Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Fifteen years ago , Julian and Noel ended up stranded on Skull Island . At the time , Skull island had been developed into refugna holding It wasn't just refugees on that island there were also fugitives hiding out after committing serious crimes , as well as impoverished people from unve countries . The government , alming in clean up the cities , had rounded up homeless people and dumped them there too . There was no water , no electricity , no internet , and no ships connecting the island to the outside world . The government would drop food supplies at intervals . But whether it was due to the sick sense of humor of those in charge or not , every time they dropped food , it was only enough to feed about a tenth of the population So , fights would break out , people would die every day , and the corpses would be eaten by those who survived . After Julian and Noel ended up on the island , Julian's enemies apparently found out he was there and started bombing t the place . They were both injured and could barely move , let alone find a place to hide . Just when it seemed like the end , a filthy little girl appeared and led them into an underground cave to hide . That tunnel sloped downward for at least over 300 feet . Later , they found out that the girl had spent five years digging it out with her bare hands . She had naively believed she could tunnel her way out of that hellish island . After the bombing stopped , they came out of the tunnel . The entire island was in ruins - every plant and animal had been turned to ash . The dirt was stained red . The whole place reeked of death . The people on the island had been blasted into pieces . Since it was summer , by the time they came out , the bodies had already started rotting and were crawling with maggots . There was no way to survive on that island anymore . Even if there were no more bombings , the stench and toxins from the corpses would cause disease soon enough - or they'd die of hunger and thirst . Back then , Noel had a piece of bread hidden on him . He originally planned to take it out and split it three ways . But the moment that girl saw the bread , she snatched it and ate the whole thing by herself . After she finished eating , she went and took a dump , then turned to them and said , " One piece of bread split three ways isn't enough for anyone . " It's better for me , the only one not injured , to eat it and get my strength back so I can go out and find help . " But I did leave something for you guys . I pooped over there . You two can take turns eating it to survive . One of you eats it , then poops , then the other eats that and poops , and so on . " If you keep doing that , you should be able to hold on for a while . If I manage to get out , I'll call the cops for you and ask them to come save you . " Then she dragged a log into the sea , climbed onto it , and started paddling away . Noel and Julian were both stunned . They thought no human being should ever - could dever - say something that insane . By the time they snapped out of it, the girl was already drifting off into the distance , leaving behind only that burd to keep them company Noel pulled himself out of the memory , his expression complicated . After a while , it suddenly clicked , and he asked in disbelief . " My lord , you don't mean to tell me the woman who's keeping you is that little weirdo from back then , right ? " How is that even possible ? There's no way she swam across thousands of nautical miles of ocean . Chapter 16 " She might've been nine years old at the time , but she was tiny like a five - year old . She was so petite . How could she have had that far ? Back then , it was the Astome Familly who ended up finding and rescuing them not because the girl had called for help . So they had she'd died out there on the ocean . Julian even had a gravestone made for her , and kept a nameless memorial plaque at home in her honor , Noel hadn't expected that she was actually still alive . " My lord , what if you've mistaken her for someone else ? " Noel thought it was more likely Julian had gotten the wrong person than that the girl had really survived . Julian said firmly . " There's no way I'm wrong . Even if she were reduced to ashes , I'd still recognize her ? Noel got a little excited . " My lord , can I meet her ? I didn't get a good look at her face at the mall today . She might've been kind of out there , but she did save my life . I want to thank her in person . " Julian replied in a low voice , " She doesn't remember me , and there's no way she remembers you . What happened back then wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows . Don't bring it up and make her relive something that awful . " Nool said , " Then I won't talk to her or anything . Can I just take a look from a distance ? I want to see what my savior looks like as an adult . " If I don't even know what she looks like , what if I end up crossing her one day without realizing it ? " Julian nodded and told him to come along next time and catch a glimpse from afar , Just then , an agent messaged Julian : Six pum . Target has separated from the group and is walking alone of Ember Street ] Ever since they left the Federal Police Bureau , Julian had arranged for two trusted agents to follow Olivia around the clock in shifts , just in case something happened to her . Even though Julian had ordered a lockdown on anything linking Olivia to him , he still worried that word might leak , and if one of his enemies caught wind of her existence , they might go after her . So , he'd stationed people to protect her in secret . The agents would check in every hour with an update on Olivia's whereabouts , Seeing that she was finally alone , Julian immediately put aside what he was doing , ready to go to her , Olivia hadn't expected the luxury boutique manager to actually send her $ 15 million . Staring at the long string of zeros in the bank alert , she felt like she was dreaming - none of it felt real In a great mood , Olivia decided to treat herself for once . She spent a hundred bucks at a roadside shop on a light green maxi dress , then headed beauty salon to get soft curls and a full face of makeup . She'd always liked looking nice , but with massive debt hanging over her , her mind had been filled with nothing but paying it off . Dolling herself up just never made the list . But today , the windfall had landed in her lap without any effort at all , so Olivia finally allowed herself to spend just a tiny bit on herself . " Oh my goodness , you look incredible , like a supermodel straight off a magazine cover . The salon owner personally did her makeup and hair , and then spent ten full minutes gushing over her beauty until Olivia felt a little embarrassed . Olivia quickly paid the bill and stepped out of the store . At that moment , Julian had just arrived nearby . He glanced around but didn't see the familiar figure anywhere , so he texted his agent : ( Where is she ? ] The agent replied : [ About 60 feet straight ahead , Green dress , loose curls . That's her . Chapter 16 udukan looked up . The moment he saw her , his heart loped a beat . In the noisy , crowded world , it Bi Just nt then , Noel's voice brake through beside him , completely missing the mood . " My lord , didn't you say you'd recognize her eared th " ashes ? She's right there , and you still had to ask the aperit ? " Julian reined in the fire in his eyes and said calmly , " Achas , yes , Makeup , In truth , Olivis didn't look that different with makeup just more polished , more striking . But she'd changed her outfit and look so suddenly Instinctively been searching for the version he'd seen in the morning , which was why he hadn't received her right away . Noel was instantly speechless . Julian was about to walk over , but suddenly paused . He turned to Moet and ordered , " Find me a stylist , I need to look good . She's got me comprast hooked - I've gotta turn the tables and make her swoon . " Noel's mouth twitched . " Look at you - down bad and pathetic " G AD Send gift