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Chapter 41
Tragedy
Sakura woke up late the next day since she didn’t get to sleep until about five in the morning. She came down for brunch feeling a bit out of sorts and also noticed that the house was still as quiet as ever. Perhaps everyone was also still in bed because they hadn’t returned home until very early this morning from their night out.
“My, my,” Beth commented. “You do look horrible.”
Sakura chuckled. “I couldn’t sleep last night.”
“Yeah, I can understand that. You’ve seen your best friend getting married and settling down, and now you want that for yourself, too.”
Sakura wanted to tell her that wasn’t it. The reason she couldn’t sleep was because of that secret kiss last night in the garden by—
No, don’t think about it, Sakura.
She stood up and said, “I’m going out for a walk along St. Helena Beach. Won’t be back till much later.”
“I see you’re planning to skip lunch yet again?” Beth asked, her brows nearly up to her gray hairline.
Sakura just laughed and walked to the door, ignoring Beth’s disapproving stare. “Don’t worry, Beth dear. I’ll be back for dinner.”
Beth grumbled under her breath and said, “There’s supposed to be a storm sometime this afternoon. Make sure you’re home before that, won’t you?”
“I will,” Sakura replied, waving her hand in the air to tell the housekeeper not to worry.
“Oh,” Beth said before Sakura could disappear around the corner. “The brothers are at St. Helena Beach too, surfing.”
Sakura, however, didn’t hear her as she was already out of earshot.
Some ten minutes later, Sakura found herself walking along St. Helena Beach, her bare feet sinking deep into the porous white sand that stretched endlessly across the horizon. With her sandals in her hands, she strolled along, staring off at the pristine blue sea. In the distance, she noted dark clouds gathering, indicating there was a storm coming.
All too soon she wouldn’t be able to enjoy this any longer. So she might as well take it all in now, enjoying every moment of it.
She was minding her own business and admiring the breathtaking view when she noticed men surfing on the other side of the beach. She couldn’t help herself and watched with interest, marveling at how expertly they stayed on the boards as they surfed the waves. From where she stood, which was a very long distance away, she could just make out the men’s athletic bodies. They looked like they were having a lot of fun. That was when she decided to have a closer look and headed toward them.
She regretted it some fifteen minutes later when she realized those men were actually her adopted brothers. There were Nicolas, Tristan, Logan, Hayden, and Conrad surfing the smaller waves closer to where she was at the beach. They were laughing and shouting encouragement at each other as they surfed. On the other side, much closer to the rocks where bigger and more dangerous waves resided, were Sebastian and Darcy. It looked as though they were competing to see who the better surfer was.
Sakura found she couldn’t take her eyes away from them as they expertly rode the waves. Suddenly, her heart ached within her chest.
No, she mustn’t think about them now—especially not about them and not now when she had already made up her mind that she’d leave St. Joseph Island. She’d decided she no longer wanted to be their sister.
With that firm idea in her mind, she turned on her heel and headed the other way.
As she was walking up from the beach to the high cliff above, Sakura didn’t notice that Conrad had seen her and was shouting at her to come to them. When she didn’t respond, he got out of the water and raced after her. The brothers didn’t notice him go as they continued to surf.
As she was walking, neither did Sakura notice that someone was trailing her. Then all too soon she came to a cliff that overlooked the ocean below where the brothers were. From here, she could observe them uninterrupted, and she made herself comfortable, relaxing back against the rock. In the distance, both Darcy and Sebastian were surfing big waves, and when they disappeared under the water, her heart raced, praying they’d be all right and that nothing bad would happen to them. A few seconds later, she saw them emerge unharmed. She sighed in relief.
It wasn’t long when dark clouds started gathering in the distance and heading their way. Lightning flashed, and Sakura jumped at the sound and automatically hugged herself. Then it started pouring—hard. She was totally soaked instantly.
“Already?” She’d thought that the storm wasn’t due until much later.
She narrowed her eyes at the brothers. She couldn’t believe it. They were still surfing. In this rain?
Obviously, she couldn’t stay there watching them any longer. She hastily got up and rushed back toward the side of the cliff, hoping to find shelter. She was in luck. She spotted a small cave not too far away and rushed into it. Once inside, she hugged herself, shivering severely from the cold. She surely hoped the storm would pass quickly because she didn’t want to return home late. Beth would be pissed that she didn’t listen to her, and of course, Daddy James and Mom Brenda would be so worried.
She turned her attention to her surroundings and that was when she realized she’d been here before. Lightning flashed and Sakura blinked. Then it all came back to her. That day after she’d drowned in the sea years ago when Alaina had pushed her over the cliff, she’d decided to run away, and then she had fainted because of the fever. That night she had found herself in this very cave. There had been a small fire, and she’d felt the warm body of a boy hugging her, keeping her warm.
Sakura gasped and her eyes widened. Sebastian! He had been here with her that night, hadn’t he? He had looked after her during those horrible hours when the fever had broken.
She brought her fingers to touch her lips. The kiss! She remembered the kiss that Sebastian had given her.
“I love you,” he had said to her that night.
Suddenly, tears brewed in her eyes. Oh, Sebastian! Tears rolled down her cheeks, and her heart tore even more as she fell to her knees.
“Aw, does the lightning scare you so?” a voice said behind her.
Sakura lifted her head and blinked. She hastily got up and turned around to see Kate at the entrance of the cave.
Kate slowly walked in, looking around her as if she were interested. “I’ve never been here before, but it’s a pretty good place, don’t you think?”
Sakura didn’t reply. “What are you doing here?”
Kate cocked her head to one side. “Exploring. I like the island. After all, if I were to marry Darcy, then—”
Sakura gritted her teeth at the mention of Darcy. Then she noted that something wasn’t right. How come Kate was here? How did she get here? No one ever used this part of the island except for the Princetons because it was private. Anyone seen walking through was trespassing.
Sakura was suspicious and knew something didn’t sit right with her. At that moment, she didn’t care to find out what it was and thought she better get out of here fast. But the rain! How would she get back home safely in this weather? Furthermore, she didn’t bring any warm clothing to wear because she’d expected to return home before the storm even started.
Mind made up, she started walking back toward the exit. Kate intercepted her and roughly caught her arm, which surprised Sakura. Kate smiled darkly, and then with all her might, she shoved her back, slamming her against the wall of the cave.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she gritted out, her voice ice cold.
Sakura wriggled her arm free from the tight grip, her heart hammering in her chest. Oh, shit! Kate was here to hurt her—again! Suddenly, the images of Kate bullying her in high school came back to her in full force. Kate slapping her face. Kate slamming her head against the locker. Kate kicking her. Kate slamming the basketball against her face in PE.
Sakura felt tears burning in her eyes. “Home,” she gritted out coldly. “Now lea
ve me alone.”
