# Chapter 616: The Moonstone Gamble — A War Beneath the Waves
Hello, dear readers! It’s your narrator here again. I hope you’re all doing wonderfully and have your hearts ready for another emotional, tense, and thrilling chapter of *The Untouchable Ex Wife*. Today, we dive — literally — into the waters of Heart Island with Leia and the rest of the group. But beware: not every battle happens on solid ground. Some of the sharpest daggers are hidden beneath the calmest seas. Let’s begin shall we?
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The air around Heart Island carried more than just salty whispers of the ocean — it carried legends. A story had long been told among the islanders: if a person was lucky enough to find the mythical moonstone resting beneath these crystal waters, life itself would smooth out like silk stitched by fate. Every wave would roll in their favor. Every storm would pass them by.
And those were exactly the words Leia needed to hear.
Her heart was no longer just for herself. It beat for Renee. So when she caught wind of the legend, hope bloomed inside her chest. If this moonstone could truly bring fortune and a happy, peaceful life to whoever possessed it, Leia wanted to find it with her own hands and place it into Renee’s palms. It wasn't about treasure or adventure. For Leia, it was about giving the person she loved the smoothest possible road ahead — even if she had to dive into the deepest parts of the unknown to do it.
“Of course! An islander here saw it many years ago,” Billy said, puffing his chest out with an air of confidence that could have convinced even the most skeptical soul. “Although it's very rare, it's there.”
Leia’s eyes sparkled. Impatience danced in her voice. “What are we waiting for? Let's go!”
But Billy raised a knowing finger, already one step ahead. “Hey, why don't we go scuba diving instead? If we dive around five or six meters deep, we'll have a greater chance of finding the moonstone.”
The suggestion split the group into eager adventurers.
“Agreed.” Xavier shot his hand up, grinning. “Snorkeling is fun and all, but we can explore more of the area if we go diving.”
“Same here. My lungs are pretty good, and I can hold my breath for a few minutes underwater.” Skylar’s hand joined theirs. And why not? He had earned the shining nickname 'The Flying Fish' after conquering countless swimming competitions. Deep water had never frightened him — it was his kingdom.
But a shadow of silence hung over Santiago.
While the others exchanged excited plans, he stayed quiet. Brow furrowed. Lips tight. Billy noticed and turned toward him with a curious look. “What do you think, Mr. Dalton? Do you want to go snorkeling or diving?”
Santiago hesitated. The words crawled out awkwardly. “I... I'll go with whatever Lei wants.”
But behind those fragile words hid something deeper — a truth he hadn't shared with anyone. Santiago had undergone middle ear surgery in the past. The pressure caused by deep underwater submersion wasn't just uncomfortable for him; it could be outright dangerous. Any depth beyond five meters might trigger serious consequences, and his body knew it. Yet, despite the risk creeping into his mind, he swallowed it down into the depths of his own concern.
Why? Because the thought of missing a single moment with Leia frightened him far more than any underwater pressure ever could. His heart held one simple dream: to gently hold Leia’s hand, feel the cool ocean brush against them, and look up at an endless star-filled sky. So if he had to endure this danger to be near her — then so be it.
A new wave of energy rippled through the group as Billy clapped his hands together. “Okay, let's sign the consent forms since you've all agreed to it! Anyone who finds the moonstone will get a thousand points and enjoy a beach dinner with his or her crush!”
Leia couldn't help rolling her eyes at the proclamation. A wry smile tugged on her lips as she grumbled quietly, “You guys really know how to spike the view count.”
But even beneath her teasing, something else was swirling beneath the surface. Not just water. Not just adventure. Tension.
The group changed into tight, sleek diving suits and gathered at the diving area. A professional instructor stood before them, reciting words that carried heavier meaning than any of them could guess at first.
“As you all know, we use a buddy system when diving because anything can happen underwater. In case of an accident, our buddy might just save our life. So make sure your dive buddy is someone you'd trust with your life.”
At that exact moment, a sharp glance sliced through the air.
Xavier tilted his head toward Santiago, his mouth curling into a sneer that was quiet but lethal. “I'll see you on the battlefield.”
They had been fighting over Leia subtly for some time now. Hidden glances. Quiet rivalries. Unspoken promises written between every exchanged word. But now? The gloves had been ripped off, and this dive would become an open field of competition. Dive buddies were supposed to rely on each other completely — body and soul — especially when danger lurked in the abyss. Both Xavier and Santiago understood what that meant. Whoever claimed that place beside Leia wasn’t just getting a diving partner. They were marking their territory in the most primal way possible.
Xavier would never willingly surrender that position. He prepared himself for war.
Then Santiago spoke.
But to everyone’s surprise, he didn’t turn to Leia. He didn’t even glance toward Xavier. Instead, his voice was calm, almost unnervingly steady, as if he had anticipated this moment all along. Ignoring Xavier completely, Santiago addressed the coach directly.
“I want Skylar to be my diving partner.”
Silence fell like a stone in still water.
Xavier’s expression froze into pure shock. His sneer dissolved into disbelief. Why would Santiago willingly hand over the chance to be Leia’s most trusted companion underwater? It was an open declaration of war, and then... retreat? No. That wasn't like him at all.
Even Leia’s jaw tightened in surprise. Her eyes flickered with confusion as she studied Santiago, trying to decipher the mystery written on his unreadable face. It didn't take a genius to guess something very dangerous was happening beneath the surface — before they even set one toe into the ocean.
Whether he was avoiding proximity to protect Leia from his own health risks, or engineering an unexpected strategy in this unspoken rivalry, one thing was certain: Santiago Dalton was playing a game deeper than anyone understood.
And soon, the sea would hold not just their bodies — but all their secrets.
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What a breathtaking turn of events, isn’t it, readers? This chapter didn’t just take us underwater — it submerged us into the emotional depths of every character. Leia’s pure-hearted desire to bring happiness to Renee warms the soul. And Santiago? Watching him quietly swallow the danger of his ear surgery just to stay close to Leia truly pulls at the heartstrings. His sudden decision to choose Skylar as his buddy instead of Leia adds another layer of thrilling mystery. Meanwhile, Xavier’s openly competitive nature raises the stakes deliciously. The rivalry is no longer subtle; it is a battlefield now. I love that this chapter mixes romance, danger, and magical island lore all together. The depth of emotion here is as dangerous as the ocean itself.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars
What comes next? I am certain this dive will not go as peacefully as planned. Santiago’s secret health risk is a ticking bomb underwater. If his ear fails under pressure while separated from Leia, will Skylar be able to save him in time? And what about Xavier — could he seize this chance to win Leia’s trust forever, or will an underwater emergency expose everyone’s true intentions? I predict that jealousy, danger, and hidden heroics are all about to surface in the depths of the next chapter — and perhaps the moonstone will be found by someone no one suspects.
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