saw the police officers in their peaked caps.

Ethan, with blood flowing from his arm, quickly tore his clothes and used a strip of cloth to tie it tight to stop the bleeding. "I didn't rape Olivia. She's framing me."

Mason looked at Olivia with a sense of impunity. Since Olivia had jumped into the sea, there were no fingerprints or semen as evidence on her body; it would be impossible to convict him.

"Olivia, it was clearly me in the room last night. How could it be Ethan?"

Olivia was stunned. She had jumped into the sea, and any fingerprints of Ethan on her were gone. Without evidence, how could she convict Ethan?

Sophia sneered, her gaze falling on Mason's hands. "Every crime leaves a trace. Mason, you've had a good education and a decent job in the city. Your nails are neatly trimmed; you couldn't have left such deep bruises on Olivia's body."

"Moreover, according to Olivia's account, Ethan intended to rape her in bed. The bed would definitely have Ethan's scent on it. If humans can't detect it, police dogs can."

In just a few words, the Carter family was left speechless, their faces turning pale.

As Sophia had deduced, the police dog only detected the scents of Ethan and Olivia on the bed. Coupled with Ethan's long nails, it was confirmed that Ethan was the one who had intended to rape Olivia last night.

On the spot, Ethan was arrested.

"Mom, Dad, Mason, you have to save me!" Ethan, as he was taken away, looked panicked and only then realized the fear. Being disabled, and now facing imprisonment with a criminal record, his future was even more hopeless.

Mason knelt down and pleaded with Olivia, his eyes frantic. "Olivia, for the sake of our love, please let my brother go."

"Pah!" Olivia spat at Mason. "I was blind to be deceived by you. Our marriage is off. I'll say it again: whoever you gave the money to, you ask them for it back."

"As for Ethan, his attempted rape, though unsuccessful, is still a crime. Even if all of you bow here and die, I won't issue a letter of forgiveness. A scum like Ethan deserves to rot in jail."

"You, Mason, may look decent, but you're full of petty theft and despicable acts. You have pus on your head and sores on your feet. All those years of education, and you've learned nothing but how to deceive. Even if I die, I won't agree to you."

Liam looked at Lucas. "Lucas, if you can get your daughter to forgive my son and issue a letter of forgiveness, I'll give up the $1,500."

Lucas, who had just been frightened by Olivia's crazy actions, perked up at the thought of the $1,500. "Olivia, write that letter of forgiveness right now. If you don't, you're no daughter of mine."

Charlotte rushed to Olivia's side. It was great not having to repay the money. She could find another husband for Olivia and get another $1,500, enough to pay off the family's debts. "Girl, you've called off the wedding and even hit people. Just write the letter, and this whole thing will blow over. Write it, quickly."

"Olivia, listen to me. A woman has to listen to her family. Otherwise, when you're bullied, no one will stand up for you. You'll regret it. I'm telling you this as someone who's been through it all."

Olivia's eyes were cold. She was utterly disappointed in the Montgomery family. "Did even one of you so-called Montgomery family stand up for me just now? Did anyone?"

"Not a single one. You all said a married daughter is like water spilled out, not caring whether I live or die. I don't care if you recognize me as a Montgomery or not. Do as you please. But the money you took, you give it back."

"I'm saying it again: I won't write that letter. If you push me too far, I'll grab that shovel and take all of you down before turning myself in."

Lucas was so angry he trembled all over, pointing to the door. "If you're not my Montgomery daughter, then get out and never come back."

"Fine, I'll leave. If I stay, you'll just sell me off again." Olivia turned and walked away without a moment's hesitation or a look back.

Olivia left the Montgomery family with nothing but the clothes on her back.

Isabella had been stunned by what had happened. Seeing Olivia run out, she chased after her. "Olivia, wait."

Olivia's eyes were red. In her previous life, only Isabella had come to see her in secret, but she hadn't been able to do much to help. "Isabella, don't try to talk me out of it. If I go back, I'll just be sold again."

Isabella had known her brother's family favored boys over girls, but she hadn't expected them to be so money-driven that they'd disown their own daughter.

"Olivia, even if you're leaving, you need some money. Wait."

Olivia paused, looking at Isabella's retreating figure, feeling a warmth in her heart.

Isabella ran back to her house and came out with the $150 the family had saved.

"Olivia, this is all the money we have. Take it. Don't stay in our village. Go to Fourwinds. The Carter family won't dare cause trouble there. Even if you end up working as a nanny there, it's better than being drained by your parents here."

Olivia was now penniless, and the clothes she wore still belonged to Sophia's daughter. She took the money. "Thank you, Isabella. Once I start earning, I'll pay you back, with interest."

Isabella waved her hand. "Don't worry about that. The worse people treat you, Olivia, the more you need to make something of yourself. If you run short of money, just send word, and I'll bring it to you. Get through this period, and everything will be fine."

Olivia cried, "Okay."

Sophia still had follow-up matters to handle, and Olivia, ignoring her parents' heartless curses, took a boat to Fourwinds.

Fourwinds, though an island, was home not only to over ten thousand naval officers and soldiers but also to their families and children, in addition to more than twenty thousand residents, making a total population of around fifty to sixty thousand. The island had schools, hospitals, police stations, as well as a marketplace and commercial streets.

Olivia went to the huge bulletin board to look for rental advertisements. She found one near the police station, close to Sophia. In case of trouble, she could seek help in time. The monthly rent was 10 dollars for a single room.

The landlord was an elderly lady with the surname Lawson, whose daughter had married and moved to the city. There was no such thing as a deposit; the rent was paid once a month.

The weather was hot, so she bought a straw mat. She didn't need many quilts now, so she purchased a thin blanket to cover her stomach and also bought some towels, soap, a kettle, a washbasin, and other daily necessities. She also bought three sets of clothes, enough to meet her basic needs. Money really didn't go far. She now had only 50 dollars left and was both hungry and thirsty.

Just as Olivia was about to go out to buy some food, Abigail Lawson called her over for a meal. "Olivia, come and eat."

Olivia shook her head. "Thank you, Abigail, but I don't want to trouble you. I'll go out and buy something."

"This is your first meal since you came to my house. Let's eat together and celebrate," Abigail said with a smile. "Don't be polite. At worst, when you start earning, you can treat me to a meal. It's the same thing."

"Thank you, Abigail. Sophia was right when she said the people on the island are very simple and kind," Olivia said as she sat down, drank a bowl of porridge, and ate some cold seaweed salad. "Abigail, I want to find a job here. What do you think I could do?"

Abigail looked at Olivia. "You seem quite diligent. You could work as a nanny. Since you're from Trislandia, you probably know how to fish and catch fish. It's hard work, but it pays well."

Olivia thought of the abilities the Meloria Pearl had given her. Being a nanny wouldn't make use of them, but fishing and catching fish might. "Abigail, I've been fishing and catching fish with my parents since I was seven or eight. But fishing requires a boat, and I don't have one."

Abigail smiled. "I have a boat. My nephew's family has moved to the city, and they left behind an 18-foot-long wooden boat, fishing nets, longline fishing gear, and fishing rods and hooks. They're all in that room. If you want to use them, I can rent them to you for 30 dollars a month. What do you think?"

Anyway, these were things her nephew didn't want and had asked her to sell, but she couldn't find a buyer. If left unused for too long, they would deteriorate, so renting them out was a better option.

Olivia paused for a moment. "Abigail, I don't have much money left. I'll rent it for ten days first. If I can make some money, I'll stick with this line of work. If I can't catch any fish, I'll look for a nanny job instead."

"Alright," Abigail was easygoing and a very kind-hearted elderly lady. She could tell that Olivia was not only good-looking but also very diligent. Olivia had cleaned her own room and even swept the yard. After using the water from the big vat, she went outside to fetch more water and filled it up again. Having such a hardworking young girl living with her could also keep her company.

After lunch, Olivia took the fishing rod and some necessary tools and asked Abigail to take her to the village dock. "That's the boat, about seventy percent new. My nephew asked me to help sell it, but everyone already has a boat, so no one's buying."

Seeing the boat, Olivia hopped on and inspected it carefully. It was indeed about seventy percent new. She bought some fish and shrimp at the dock and got into the boat with her bucket. "Abigail, I'll check around here. If I'm lucky, we'll have seafood for dinner."

Abigail, with her kind and gentle expression, waved her hand. "I listened to the radio today. The wind isn't strong, but don't go too far and be careful."

Olivia smiled and bid Abigail farewell, eager to head out to the open sea. She rowed the small fishing boat with both hands, leaving ripples in its wake. Wearing a bamboo hat and a face veil for sun protection, Olivia squinted her eyes, feeling the ocean's breath relax every cell in her body.

Olivia held her breath and focused, her eyes revealing a clear view of the underwater world. For instance, right now, there was a lobster fighting with an octopus beneath the boat, about a foot underwater.

Olivia opened her eyes, stopped the boat, and picked up her dip net. Relying on her senses, she dipped the net into the water. After a few breaths, she pulled hard, and the net emerged from the water with a two-pound lobster and a two-to-three-pound octopus inside.

The lobster she had caught was actually a very expensive brocade lobster. Even out of the water, the brocade lobster was still using its large claws to pinch the octopus. The octopus, not intimidated, wrapped its tentacles around the lobster's body. Despite being at a disadvantage, it didn't let go, as if determined to take the brocade lobster down with it.

This ability was incredibly useful. As a fisherwoman, she could support herself and even get rich through sea fishing.

Olivia forcefully separated the brocade lobster and the octopus and placed them in two separate live water tanks. She continued rowing towards the sea reef, where she found many green grouper fish underwater. Grouper fish prefer sea reefs and like to hide within them, only coming out to feed. At 12 or 15 feet deep, the dip net couldn't reach.

Olivia decided to use handline fishing. She quickly baited the hook with small fish and shrimp and cast it into the sea. As soon as the bait hit the water, Olivia saw a roughly two-pound grouper bite the hook. Without hesitation, she swiftly reeled it in. A lively and plump green grouper emerged from the water.

This was an excellent fishing spot. Olivia quickly threw the green grouper into the live water tank and continued baiting and fishing. Born into a fishing family, Olivia felt energized by the harvest. As soon as the bait hit the water, the fish would bite. There were plenty of green grouper here.

For a full two hours, Olivia fished nonstop, using up all her bait. The two large live water tanks were mostly filled with green grouper, some weighing over three pounds and others around one pound. She also caught smaller ones but released them back into the sea to grow bigger for future catches.

One of the live water tanks had a partition where the brocade lobster was placed to prevent it from fighting with the grouper, which would damage their appearance and lower their market price. As for the octopus, Olivia had chopped it into small pieces and used it as bait, which also yielded a good catch.

Looking at the lively seafood in the live water tanks, Olivia felt particularly excited. She could support herself without relying on anyone.

It was getting late, time to head back. She would go out to sea early tomorrow and really make a big effort.

Olivia hummed a tune as she rowed the boat, in high spirits. Her eyes were filled with the beautiful underwater scenes.

At that moment, Olivia saw a cylindrical object about 3 feet and a half long and about 7 inches in diameter, completely red.

Was this a torpedo?

Olivia stopped the boat and observed carefully. The red cylinder had fins at its tail, and on the fins was written, SoNAR.

She recognized the word. It was a pity that in her previous life, after having her leg broken by Ethan, she was not allowed to leave the house and could only do laundry and cook at home. The phone was locked away, cutting off her connection to the outside world.

The only way she could learn about the outside was through television, and the only way she could study was through the expired newspapers and magazines that Mason brought from the city. Later, when her child started school, she learned through his textbooks, even memorizing his tattered Grainlandian dictionary.

The red cylinder had Grainlandian writing on it, which meant it must be from abroad. Considering that there was a naval base on Fourwinds, Olivia had no trouble understanding the situation. It must have been placed by foreigners to search for hydrological and various other types of information, including military intelligence. Since she had seen it, as an Auranish citizen, Olivia felt she had to remove it.

Today she hadn't brought a fishing net, so Olivia found a rope on the boat. She took off her outer clothes, leaving her in just her underwear, and jumped into the water. It was early autumn in the afternoon, and the temperature was several degrees lower than at noon, but this was no problem for Olivia. She quickly dove underwater. She really could breathe underwater and see clearly what was happening beneath the surface.