Chapter 171
S
As Abby closed in, Cynthia kicked her square in the chest. Abby tumbled face–first into the dirt. Cynthia glanced down at her, lying there.
“Sorry,” Cynthia said with a shrug. “I didn’t mean it.”
Abby struggled to get up. “Cynthia, you’ve got all this food. Can you spare a bite? I’m starving here. How can you just watch me suffer? You’re so cold–hearted.”
Knowing the drone was overhead, Abby figured Cynthia wouldn’t dare overreact. She kept at it, hoping to paint Cynthia in a bad light.
In the live chat, comments flew.
[Fellow viewers, take note. This is textbook emotional manipulation.]
[If Abby’s hungry, it’s the show’s fault, not Cynthia’s.]
[Abby’s not wrong. She’s in a rough spot. Anyone would feel for her, especially when they’re supposed to be friends on a show.]
[Abby’s fans are coming.]
Cynthia seemed unfazed by Abby’s complaints, digging into her meal as if it tasted even better with an audience.
Preston, though, couldn’t just stand by. He fetched a coconut bowl, divided his meal, and offered half to Abby. “Abby, food’s essential. Please eat something before you get too hungry,” he said, his gaze sincere.
Abby was wary at first. She thought, ‘Why is Preston being so kind?‘ But seeing the genuine innocence in Preston’s eyes, she felt a flicker of satisfaction. It looked like she’d gained a fan.
She thought Preston was good at hiding his feelings, so she hadn’t noticed before. Deep down, Abby didn’t think much of Preston. She figured he was just a model who hadn’t made it big But she had to give it to him–he was undeniably good- looking.
Abby accepted the coconut bowl from Preston with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Preston, I’ll be voting for you tonight” she said as if bestowing a favor.
Preston’s expression remained earnest. “Thanks,” he replied.
The live chat was buzzing.
[What’s up with Preston all of a sudden? Why’s he so into Abby?]
[No way are these two gonna vote for each other tonight. My ship can’t sink!]
[Something about Preston’s innocence seems off. Trust me, it’s not that simple.]
Hungry as she was, Abby dug into her meal. It had been ages since her last bite, and the food was so good that she gobbled it up quickly.
She polished off the coconut bowl in under three minutes, savoring what was hands down the best meal she’d had since landing on the island.
Once she was done, Preston approached. He crouched down to meet her gaze. “Enjoy your meal?” he asked.
Abby nodded, a mix of pride and excitement in her eyes. She got straight to the point. “Preston, when did you start liking
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me?”
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Instead of answering, he gave her a bright simile, his eyes crinkling in a way that made his blond hair and soft features resemble an endearing, innocent Golden Retriever. “Abby, I’m curious, how did the snake meat taste?”
At the mention of “snake meat,” Abby’s blood ran cold. “Preston, what are you talking about?”
Preston kept up his innocent facade. “I didn’t use the whole snake from this morning for barbecue. I figured you might be hungry, so I sliced some into ham and added it to your bowl.” He grinned. “Abby, you seemed to love it!”
Abby’s face drained of color. Her stomach roiled, and she began to heave uncontrollably, expelling most of what she’d just
eaten.
Still with that innocent look, Preston said, “You were really enjoying your meal just now, Abby.”
*****
At noon, they took a break, but an afternoon rainstorm rolled in trapping everyone inside their tents. The downpour lasted until nightfall.
When the rain finally cleared, the show crew laid out a lavish dinner on the beach. Long tables were set up under a star–filled sky, with the ocean breeze bringing a fresh, clean scent. It was a relaxing scene.
Preston was peeling shrimp for Cynthia. “Cynthia, vote for me tonight, will you? I’m curious about Angel Island.
Cynthia shrugged, unimpressed. “Not gonna happen.”
Jessie, her mouth full, chimed in, “Angel Island’s got a sweet villa, but the food can’t beat Jonathan’s cooking.”
Nina kept stealing glances at Jonathan, who was stoic and quiet. Alex, meanwhile, was staring at Nina with an intense, almost aggressive look.
After finishing his meal, Ethan headed to the beach to collect seashells. Preston wondered, “What’s with the seashells, Professor Ethan?”
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Jessie quipped, “For his girlfriend, maybe!” She immediately clapped her hand over her mouth, mumbling, “Can’t even keep my mouth shut while eating.”
Abby, however, was left pale at the feast. The snake meat incident had her traumatized. Starving, she couldn’t shake the thought of the snake, and the idea of eating anything made her queasy. It seemed like she’d lost her appetite overnight.
Feeling woozy, she made her way back to her tent. Soon after, the drone announced it was time to vote for the heart–throb, following the same process as the day before.
Ten minutes later, the drone swayed as he announced the results. “Sadly, no matches today.”
The live chat was buzzing.
[The couple I was rooting for today was a joke.]
[The show should reveal the heart votes. I wanna see who they really voted for.]
They all have feelings for different people.]
[This isn’t a dating show. It’s more like Mafia!]
ACE
When Nina realized for the second time that Jonathan hadn’t voted for her, her last shred of hope crumbled. She’d been in denial, but now she couldn’t deceive herself any longer.
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Holding back tears, Nina silently retreated to her tent. She didn’t speak a word for the rest of the night.
The island night was stunning. Cynthia lay on her back in her tent, staring up at the stars through a small, clear patch in the roof. The sky was a deep canvas, dotted with glittering stars that shimmered like scattered silver.
Cynthia had been struggling with insomnia, and tonight was no different. After lying in bed for hours, she felt no closer to sleep while everyone else around her was fast asleep.
With a sigh, Cynthia sat up and quietly grabbed some clothes from her suitcase. She slipped out of the tent, heading for the night.
