I never imagined the night would collapse the way it did. One moment, the garden was alive with music and laughter. The next, Bianca’s scream tore through the air, sharp enough to silence everything.
People surged toward the lake in a rush of panic. In an instant, Bianca was thrashing in the dark water. Victor reacted without pause—he tore off his jacket and dove in, moving with the urgency of a man playing the hero. He wrapped his arms around her as if she were made of glass, lifting her against his chest like the most precious thing he had.
I couldn’t move. My heart slammed painfully as I watched.
By the time he pulled her onto the soaked grass, Bianca was shivering violently, water streaming from her dress. She clung to him, small and fragile, her lashes wet with tears. She looked helpless—perfectly, heartbreakingly so.
“W-Victor…” her voice quivered as she clutched his shirt. “Why would she do that to me? If I upset you, Isabelle, you could have said something. You know how scared I am of water… after what those kidnappers did. They almost drowned me for fun. Why would you push me?”
A stunned gasp rippled through the crowd.
My mouth opened to deny it—but before I could utter a word, my father’s voice sliced through the chaos.
“Isabelle!” he roared. “How could you hurt your own sister?”
He shoved me without hesitation. My heels slid on the slick grass at the lake’s edge, and the next second, I was falling.
The water swallowed me whole.
I can’t swim.
The cold hit like knives, crushing the air from my lungs and dragging me down into the dark. I flailed desperately, limbs heavy, panic tearing through me as the lake pulled me deeper. Above the surface, sounds blurred together—shouts, murmurs, maybe even laughter.
I fought my way up, coughing violently as my head broke through the surface. Water burned my throat. My chest screamed as I gasped for air.
Through my blurred vision, I saw them.
My parents stood on the shore, arms crossed, staring at me like I was something filthy that had washed up by mistake.
“Stop pretending, Isabelle,” my father said coldly. “You’ve been nothing but bad luck to this family. Letting Bianca get kidnapped wasn’t enough for you? Now you try to drown her? We should have abandoned you the day you were born.”
The words hurt more than the freezing water ever could.
My gaze shifted to Victor.
Surely—surely he wouldn’t let me die. He knew I couldn’t swim. Even if he didn’t love me, I wanted to believe he wasn’t completely cruel.
Then he spoke.
“Do you even realize Bianca is pregnant?” His voice was tight with fury. “You nearly killed her—and my child. How could you be so vicious?”
I shook my head wildly, trying to speak, but the lake stole my voice. My body trembled violently, my lungs aching for oxygen.
Victor’s expression hardened. “Stay there tonight. Maybe suffering will teach you something.”
And with that, he turned away.
He carried Bianca from the shore, her wet hair pressed against his shoulder. She clung to him like she belonged there, casting me one final glance—triumphant and satisfied.
One by one, the guests drifted away. My parents left without looking back. Soon, the garden was empty, the silence thick and suffocating, broken only by the slow ripple of water against the bank.
I kicked weakly, arms burning, but my strength faded fast. The cold seeped deeper, dragging me toward darkness. My body began to surrender.
Then—suddenly—a splash.
Strong arms wrapped around me, hauling me upward through the black water.
Who was it?
Who pulled me back from the edge?
---
When I finally opened my eyes, the sterile ceiling of a private hospital room came into focus. My entire body felt unbearably heavy, as if I’d been turned to stone. Even breathing hurt.
I turned my head slowly—and froze.
Victor was sitting beside my bed.
His hair was disheveled, his shirt wrinkled, as though he hadn’t slept all night. The moment he noticed I was awake, his face lit up, playing the role of a devoted husband perfectly.
“Isabelle—thank God,” he said quickly, gripping my hand. “I’m so relieved you’re awake. I’m sorry I had to leave you last night. I didn’t want to, I swear. But Bianca wasn’t well, and Julian was out of town. I had to bring her to the hospital. She’s carrying the Durant heir, sweetheart. I couldn’t take any chances.”
He sighed softly, lowering his voice as if confiding in me. “You understand, don’t you? If something happened to that baby, the family would’ve blamed you. Even your parents wouldn’t forgive you. I did what I did to protect you too.”
His gaze softened, almost begging me to accept his excuse.
I just looked at him.
My chest ached, but I refused to cry. I wouldn’t give him that anymore.
For a brief moment, his smile faltered. Then he tried again, brushing his thumb over my hand gently. “Please don’t be angry with me. You’re my wife. I do care about you. Truly.”
I said nothing.
I simply turned my head toward the window, staring at the sky beyond the glass, letting the silence stretch between us until it swallowed everything he tried to pretend we still had.
