Their Punching Bag Became The Storm novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53 To Save or Not

Emily seriously doubted their beat–up electric boat could handle even a couple more waves crashing into it.

At the rate the swells were coming, by the time they fought their way over, who knew where the lifeguards would have been swept off to?

So Emily didn’t see the point in risking the boat to reach the lifeguards. She wasn’t about to gamble her own life for two strangers.

The livestream chat exploded.

[What’s going on? Is Emily really not going to save the lifeguards?]

[Holy crap. Did she forget who saved her life?]

[Isn’t this basically murder? Should I call the police on her?]

[Is Emily out of her mind? Does she really think her life is worth more than everyone else’s?]

[If something really happens to those two lifeguards, she’s a criminal.]

[How dare she show her face on camera? She wants to debut? Not if I have anything to say about it.]

The viewers in the livestream were already on edge from the sudden danger and chaos. Emily’s actions trampled all over everyone’s conscience.

But there were also Chase’s fans, Emily’s fans, and some paid trolls who jumped in to defend her.

[Emily’s totally freaked out, okay? She fell into the ocean, and she’s still in shock. Whatever she’s saying right now isn’t really what she means.]

[Did Emily say anything wrong? The waves are insane right now. If they force their way over to save the lifeguards, their boat’s gonna flip. Then all five of them on the boat and the two lifeguards are gonna drown.

[Two people versus five. Of course, five should survive.]

[You guys are talking big from the sidelines. If you were on that boat, I bet you wouldn’t rush to save them either.] [Emily’s totally terrified; she’s been crying the whole time. She wants to survive, that’s all.]

These comments totally blew the minds of the other viewers, making them question everything they thought they knew.

On the boat, Emily was still hysterical, clutching Chase’s clothes, trembling and sobbing, practically frantic as she begged him to get her out of there. She genuinely looked shell–shocked.

Bella said, “The lifeguards are still down there. If we don’t save them, if something really happens to them, we…”

She watched Chase’s expression waver and felt her heart sink. She thought, ‘Are they really planning to abandon the lifeguards?”

Chase clenched his fists, torn.

On one hand, leaving the lifeguards would eat at his conscience. On the other, if they went over and failed, if the boat capsized, it wouldn’t be two lives lost. All five of them would be done for.

Chase absolutely wasn’t willing to risk his own life for two strangers.

When it came to self–preservation, Emily and Chase were more alike than either would admit.

The real reason Chase hadn’t made a decision wasn’t that guilt was tearing him apart. It was because the cameras were still rolling. He couldn’t let the audience see what he was actually thinking.

If he turned the boat around now and left the lifeguards behind, his career wouldn’t be the only thing destroyed. The Anderson family would face the fallout. And if the family took a hit, Edgar and Brandon would have his head.

In that minute of hesitation, another massive wave swept toward them.

The boat pitched violently, tossed about as if it might go under any second.

Screams echoed across the boat.

Emily cried even louder, wrapping her arms around Chase’s legs and pleading with him to get her out of there. Chase glanced at the lifeguards now drifting even farther away. The last shred of guilt in his heart burned out completely. He was not turning back.

Successfully unlocked!

He turned to the other three huddled in the corner, shaking and sobbing. “We’re out of time. Since this concerns all five of our lives, we’ll put it to a vote. If we save them, I’ll steer over there right now. If not…”

Chapter 53 To Save or Net

A pained expression crossed his face. Then a cold ruthlessness hardened his features. “I vote we save them.” He added deliberately, “Even if it means risking all five of our lives.”

It was a calculated move. By voting to rescue the lifeguards and stressing the mortal danger, Chase made it sound like a suicide mission.

He knew the other three were selfish to the core. They would never agree to risking their necks for two strangers. The blame would fall on them, and he would walk away looking like the hero.

Sure enough, terrified for their lives, the others forgot the cameras were even rolling

Kayla lunged toward Emily, sobbing. “Chase, we can’t save them. We have to get to safe waters right now. The boat’s going to capsize. Do you want Emily to die with you?

“They’re professional lifeguards. They have all their gear on. They know how to get themselves out of this. Why would they need help from ordinary people like us?

“Chase, stop hesitating. Look at Emily. She’s in agony. Falling into the water just now must have traumatized her. If this keeps up, I’m afraid she won’t be able to take it.”

Kayla knew how much Chase cared about his sister. Even as she cried, she dragged Emily into the argument to sway him. Chase’s expression grew more conflicted by the second.

Finally, as the next massive wave crashed toward them, Jason let out a roar, lunged for the helm, and steered the boat straight for safety.

The livestream comments went into a complete meltdown.

[They really left. Are they not going to save the lifeguards?]

[What about those two lifeguards? Come on, production crew, do something.]

[The guests‘ lives matter, but so do the lifeguards‘.]

[But what can they do? The waves are getting bigger. If they go back, something really could happen.]

[As Kayla said, the lifeguards are professionals. They know how to get out of trouble. Yeah. They’ll know how to save themselves.]

[Even the five people on the boat think they’ll get capsized. No matter how professional the lifeguards are, they’re not superheroes.]

[It’s all their fault. Production warned them a million times not to leave the safe zone. Why didn’t they listen?]

[If Emily hadn’t been so overconfident, none of this would have happened.]

[I wanted to watch celebrities struggle on a deserted island. A little danger is fine, but I didn’t sign up for actual deaths.] At that moment, in the production booth, Darian’s heart nearly stopped when he saw the scene unfolding.

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