Chapter 8 - Waterborne Sanctuary
The ferry chugged out into the choppy waters of the harbor, slicing through the gray waves toward the secluded shores of Manly. Shen stood near the stern, watching the skyline shrink into the mist while Elena tended to a scrape on Leo’s knee with wet napkins. The adrenaline was beginning to wear off, leaving Elena shaking uncontrollably on the plastic bench. She asked Shen why Julian had trusted him above all others, why he would leave his only daughter in the path of such ruthless men.
Shen looked down at his own calloused hands, remembering the years of harsh discipline he had endured under Julian’s roof before pride had scattered them across different continents. He explained that Julian’s greatest fear was never losing his fortune, but that his bloodline would be erased without ever understanding true strength. As Shen spoke, Leo reached out, mimicking the horse stance he had learned just hours ago on the wharf. But Shen’s subtle smile vanished when he noticed a small, blinking red light hidden beneath the lining of the toddler’s jacket.
