I stared at them in horror and turned my desperate pleas back to Ethan . " Ethan ! Weren't you the one who used to talk to my belly every night ? Didn't you say you couldn't wait to be a dad ? " The waves drenched my face , blurring the lines between seawater and tears . " At last week's checkup ... the doctor said it's a girl . You've always said you wanted a daughter , haven't you ? " He swallowed , his voice losing its edge . " Maybe we should ... stop . What's the point of this game anyway ? " He turned his eyes away from me , his tone uncertain . " Let's play something else ? " Vanessa suddenly flung her water gun aside , her expression darkening to something almost frightening . " Ethan ! What's that supposed to mean ? You agreed to this , and now you're backing out ? " She kicked the water gun on the ground so hard it skidded across the sand . " Forget it ! I'm done . I'm going home ! " Panic flashed across Ethan's face . He rushed to grab her wrist . " No , no , no- I was just saying . We'll keep playing , okay ? We'll keep playing . " He plastered on a fawning smile , trying to smooth her over . Vanessa yanked her hand free with a cold laugh . " Too late . I'm not in the mood anymore . " She spun around to leave , and Ethan broke into a sweat , hurrying after her to wrap an arm around her shoulders . " Vanessa , come on , don't be like that . " He coaxed her in a low , pleading voice , completely forgetting I was still out there , drifting and bleeding in the water . Chapter 3 11.88 % Chapter 3 ་ The cramps in my stomach grew sharper , the pain so deep I could feel life itself slipping away . Ethan pulled out a diamond necklace he'd clearly been saving for the right moment . " Baby , don't be mad . I bought this just for you . " Vanessa's eyes lit up , though she kept up a pout . " Hmph . How do I know it's real ? " " Of course it's real ! " He quickly fastened it around her neck . " You look amazing in it . " Vanessa's smile finally returned . " Now that's more like it . " She shot me a smug glance where I bobbed in the water . " So ... does the game go on ? " Ethan caught on instantly , grinning at her like a trained dog . " Of course it does . However you want to play , we'll play . " He turned toward me and barked , " You hear that ? Play along ! " The pain in my belly was so fierce I could barely breathe , let alone speak , but the two of them were already picking up their water guns for another round . A high - pressure stream blasted toward me , slamming into my stomach like a punch . The icy force made my vision blacken . " Ethan ! Why ? " Curled up on the jet ski , my voice was ragged . " Why are you doing this to me ? " Ethan shot me an irritated glance over his shoulder . " You don't get it ! " " Vanessa's the only daughter of the Blake Corporation's president . Keep her happy , and her dad can toss a little money our way - my company could go public overnight ! "