On the way back, Dominic changes his mind and decides he cannot let Hank drown. Rowan’s insistence helps push him there, but Dominic is also moved by his own fear of carrying another death, being haunted by Hank’s ghost, and exposing his daughter to still more violence.

Dominic assesses the practical problem immediately. With the vault now too dangerous to enter, the only route back is through the old shaft, which has rusted shut for years and will need an angle grinder to open. Through the storm, Dominic sees Rowan and Orly ahead in the black inflatable boat and worries about them in the rain.

As Dominic approaches shore, his thoughts shift from survival to loss. Dominic realizes their life together on Shearwater is nearly over, and he reflects that he had long expected Rowan to discover Hank. Now that she has, Dominic fears that both the cruelty of Hank’s captivity and the lies Dominic told Rowan have damaged their bond beyond repair.

That fear sharpens when Dominic remembers the horror and emotional withdrawal he saw in Rowan. He understands too late how deeply he loves her and how unprepared he is for losing her. When Dominic reaches the beach and sees Rowan and Orly already heading uphill on the quad, Dominic lets them go on with the seeds while he turns his attention to the tools he needs to cut open the shaft and free Hank.