Chapter 433

S31 176. Faithful Husband

Philip jumped into the water. As fast as lightning, he swam and hugged his wife. “Baby? You okay?”

Barbara coughed as her head came out of the water. After scooping her face, her red eyes trembled at Philip.

“Sharks…. There are sharks near us, Phil. Why are you going into the water? Come on, get out of here.”

Barbara tried to turn the kayak over with her little strength. Instead of helping, Philip cupped her cheek with one hand. “Hey, look at me. Don’t panic, okay?”

“How can you not panic? We’re swimming with sharks, Philip!”

Barbara’s eyes were full of horror. When a fin appeared again, she immediately hugged him tightly. She broke down sobbing.

“Philip, I don’t want us to die. We just got married. There are sti many things we have to do.”

Philip rubbed Barbara’s back. He whispered like a mother com her child. “Don’t cry, Babe. Don’t be afraid. It’s not a shark.”

Holding back a sob, Barbara looked at Philip. “Not a shark?”

“Yeah, didn’t you see it when it jumped out just now?”

Barbara shook her head. “My eyes were closed earlier. I was too

scared to look.”

“It’s black. Are there black sharks?”

While biting her lips, Barbara shook her head. Her eyes occasionally glanced to the side, checking to see if any fins were approaching.

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“If that’s not a shark, then what is?”

“Orcas.”

“Orcas?”

Philip nodded. “Killer whale.”

Barbara widened her eyes. “Killer whale? Killer?”

She pushed the kayak again, trying to turn it over. “Come on, Phil! Help me! Why are you staying still? Don’t let the whale kill us!”

“Babe….”

“What?” Barbara turned her head. A rising fin broke the water behind Philip. After a blink, the creature jumped again.

“Philip!” Barbara quickly hugged her husband. Her body jolted as the whale made waves. It’s like they were pushed away.

“Oh, what should we do? It’s like we could be swept away. Or worse, the whale will eat us! Philip!”

“Babe,” Philip shook Barbara’s shoulder, “relax! Orcas don’t eat humans.”

“But you said it was a killer whale!”

“Because they are able to kill other, bigger whales. They are the number one predator in the ocean.”

Barbara blinked, processing. Her breathing slowly subsided.

“So, it won’t attack us?”

“You’re not a whale or a fish, are you?”

Barbara shook her head. “No.”

“Then it won’t attack us, especially here, a place with lots of food.

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Animals won’t attack humans just because they’re hungry if the ecosystem is healthy, unless they feel threatened.”

“Did we scare it? It didn’t feel threatened, right?”

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Philip shook his head patiently. “No. Now catch your breath. Calm down. I’ll turn the kayak over.”

“Okay.” Barbara caught her breath through her mouth. She was like a pregnant woman who was about to give birth in the ocean. Then, with Philip’s help, she climbed back into her kayak.

“Are you alright?” Philip confirmed.

Barbara nodded, but her brows still furrowed. “Don’t stay in the water for long. Come on, hurry back to your kayak too.”

Philip smiled faintly. Within seconds, he was sitting on his kayak. See? We’re fine, Babe. You don’t have to worry anymore, hmm?”

“Okay,” Barbara said, looking for fins. Finding none, she checked under her kayak.

“They’re gone. We’re safe.” Philip stroked her shaking arm. “A

cold?”

“Yes, a little.”

“Then, let’s hurry back to land. You have to get warm clothes

immediately. You can still row, right?”

Barbara nodded again even though her fingers felt stiff. However,

when she was about to row, the sound of crashing water was heard again. This time, it was Shania who fell from her kayak.

“Help! help…!” She flailed her arms.

Seeing that, Barbara’s eyes widened. “Why did she fall? Was she attacked by a whale? Philip, wasn’t she wearing a life jacket?”

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Instead of panicking, Philip put his feet into the kayak casually. “Yes, but she said earlier that she was an expert in using a kayak and also swimming. She didn’t need a life jacket herself.”

Barbara blinked. “Is she just acting?”

Philip nodded. “Just ignore her. Let’s go back to the cabin. We have to

warm you up.”

“We?” One of Barbara’s eyebrows moved down. The corners of her lips turned up..

Philip smiled faintly. “Do you mind if I warm you up?”

Barbara blushed. Shaking her head faintly, she rowed again. “Let’s go.

back to the cabin.”

Seeing Philip and Barbara ignoring her, Shania panicked. She flapped her arms faster and screamed louder. Her head was put in water to

make it look natural.

After a while, someone finally brought her head to the surface. Shar immediately acted weak. Her nerves tingled as rough hands touc her smooth skin, but she tried not to smile in amusement.

“Are you okay, Miss?”

Shania startled. She opened her eyes and found the guide’s worried

face.

“You!” Shania quickly swam away. “How dare you hug me?”

“You were drowning, Miss. I tried to save you,” the young man explained, confused.

With agility, Shania returned to the kayak. Paying no attention to the guide’s or Poppy’s confusion, she returned to land.

“I think she’s very upset. Her attempt to get your attention failed

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again.” Barbara chuckled.

Philip shrugged. “That’s the risk of pursuing someone else’s husband who is loyal to his wife. She will only be embarrassed.”

“Do you think she will follow us up the mountain tomorrow?”

“I hope not. Even if she comes along, she’ll only get more annoyed. Let’s pretend she’s not there. This is our honeymoon, Babe.”

While nodding, Barbara smiled faintly. Even though she was now drenched and shaking, her enthusiasm did not fade. She couldn’t wait. for tomorrow to come.

“Wow….” Barbara sighed, looking up. She was still on the side of the road, but she could already feel extraordinary joy. “Are we going up there?”

“Yeah. Are you scared?”

Barbara shook her head and exhaled quickly. “No. I’m ready! Le conquer the 1,566 steps.” She clenched her fists, just like Lou showing her sincerity.

Philip touched her nose with love. “Okay. But if you feel dizzy or tell me, hmm? We can take some rest.”

“I don’t think I’ll stop in the middle. My stamina has increased.”

“Since we often work out at night?”

Barbara pinched Philip’s stomach. “Watch your words, Phil. Let’s start climbing. I can’t wait to take photos up there and make the twins jealous.”

While the couple quickened their pace, Shania glared hatefully at their backs.

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“Poppy, let’s catch up with them!”

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Poppy lowered the phone from in front of her face. “Now? I haven’t finished taking selfies yet. Can you wait a moment?”

Poppy raised her phone again and turned her body, looking for ant

angle so that the sea behind her looked more sparkling.

Shania chuckled in annoyance. “I don’t have time to wait. If you still want selfies, go ahead.”

Shania stepped away, running towards the first stairs of

Reinebringen. Philip and Barbara were already several meters up

there.

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