Goodbye Forever Ex-Husband (by Ammund) novel Chapter 203

Chapter 203

Chapter 203

OLIVIA’S POV

I raised an eyebrow at what Damien had just said, trying to keep my tone calm, “What do you mean?” I asked, pausing my paddling mid–stroke.

For a second, he didn’t reply. Instead, he kept tugging and twisting the paddle, his jaw tightening with each movement. It didn’t look like whatever had caught it was all that heavy, but it was clear he wasn’t handling it the right way – and the last thing I wanted was for him to panic and tip the boat over.

“Slow down,” I urged, trying to steady my voice so it wouldn’t sound like an order. I could already see the frustration building on his face, the kind that made people act recklessly. “Instead of forcing it, use your hand to feel around and gently free it. You’ll risk less rocking that way.”

Damien let out a sigh, shoulders slumping a little, before giving me a small nod. For a moment, I wondered if he realized how tightly he’d been gripping the paddle, almost as if it had personally offended him.

I watched as he dipped his hand carefully into the water, his brow furrowed. “Please let there not be crocks,” he muttered under his breath, repeating it a few times like a prayer.

A laugh nearly bubbled out of me. “Are you serious right now?” I teased, shaking my head. “There are no crocodiles in a lake, Damien.”

He shot me an embarrassed glance, rolling his eyes slightly, but it softened when he turned back to the water. His hand moved around, feeling under the surface. “Okay, I think I’ve found what’s caught it,” he said a few seconds later, his voice sounding more relieved than triumphant.

“Alright, what is it?” I asked, leaning forward slightly, though careful not to tilt the canoe too much.

“It feels like iron… like a chain or something,” Damien answered. “It’s wrapped around the paddle blade pretty tight.”

“Can you get it off?” I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral even though I could see how awkwardly he was bent forward, half his weight leaning over the side.

“I’m trying,” he grumbled. “But it’s a bit difficult. It won’t come loose easily.” His voice carried that hint of frustration again, mixed with stubbornness.

On any other day, I might have just told him to let it go. After all, we could still paddle back to shore with mine–but losing it meant being banned from the lake, and given how hard it had been to find a quiet spot like this, I wasn’t willing to risk that. And I could already see Damien pushing himself more than he should, his face tense.

He wasn’t exactly the type for rough outdoor tasks, not because he was weak, but because he hadn’t needed to be. And right now, we didn’t need to make this more complicated.

I slipped my phone from my pocket, its screen reflecting the sun briefly, and tapped the small distress button. It was discreet–just a quiet signal that would bring my bodyguards over in another boat, carrying tools if needed.

“There’s no need to keep forcing it,” I told him gently. “I’ve already called my bodyguards. They should be here in a few minutes–they’ll bring another boat, and they’ll untangle it properly.”

Damien glanced at me, half relieved, half embarrassed, as if he felt like he was giving up too soon. “I swear, it sounded like such an easy plan when I thought of it this morning,” he murmured, sitting back properly in the canoe and wiping his wet hand on his shorts.

I chuckled softly, my paddle resting across my knees. “You’ve done better than you think,” I told him. “At least you didn’t panic and flip the whole boat”

He laughed too, though it sounded a little tired. “Guess I’m still learning. Next time, remind me to choose a picnic instead.”

A breeze stirred the water, the lake’s surface shimmering under the sun. We floated quietly for a moment, the only sounds being the distant chirping of birds and the gentle lap of water against the canoe’s sides.

A few minutes later, I heard the unmistakable whir of an engine from behind Damien. I didn’t need to look back to know who it was–it could only be them.

1/3

Chapter 203

My bodyguards were already speeding toward us on a jet engine boat, their black suits catching glints of sunlight as they cut across the water, V them approach, I felt the usual flicker of reassurance. This was exactly why I always kept them close, even if some people called it excessive. They kết how to think quickly, react even faster, and handle situations like this—or worse- -without panicking.

“Huh, they got here faster than I thought,” Damien said, glancing over his shoulder at the approaching boat. His voice carried a mixture of surprise and

relief.

“They know what they’re doing,” I replied, my gaze still on the boat.

Moments later, one of the bodyguards maneuvered closer, the boat rocking gently from the wake. He stood tall, his voice rising over the gentle slap of water against the hull. “Is everything alright, ma’am?” he called, scanning me quickly for any signs of distress.

The bodyguard leaned forward, narrowing his eyes as he peered at the paddle Damien still held awkwardly. Then, without missing a beat, he gave a crisp nod, removed his suit jacket, and pulled on a life vest. The way he moved–methodical, confident–was something I’d seen so many times, yet it always felt oddly reassuring.

After what felt like a minute but was probably less, my bodyguard surfaced, wet hair plastered to his forehead. “Ma’am,” he began, his tone uncharacteristically serious, “it looks like you’re going to need to come aboard our boat for now. This is going to take some time to free up.”

His expression darkened slightly, water dripping from his chin. “It’s not just a chain, ma’am. The chain is hooked onto something below… and that something appears to be wrapped in a body bag.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he confirmed. “The chain isn’t just snagged–it’s been deliberately fastened. And from what I can see, the shape definitely suggests it’s concealing… something human–sized.”

his

mouth as if to speak, then closed it, swallowing hard instead.

“Alright,” I said after a beat, forcing my voice to stay steady. “We’re coming over.”

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