"Grandpa, you're the best. I promise you'll live well once I make it big."

Granger just smiled. "You don't need to be famous for me. As long as you're happy and safe, that's all I need."

Marlowe chuckled softly, touched by his words. She sat beside him and helped with the watch. Noticing his faded collar, she remembered how he always refused when she offered to buy him new clothes, insisting it wasn't easy for her to earn money. Determined, she silently vowed to become a star and earn enough to ensure her grandfather wouldn't have to be so frugal.

As evening came, darkness settled over their little yard.

Granger was aging and needed to get to bed early each day. Marlowe made sure not to disturb him once he was asleep. She would return to her room.

Typically, she would sit by the window with a book or turn in for the night around this time.

But tonight was different. She couldn't focus on her book or fall asleep. Restlessly, she turned over in her bed, her thoughts lingering on the man she had seen at the seaside.

When she had gone to help him, she had noticed his clothes had been stained with blood, and it had appeared he had been injured.

The stranger, with his mysterious past and bloodied appearance, posed a risk. What if helping him led to trouble for herself?

Marlowe told herself to stay out of other people's affairs, yet she couldn't shake her feeling of guilt for leaving him there alone.

After wrestling with her thoughts for some time, her concern got the better of her. In silence, she got changed and slipped out the door.

She just wanted to check if the man was still there. That was her only intention.

With this thought, she made her way towards the seaside.

As she approached the seaside, she noticed a man tumbling onto a reef in the distance. The waves were massive and quickly reaching him.

If she had arrived even a moment later, he would have been swept away by the waves!

Seeing the perilous waves, Marlowe was taken aback. She dashed over and dragged Mitchel toward the shore.

Despite her strength, Marlowe was gasping for air after hauling Mitchel.

Eventually, she got him to a safe spot. She crouched beside him and gently tapped on his face, saying, "Hey, are you okay? Can you hear me?"

She repeated her question, but he didn't respond.

"Is he still alive?" Marlowe muttered. She placed her hand on his chest to check for a heartbeat. A wave of relief washed over her as she felt the steady thump of his heart. However, she immediately grew concerned when she noticed his unusually high body temperature.