# Chapter 617: The Bite Beneath the Coral
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? I hope this story has kept your heart racing as much as it has mine. Today, I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 617 of "The Untouchable Ex Wife". We're heading into the deep blue sea, where the water hides both breathtaking beauty and silent dangers. So take a deep breath and dive in with me — because this chapter does not let you up for air.
---
The tension between the two men was thick enough to cut with a diving knife. Xavier stared at Santiago in utter disbelief, his eyes blazing with indignation. Fists clenched at his sides, he demanded an explanation.
"What the hell are you doing? You're trying to advance by retreating? What kind of strategy is that?"
Santiago, as calm and infuriating as ever, barely spared him a glance. "Why did you pick Skylar? We've finally got a chance to fight each other head-on, so why are you backing out now?"
A faint, disdainful smile curved Santiago's lips. He didn't seem interested in Xavier's challenge at all. Instead, his gaze shifted briefly toward Leia, whose eyes were still filled with anticipation. In a low murmur meant only for Xavier, he said, "I'll leave Lei in your hands for now. But you have to make sure she's safe."
Before Xavier could even open his mouth to protest, Santiago had already changed into his diving suit. With Skylar at his side, he turned and disappeared beneath the shimmering surface of the sea without another word.
"He's mad!" Xavier spat, bitter and frustrated, feeling like the only soldier left on an empty battlefield. He had come ready for a war, only to be left standing alone on the shore. Why was Santiago suddenly refusing to face him? And why did he act like he was carrying some invisible burden?
Xavier sighed heavily and glanced at Leia, who still looked dazed. Seeing her disappointment, he forced a casual grin and shrugged. "Let's get going then, dive buddy."
"I must be very unlucky to be paired up with you," Leia grumbled, pouting as she tore her gaze away from the water. She had imagined this differently. She had wanted to descend into the crystal blue depths hand in hand with Santiago, exploring the wonders of the ocean together while their newly confessed feelings began to bloom. But now, fate had paired her with an unreliable, flamboyant playboy like Xavier. Her heart ached with doubt. Why did Santiago back away now, after they had finally made their hearts clear to one another?
"Hey, don't look down on me!" Xavier protested, his pride clearly wounded. "I was once a diving champion, okay? Just you wait. I'll find that moonstone for you!"
He puffed out his chest, imagining how romantic it would be if he, not Santiago, claimed the legendary moonstone and presented it to her. If it truly existed, she wouldn't be able to resist his charm after that.
Then, one by one, they plunged into the water.
The sea welcomed them into a breathtaking, otherworldly realm. Schools of colorful fish drifted lazily among coral reefs, and the play of sunlight through the waves painted shifting patterns of gold and blue across the sand below. If they were fortunate, they might even witness a jackfish storm. Leia adjusted her mouthpiece, her irritation slowly fading as wonder filled her heart, and she dived deeper.
As her dive buddy, Xavier hovered closely behind her, watchful and tense. Despite his playful bravado, his eyes were sharp, scanning every shadow, every sharp edge of the reef.
Not far away, Santiago remained a few meters behind them, silently guarding the group. No one knew the heavy price he was paying. His ears, hidden beneath his diving suit, were still recovering from a secret surgery he had never revealed to the public. Every meter he descended sent sharp, agonizing pressure through his eardrums. Gritting his teeth in pain, he stopped diving any deeper, his eyes still fixed on Leia from a distance. He had always protected her silently. Today was no different.
But Leia, lost in the beauty around her, suddenly spotted a coral reef thick with oysters. Some of their shells were slightly ajar, revealing pearls glowing with a soft, warm luster. It was like a treasure chest left open by the ocean itself.
Then her heart leaped. Nestled in the corner of the reef, wedged between some stones, something was shining—a soft, ethereal glow that seemed to call her name.
"Look!" Leia tried to shout, but only bubbles escaped her mouthpiece. She waved frantically at Xavier, her eyes wide with excitement. "It's the moonstone!"
Without waiting, she kicked her fins and dived deeper, her heart pounding with triumph. This was it. If she could get that moonstone, she could help Renee secure a peaceful life. Every struggle would be worth it.
"Slow down!" Xavier called out in muffled concern, swimming furiously after her. He knew just how deceptively beautiful coral reefs could be. Those pastel structures were razor-sharp, and even the mildest brush could leave a deep, bloody gash. Worse than that, who knew what creatures were hiding within?
But Leia had become like an irrational child, her excitement blinding her judgment. She pushed the corals aside recklessly, as if the entire ocean were just a playground filled with new toys. In her eagerness, she completely missed the danger lurking above her.
A silver, serpent-like shape coiled unnoticed in the crevice just above the moonstone. Its body was banded in dark, venomous stripes. It had been perfectly still until her small hand invaded its territory.
Just as Leia's fingers closed around the moonstone, the creature struck.
A searing pain exploded at the back of her hand. She let out a muffled shriek and snatched her hand back, shaking it violently, but the sea krait had already wriggled away into the shadows, leaving behind two tiny, glistening puncture wounds.
"It's a snake! It's a sea krait!" Xavier's mind went blank for a terrifying second. Every nerve in his body screamed with alarm when he saw the venomous sea krait flee and Leia holding her injured hand. He shot toward her immediately and grabbed her hand tightly, inspecting it as if he could somehow physically drag the poison out of her skin.
Leia, however, didn't seem to understand the seriousness of the moment. She waved her other hand, where the glowing moonstone was clutched proudly, her eyes bright with achievement. She thought she had merely been bitten by an irritating little insect. It didn't hurt that badly. Her heart was still full of victory as she brandished the gleaming stone in front of Xavier, showing off her precious find like a child eagerly waiting for praise.
She didn't see the fear in his eyes.
She didn't know that the sea krait's venom could silence her voice forever, or worse.
The treasure was in her hand, and the light of the moonstone shone like a beacon in the deep, broken sea.
But Xavier knew. And somewhere in the water not far behind them, Santiago felt a sudden, terrible chill run through his chest—as if the ocean itself had just whispered that something was very, very wrong.
---
Reader's Impressions & Star Rating:
This chapter dives deeply into emotional tension as much as physical danger. I loved the irony of Leia finally getting what she wanted—the moonstone—while failing to realize that the ocean had already taken payment. The scene is vivid, and the fear in Xavier's realization is absolutely heart-stopping. Santiago’s hidden pain also adds a layer of tragic romance that makes my heart ache. But honestly, Leia's naive excitement in the face of a deadly sea snake is both infuriating and terrifying! The chapter smartly balances awe, love, jealousy, and desperation before slamming us with a deadly cliffhanger. If there is one thing I love, it's a story that takes a moment of triumph and turns it into a nightmare.
⭐ Rating: 4.9 / 5 Stars
Next Chapter Prediction:
Given the urgency, I believe the next chapter will show Xavier desperately trying to save Leia as her body begins to react to the sea krait's venom. Santiago, despite the agonizing pain in his ears, will almost certainly abandon all caution once he realizes Leia is in danger. The moonstone's cost may very well be Leia's life, and we might see Santiago make a shocking choice to save her—especially if that ear surgery worsens in the process. Will Renee's peaceful future be bought with Leia's last breath? I can already feel the storm coming.
To listen free the next reviews chatpers, please access website novelsaudio.com and search keyword: The Untouchable Ex Wife or click the link in the description of this video or if you want to listen or read full the The Untouchable Ex Wife please access website novelsaudio.com