I was burning with rage. I looked at Freddie with sheer loathing and felt compelled to disclose Noah's identity. "You've crossed the line! You ought to know that this man over here is Zara's father! If something happens to him, Zara will never forgive you when she gets here!"

Freddie burst out laughing before saying with a sneer, "You lowlifes really have no shame with these lies. You were literally calling him 'Dad' earlier, and now he's suddenly Zara's father? You're quick on your feet, I'll give you that.

"You've ruined my mood for swimming today, so I'm going to make sure you learn your lesson. Maybe next time you'll think twice before crossing someone like me!"

Noah slumped against me, his body shaking while his breathing became shallow and far apart. He was in the middle of a major cardiac episode.

I knew that if he didn't get his emergency heart medication right away, he wasn't going to make it. I cried out in a strained voice, my eyes turning completely bloodshot. "Help! Please help us! He's about to die soon!"

It was just that the swimming pool area was deserted; there wasn't another soul in sight.

Upon seeing this, Wyatt panicked. He then turned to Freddie and asked worriedly, "What if—"

Freddie cut off Wyatt, displaying a complete disregard for human life as he remarked casually, "You have nothing to worry about. Other old men could even swim in winter. He's probably just putting on an act now.

"Zara is arriving soon, so just let them up after she arrives. They could probably hang on a few more minutes. If anything serious was going to happen, it already would have."

I knew that if Noah didn't get medical attention immediately, he would be dead within minutes. I was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of total helplessness at that moment.

I then noticed the hotel manager, Dylan Smith, rushing over. I instantly yelled at the top of my lungs, "Help! Help me! Dad is having a heart attack! Get him out of the water and call 911 right now!"

Dylan had met Noah years ago but didn't recognize him now. He felt uneasy after seeing Noah's condition. He had heard about the incident and only came over hoping to curry favor with Freddie.

He rapidly calculated the risks of antagonizing Freddie versus the professional consequences of a death on the premises, despite the life-threatening situation.

He then smiled faintly and addressed Freddie, saying, "It'd be best to allow them to exit the pool first, Mr. Lester. If a fatality actually occurs, the facility would be rendered unusable for your future leisure."

Freddie spared him a glance and considered it briefly before replying haughtily, "I'll let them come up since you asked."

Dylan wasted no time in having Wyatt pull both Noah and me out of the water.

Noah was lying on the ground, motionless.

I didn't even stop to catch my breath before racing to the changing area to retrieve my bag. I frantically poured out the heart medication and tried to force it into his mouth.

Freddie unexpectedly kicked the medication bottle and the pills straight into the swimming pool. He then sneered derisively after sensing my fury. "You ought to cut the act now. You've already come out of the swimming pool, so get out of here this instant!

"You'd better make sure you steer clear of me from now on. I'm feeling really generous today, so I'll let both of you off the hook this time!"

I was filled with rage. I rushed forward and punched Freddie. I then glared at him with my bloodshot eyes and barked, "I'll make you and Zara pay if anything happens to Dad!"

Freddie, shocked by the punch, shrieked, "You freaking madman! I knew I shouldn't have shown you any mercy! I should've just left you both to drown in that swimming pool!"

I was about to attack him again, but Wyatt and Dylan restrained me by the shoulders, allowing Freddie to slap me over a dozen times.

I snapped out of my senses after feeling the sting on my face. I realized that further delay would prove fatal for Noah.

I wrenched myself free from their restraint, took out my phone from the bag, and immediately dialed Zara's number. "Dad is having a heart attack at the swimming pool area at the hotel in Joraton, Zara! Get a medical team here this instant; otherwise, Dad's gone!"

"Your father should have been more careful if he had known that he had a heart condition. I'm in the middle of a meeting right now, so just call for an ambulance yourself, Connor," Zara stated dismissively before ending the call.

I trembled with rage. How could she not realize that it was her own father who was having a heart attack?

It wasn't long before Freddie looked toward the entrance in delight and exclaimed, "You're finally here, Zara!"