Chapter 1
Evelyn Brightwood propped herself up on her elbows, taking in her surroundings. The sandy beach, the vast ocean, the yacht, and the distant islands should have created the perfect picturesque scene. Yet at that moment, they only served as a backdrop to her personal tragedy. She spat out a mouthful of sand and glanced down at her absurdly bright orange life jacket, a Captain's vest that clashed with her surroundings. Her bare legs were entwined with some seaweed or kelp that had stuck to her while escaping the waves. She was certain that in her twenty-three years of life, she'd never felt so humiliated. Removing the life jacket, Evelyn winced as a familiar ache spread across her chest. Looking down, she noticed the vivid red mark on her skin where the straps of her sundress had pressed. Just as she was considering how she had ended up in this pitiful state, a low, weary voice broke the silence behind her. "You’re awake." The monotonous tone barely changed, but if one listened closely, there was an undercurrent of relief. Evelyn rolled her eyes. Of course, she was awake—what did he think, that she was playing dead? She shut her eyes tight again, reaffirming a bitter truth: she and the voice belonging to Sir Cedric Langley were not meant to get along. While Sir Cedric noticed her silence, he assumed she was still recovering from the terrifying typhoon that had just swept through. In reality, Evelyn was simply regretting her decisions. How unlucky could someone be to land in a situation that seemed ripped straight from a bad Thai soap opera? If only she had been stuck on this deserted island with anyone other than Sir Cedric Langley... Taking a deep breath, she reluctantly turned to assess the man—the only other human on this desolate isle besides herself and her grandmother. And despite her high standards, she had to admit that Sir Cedric was undeniably handsome, the kind that could be described as a brooding ice prince. But what good was that? They couldn’t even be classified as friends. If anything, they were rivals—two competitors who could barely stand the sight of each other. Sir Cedric, seemingly oblivious to her scrutiny, returned his gaze to the rolling waves, ignoring her presence entirely. Anger flared in Evelyn, and she savagely pinched her thigh. How had she let herself get talked into boarding a "pirate ship" in the first place? Evelyn knew her feelings toward Sir Cedric weren't exactly fair. --- Evelyn Brightwood had come to Glass Manor in Southeast Asia at the invitation of Lord Richard Ashford, with whom she shared a good relationship, thanks to his wife, Lady Eleanor. Plus, with winter closing in, she wanted to escape to a warmer place for a bit. Several of Lord Richard’s business partners were also invited. As she approached the estate, she spotted a yacht—hardly a young one—moored at the beach, and her heart skipped a beat. Everyone knew that Sir Cedric Langley, heir of Langley Enterprises, never traveled by plane. No, he preferred to take to the seas. Evelyn had once speculated about what kind of secret he might be hiding. Just then, while chatting with Henry Ashford by the pool, she felt a chill in the air, distracting her from the warm sunshine overhead. Climbing out of the water, she spotted Sir Cedric standing alone next to the palm trees by the glass door. When he noticed the people inside, his eyes briefly skimmed over her without acknowledgment, offering a polite nod to Henry instead. The encounter irritated Evelyn; her good mood was punctured by this dashing yet frustrating man. What had she ever done to deserve such cold treatment from him?
Chapter 2
As the group was saying their farewells, someone inquired about Evelyn Brightwood's upcoming plans. She casually mentioned that she was headed to Cambodia to meet some friends involved in mining investments. Lord Richard Ashford chuckled and said, “Young Sir seems to continuously set sail back to Cambodia. After all, flying can get monotonous. Why not switch things up a bit?” Everyone present shared a knowing laugh; it was no secret that Evelyn and Sir Cedric Langley had a rocky relationship. Since graduating from the prestigious High Merchant Guild in France the year before, Evelyn had returned to work with the Grey Family, where she had quickly climbed to the position of Director of Government Relations at the largest new media company under their umbrella. She embodied the quintessential Western approach, conducting herself with a cosmopolitan flair that allowed her to maintain civility even with competitors. That was, except when it came to Sir Cedric Langley. Evelyn had known Cedric for quite some time. Back when she was attending university in Paris, he had been one of the noteworthy exchange students from the London Business School. Coincidentally, upon her return home, they both ended up working for rival companies in the Town of Alder, often crossing paths at Grey Family events. Sir Cedric was a man of few words, exuding an air of detachment that could easily be mistaken for arrogance, yet he maintained a certain gentlemanly grace. However, it was soon evident to everyone, including the Grey Family, that when these two striking figures met, they acted as if the other didn’t exist—enough to make onlookers think they had once been a couple who broke up on bad terms. The buzz around town was that Evelyn had poached a few trade partners from the Langley Family, a sentiment even Evelyn herself harbored. Initially, she had hoped to mend fences and extended an olive branch at a social gathering. With a warm smile, she approached Sir Cedric, holding two glasses of champagne, intending to offer him one. Just as she stepped in front of him, he looked up from his conversation, and his expression instantly shifted to one of stiffness and displeasure, as if faced with something grotesque. Furious, Evelyn nearly splashed her drink on him; it felt like a blatant insult. She had never before been rebuffed by a man so bluntly, and the thought of coldly pursuing a handshake was laughable at best. That moment sealed their fate, and thus their rivalry had commenced. So when Lord Richard Ashford jested about her boarding Sir Cedric's yacht, Evelyn, noticing the discomfort etched across Cedric’s face, decided to agree, adhering to the mindset of causing mutual harm in their ongoing feud. Evelyn was well aware that the Grey Family had been looking to enhance their partnership with Lord Ashford's family, and she was certain Sir Cedric wouldn’t refuse. And so it was that Evelyn Brightwood stepped onto that ill-fated vessel, unwittingly embarking on her journey marked by bad luck.
Chapter 3
If Evelyn Brightwood had known that five minutes into the voyage, they would be caught in a sudden storm, she would gladly have turned down the invitation to this yacht adventure, even if it meant losing years off her life. Just moments ago, she had been resting in the cabin, blissfully unaware of the chaos approaching. “Evelyn Brightwood!” a voice called through the cabin. Still groggy, Evelyn climbed off the sofa, trying to shake off the heaviness in her head. The yacht seemed to be rocking more violently than any cab she had ever taken in Chongqing. “Evelyn Brightwood!” The voice sounded again. As she stood up, disoriented, she thought at first that maybe Sir Cedric Langley was simply calling her name for the first time. But then the unsettling motion of the yacht jolted her back to reality. “What’s going on? Why is it shaking so much?” Evelyn asked, her heart starting to race. Sir Cedric had taken off his sunglasses, revealing a calm demeanor, but the urgency in his words was palpable. “We’ve hit a storm.” Evelyn's eyes widened as she processed the news. “You can’t deliver that kind of message like you’re just talking about buying a head of lettuce!” Without responding to her protest, Sir Cedric instructed her to put on a life jacket and secure her phone in a waterproof pouch. The commanding tone he used grated on her nerves, yet she complied. After all, she had minimal experience at sea. The rain pounded down, and the black clouds loomed above them like a great pressure threatening to swallow them whole. And as if fate had further conspired against them, the yacht’s engine began sputtering. It was only a few hundred yards from the shore when she was forced off the boat. As her legs started to itch intensely, Evelyn snapped back to harsh reality. Her clothes, damp from the rain earlier, had long since dried out under the sun. She peeled off the seaweed stuck to her legs, unsure of when she had lost consciousness. Completely exhausted, all she could feel was an overwhelming hunger. “Where are the supplies from the yacht?” she asked. Sir Cedric glanced at her coolly. “They’re on the yacht.” Evelyn shot a look at the boat, still bobbing in the waves, and back at Sir Cedric, whose words felt like daggers to her frustration. “You’d think the Grey family is one of the top businesses in the industry. Is it too much to ask for a decent yacht? Everyone says you have a fleet of luxurious boats, yet I’m stuck on this broken-down one.” Sir Cedric remained silent. He had initially traveled to Cambodia for business, and now fate had dealt him this unfortunate hand. The captain had fallen ill, leaving him to navigate the yacht alone. He thought it would be a smooth trip—just a simple sail of ten young minutes—yet, here they were. He had always prided himself on being meticulous and cautious. Every time he set out alone on a vessel, he conducted a thorough inspection. But today, distracted by the unforeseen necessity of this trip with Evelyn, he had neglected many important details. His past experiences at sea should have alerted him to danger even without warnings from the weather bureau. Now, in his negligence, he had put this woman at risk alongside himself, and the weight of responsibility rested heavily on his shoulders. Resisting the urge to let her feel his irritation, he allowed her to voice her grievances without interruption. Before disembarking, Evelyn had tucked her phone tightly into her sundress, hoping for a lifeline. As she rummaged through her clothing, she discovered that her bra held nothing but her chest and a couple of stickers designed for modesty. With the storm looming, her situation felt as dire as ever. As the reality of their desolate island surroundings began to set in, she couldn't shake off the sheer contrast between the thrill of her planned adventure and the stark struggle for survival they now faced.
Chapter 4
Sir Cedric Langley seemed to understand what she was looking for and said, “It’s behind you.” Evelyn Brightwood reached back and indeed found what she was searching for. Without hesitation, she exclaimed, “Thank goodness! We need to call the police immediately. It’s already dark, and if we don’t do it now, we’ll be stuck here all night!” Sir Cedric Langley didn’t respond; his gaze was fixed on the dark expanse of the ocean. A waning moon gradually rose from the sea, casting a silvery glow over the water, which looked like deep blue silk—smooth and still—as if the tempest hadn’t existed at all. It felt as if the storm had never been there, and Evelyn sensed a strange calm emanating from him. She glanced at her phone, only to find there was no signal—not even a bar. A wave of helplessness washed over her. After all, she had never faced anything like this before. She crouched down and inched closer to Sir Cedric. “What do we do now?” Her voice was laced with concern. It was clear that Sir Cedric was still adjusting to Evelyn’s sudden proximity, but he understood that fear can prompt people to act unusually. Unlike her, he had weathered storms while drifting in the Pacific and had firsthand experience of being stranded at sea for two full days. This might have been her first brush with such a crisis. He struggled to maintain his distance, reminding himself to stay calm. “Let’s wait for the rescue team to find us.” He had managed to send a distress signal with his yacht before the signal had disappeared. What harm could there be in exchanging a few more words with her? Yet, Evelyn’s distress was evident; his cold response didn’t comfort her. At a loss for what to do, she turned around and began to pray. Though an atheist, she found some solace in the act. “Please let someone find us soon. The moment I’m home, I’ll donate thirty percent of my earnings this year to girls in need around the world. Amen.” Sir Cedric was surprised to hear her muttering such a prayer. “This region mostly follows Buddhism; you might be provoking something.” Unable to help it, Evelyn shot him a glare. “Shut up.” But, hesitating for a moment, she ultimately softened her tone and continued, “Buddha, Buddha, please bless us to make it back to the Grey Family safely. Once we’re back, this guy here will donate half of his income this year. If he doesn’t follow through, you can take it yourself. Please, please, Amitabha.” ... Sir Cedric Langley hardly knew how to respond to her whimsical entreaties.
Chapter 5
In front of her lay the endless expanse of the ocean, while behind her stood the desolate and empty Desolate Isle. Well, not entirely empty; just a stone’s throw away was the dense, terrifying jungle that seemed to stretch on forever. Evelyn Brightwood, after making her wish, hugged her knees and sat in silence. Just as Sir Cedric Langley feared she might break down, she suddenly surged to her feet. “What are you talking about?” Sir Cedric said, bewildered by her sudden burst of energy. “When can we head back to the yacht? I need to grab my camera for a vlog on surviving on Desolate Isle! It’ll get so many views,” Evelyn exclaimed, a spark of enthusiasm lighting up her eyes. Then she quickly covered her mouth, casting a cautious glance at him. “This idea was mine first; if you guys use it back at your company, I’ll lose all respect for you.” Sir Cedric shot her a cold look. “Your respect has no value to me. Plenty of companies have copied our strategies before.” They both knew that whether or not they would be found by the rescue team was still a mystery, and yet Evelyn was already mapping out her next steps. Before she could retort, Sir Cedric gazed out at the dark ocean. “You can have it all. I won’t be competing with you.” Evelyn was taken aback by his unusual generosity, causing her to ponder whether she had been too overbearing. She scanned the area for inspiration. “How about this? You take on an adventure theme—like searching for deep-sea treasures or something. It might come off a bit serious, but I bet it’ll catch men's attention. Or you could fish by the shore, or even hunt on Desolate Isle. Since there’s no signal, streaming is a no-go, but you might be able to pull something together in post-production that could go viral.” Evelyn believed she had a good plan but could tell that Sir Cedric was tuning her out. He really should have brought his noise-canceling headphones. Seeing him maintain that unruffled expression, she felt disappointed, her good intentions hitting a dead end. Frankly, she always thought someone like Sir Cedric didn’t belong in new media; he was better suited as a lawyer or a judge. Evelyn’s first memory of him was from a debate event in their school auditorium when she was just eighteen. It had been organized by her school and the London Business School, and he was the fourth speaker of the opposition. Most Europeans she encountered were warm and expressive, but Sir Cedric’s face remained a stone mask the entire time. His accent was pure Received Pronunciation, and when Evelyn closed her eyes, it felt as though she were listening to the soundtrack of a Jane Austen film—a perfect lullaby. Back then, she hadn’t known he was Chinese; features that were more pronounced compared to most Asians along with his light amber eyes and thin lips kept her guessing. Later, she found out that Sir Cedric Langley was indeed Chinese, but with one-eighth British blood running in his veins. So what if he was handsome? He constantly wore that annoyed expression, as if someone owed him thousands of dollars. Evelyn mused, “Even if his hairline looks good right now, he might end up bald decades from now.” If this had happened to anyone else, they would likely be terrified of lanterns and the looming judgment of the Grey Family. But Evelyn didn’t carry that burden. When she was in junior high, her housekeeper had taken a holiday, and she hadn’t told her parents that she stayed at the Grey Family’s house for three days. It wasn’t until she returned that anyone figured it out. And of course, they were clueless when she skipped high school and went straight to study in France.
There are limited chapters to put here, click the button below to continue reading "Beyond the Shadows of Desolate Isle"
(It will automatically jump to the book when you open the app).
❤️Click to read more exciting content❤️