During the World Rowing Championship, I accidentally knocked my husband's beloved first love into the water.

The next day, a soaked photo of her went viral online.

My husband just sneered.

"She got in my baby's way during the race—she deserved it."

One year later, at the same championship, I was invited onto a private yacht.

There, censored nude photos of me played on a loop on a big screen.

My husband stood beside his first love, holding her in his arms. His eyes were cold as he pointed toward the distant coastline.

"You leaked Melanie's wet photo on purpose. Now it's your turn to know what it feels like to be exposed.

"You like rowing, right? One photo per round—this time, you'll row until you drop."

My face turned ashen as I stared at Steven Callaghan, vile words from the men around us drilled into my ears.

"Who knew the prim and proper Mason family heiress had such a body? Even better than those porn stars."

"Acts all cold and proud, but in bed? Filthy as hell! Just look at her—getting me hard already!"

"Those sultry eyes... Damn, she's a seductress!"

Steven raised a brow.

"Since it's a holiday today, here's a special treat—one clear shot as a gift!"

As he spoke, the pixelation on the photo began to fade. My half-naked, wet body appeared on screen—undeniably me.

Cheers and whistles erupted around me. Their stares were shameless, filled with raw, disgusting lust.

I trembled all over. My voice was barely a whisper.

"Steven, did you really have to go this far?"

He slowly twisted the diamond ring on his finger, his expression colder.

"This far?

"You knocked Melanie into the water and had someone leak her photo—didn't think karma would come back to you, did you?

"You brought this on yourself."

I froze, blurting without thinking, "It was windy that day—I didn't mean to hit her boat.

"Collisions happen during races. And the organizers warned against wearing see-through clothes when wet..."

Before I could finish, Melanie suddenly dropped to her knees, sobbing as she begged for mercy.

"I'm sorry, Cordelia! I was wrong—I won't compete with you ever again!

"My body's already been seen by everyone—I've been punished. Please, I beg you, let it go!"

Steven yanked her up, gently rubbing her reddened forehead with pity.

But when his eyes met mine, they were laced with fury.

"Cordelia, just because you're the Mason family's heiress, you think you can bully Melanie until she's driven to death?

"You're lucky all I'm making you do is row to win back your photos."

He released a few small boats, then removed my life vest and safety ring.

Turning to the crowd, he declared, "Everyone on board can compete. The first to reach the shore gets a bonus, an HD video!"

The men erupted in cheers, itching to jump in.

I bit my lip until it bled, nails digging deep into my palms.

Most of the people on the boat were strong men—some even seasoned sailors.

How could I possibly beat them?

Especially after the ballroom event earlier, where I'd already used up a lot of energy.

I stood frozen, fists clenched.

"Steven, don't go too far!"

He grabbed me by the neck, teeth clenched. "Too far?

"You forget how the Mason Group crushed my family in business? How my parents were hacked to death by debt collectors after we went bankrupt?"

I stared at him, stunned. The Mason Group never targeted any company. That was pure fabrication.

I struggled, slapping at his hand as I gasped for air.

Just before I passed out, he let go and turned his gaze to the far-off shore.

"You don't have to row—just strip in front of everyone and swim a lap like a mermaid, and we'll call it even."

He leaned in, his voice full of mockery.

"So many people saw your nudes, and you didn't shed a tear. Don't tell me you secretly enjoy being put on display?"

I no longer had the will to explain. I'd had enough. I slapped him hard across the face.

"Steven, we're husband and wife! Don't forget, it was my dad who lifted you up in the first place!"

His jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened.

"And don't you forget—the Mason family's bankrupt. Your dad's been missing at sea, and now my family runs this city."

I wanted to argue back, but my dad's final words before he left echoed in my mind. I bit it back.

Steven waved a hand, and the lustful men rushed toward the speedboats like starving wolves.

"My buddies can't wait anymore.

"You can still beg for mercy."

I shot him a cold look. "There's no such thing as ‘beg' in my vocabulary." Then I turned and went back to my room.

I made a call, changed into lighter clothes, and wiped away all traces of tears. Only then did I return to the deck.

The men ogled my curves without shame, their filthy remarks relentless.

"That body's insane. I wonder if she moans as good as she looks!"

"Ms. Mason, giving up already? Why wear skintight clothes on purpose? Trying to seduce us?"

"Sleep with me for a night, babe. I'll win your photos back for you!"

Steven barked, "Shut up!"

I stood tall and silent, stepping onto the boat.

Steven muttered under his breath, "Cordelia, you really never learn to submit!"

With his command, a dozen small boats shot out like arrows.

And just like that, I was left far behind.

I paddled, but my arms soon grew weak.

Barely half an hour in, they were trembling uncontrollably.

Steven stood on the deck with Melanie, sipping red wine like they were on a vacation.

"Didn't you row so well last championship? Why are you so weak now, just half an hour in?"

The men laughed.

"Guess she's worn out from a year under Mr. Callaghan, huh?"

Melanie giggled, covering her mouth.

"Don't laugh too soon—what if she gets to shore first? Won't all your manly pride go down the drain?"

Her words fired them up even more.

They surged ahead, leaving me even farther behind.

My heart sank.

Even if I gave it my all, I was barely holding a middle position.

Everyone told me to give up. I ignored them.

The Mason family never bows down.

Seeing I wouldn't react, Steven smirked and handed Melanie a biscuit.

She "accidentally" spilled it all over me.

Seagulls swarmed in, pecking at the crumbs on my body.

I tried desperately to fend them off, barely able to cover the most private parts.

In seconds, my clothes were shredded, and my skin bore scratches.

The sea breeze hit me, and I was almost naked.

Melanie shrieked, "Oh no! Cordelia's clothes ripped!"

All the men's eyes snapped to me, hot and piercing.

I shot Steven a glare, my face burning with humiliation.

His grip on the mast tightened unconsciously.

But the moment Melanie pouted, he turned back to her, indulging her again—not sparing me a single glance.

I wrapped what little fabric I had left around my body.

My heart felt like it was being stabbed.

Thanks to Melanie's interruption, I fell behind again.

I scooped seawater and splashed it on my wounds.

The sharp pain jolted me wide awake.

One word filled my mind—win.

Only by winning could I avoid shaming the Mason family.

Even in ruin, we were not people they could trample on.

Ahead of me, Carlos Wyndham, the leading sailor, turned back and whistled.

"Looks like I'll be the first to enjoy Ms. Mason's body!"

He licked his lips lewdly.

The others lost interest and began paddling back to the yacht.

As they passed me, some reached out for my tattered clothes.

I swung my paddle hard, smacking their hands.

They yelped and pulled back, eyes full of anger.

"You'll have to show us everything later anyway, slut. What's with the fake dignity?"

I swung my paddle harder, rage burning through me. Blood seeped from my wounds.

A medic on the yacht looked uneasy. "Ms. Mason's wounds are exposed to seawater. It might get infected..."

Steven hesitated, then asked him to get the disinfectant.

Melanie's eyes gleamed with malice. She quietly cut her finger, then looked up at him, teary-eyed.

"Steven, I hurt my hand too. Will it get infected?"

His eyes softened at once, and he asked the medic to disinfect her wound first.

He completely forgot I even existed.

The ocean wind blew for so long. My head spun. My lips cracked and bled.

Besides Carlos, who was already first, I was the only one still paddling.

Melanie covered her mouth, laughing viciously.

"Cordelia, maybe just sleep with Carlos. He might give you the pics!"

Steven frowned slightly but didn't say a word.

Midway through, the waves picked up.

The crew on deck looked nervous.

"Mr. Callaghan, a storm's coming. Maybe let Ms. Mason back up?

"The waves are strong. What if she gets tossed into the sea?"

Before he could respond, Melanie interrupted him with a shrill voice, "She can swim! Last year during the championship, she kicked me underwater just to win!"

Steven's eyes darkened.

"Leave her!

"A snake-like her dying at sea would be justice."

I swallowed back my defense. A hollow chill spread through me.

When I met Steven, he was just a small-time boss.

I admired his fire—his ambition to take on the world.

He looked good too. I begged my dad to help him.

With my dad's backing, he rose fast.

Naturally, we ended up together.

After we got married, people called us the perfect couple.

They all called him a wife-slave—said he'd pluck stars from the sky if I asked.

Even when Melanie came back to America, he only held me tighter.

"Cordelia, don't worry. I'll only ever love you."

It wasn't until today that I realized—ten years of love, and I never really saw who he was.

***

Waves roared. Even the yacht swayed with the storm.

Everyone on board put on life jackets, faces were tense.

Steven stared at my stubborn figure. For the first time, his voice softened.

"If you just stay home, be a good housewife, and let Melanie move in, I'll let everything go."

His so-called generosity made me want to laugh.

A housewife?

Every child of the Mason family was born to rule the business world.

He wanted to clip my wings, lock me in like a pet bird?

I'd rather die than surrender!

I ignored him, gripping the paddle tighter.

A huge wave crashed down. I was thrown into the sea.

Steven instinctively moved to jump after me—but the next second, Melanie fell in too.

Without hesitation, he turned and swam toward her.

I shut my eyes in despair. All hope, all feeling—gone.

When I woke up, I was back on the yacht.

My clothes had been changed to a clean set.

Seeing me awake, Steven's eyes lit up with joy.

He brought over the medicine and fed it to me.

Anyone who didn't know might think he loved me that much.

I knocked the medicine away.

"Get lost!"

The next second, Steven grabbed my neck.

"Cordelia, you only have me to rely on now. What are you so proud of?"

Forced to look up at him, I spat in his face without warning.

He wiped the spit off without expression and said, "You started this."

Then he turned and left, announcing sharply, "Since Ms. Mason fell into the water, the rights to the first photo belong to Carlos."

At his signal, Carlos played the AI face-swap video.

"Ah! Honey, slow down!"

The loud, flushed moans blared from the speakers. All the men present turned red with embarrassment, and some even covered their groins.

"That's way too sexy. I can't take it."

"Ms. Mason really is a little firecracker—even in bed."

I trembled, drowning in shame.

"Steven!

"I'm giving you one last chance. Turn it off!"

Everyone laughed at me.

"Did I hear right? Is she ordering Mr. Callaghan?"

"Who does she think she is, demanding from Mr. Callaghan?"

I ignored them and dialed a number.

"Dad, come here."

The men on the ship laughed so hard they bent over.

"Is Cordelia losing it? Everyone knows her dad's been missing at sea for seven years."

"Who's she trying to scare? We're not three years old."

I lifted my shirt to reveal a secret pearl shell tattoo below my chest.

Melanie covered his mouth, giggling, "So Cordelia can't wait. Guys, better make sure she enjoys herself later!"

The men cheered wildly, eyeing me like hungry wolves.

Then a soft voice whispered, "I heard the Ocean Lord's daughter has a pearl shell tattoo..."