Alyssa's screams pierced through the garden, shattering the evening calm and drawing a crowd of startled guests to the poolside. The hum of chatter turned to gasps as they took in the scene.

Without hesitation, Dillon tore off his suit jacket and leapt into the pool, the loud splash sending ripples across the water. He swam swiftly toward Alyssa, his movements decisive and frantic.

When he reached her, he scooped her into his arms, cradling her protectively as he brought her to the edge of the pool. Water streamed from her soaking gown, pooling around them as she trembled against his chest.

"Alyssa! Alyssa, are you okay?" Dillon's voice was thick with concern, his hands gripping her shoulders as if to anchor her. His eyes darted over her face, searching for any sign of injury.

Alyssa clung to him, shivering dramatically, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She cast a fleeting glance at me and the hurt in her gaze was unmistakable.

"Sis, if I did something to upset you, you could have just told me," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why did you push me into the pool? You know I'm terrified of water..."

The crowd murmured in shocked disbelief and before I could open my mouth to defend myself, my mother stormed forward. Her face twisted in fury, her voice laced with venom.

"Mia, how dare you push Alyssa into the pool!"

Her sudden shove caught me off guard. My feet slipped on the wet tiles and I stumbled backward.

The moment I hit the water, the icy cold enveloped me, stealing the breath from my lungs. Panic gripped me as I sank beneath the surface, water rushing into my mouth and nose. I kicked and flailed, but my movements were erratic, each one draining more of my energy.

I can't swim.

My chest burned as I struggled for air, the heavy weight of the water pressing down on me. Above the surface, muffled voices and laughter filtered through, but no one jumped in after me.

Through the ripples, I glimpsed my mother standing at the pool's edge, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

"Stop pretending, Mia," she scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "No one's going to fall for your act. You've been nothing but a curse on this family. Letting Alyssa be kidnapped wasn't enough for you—now you're trying to hurt her again? I should never have brought you into this world!"

Each word felt like another weight pulling me further underwater.

My father stood beside her, his lips pressed into a tight line. He didn't bother to speak; his cold, condemning glare said it all.

I surfaced briefly, gasping and coughing, but the effort sapped what little strength I had left.

Through the blur of water and tears, my gaze landed on Dillon. My last shred of hope clung to him. Surely, he wouldn't let me drown. 'He knows I can't swim. He might not love me, but he isn't cruel enough to let me die... right?'

But Dillon didn't move.

He sat on the pool's edge with Alyssa still in his arms, his expression hardening as he looked at me.

"Did you know Alyssa is pregnant?" he spat, his voice filled with anger. "How could you do this to her? You could have killed her—and the baby!"

The accusation struck me like a slap. My throat tightened and I tried to plead, but the words were lost in my gasps for air.

Dillon's face darkened further. "Stay in the water tonight and think about what you've done."

With that, he stood and carried Alyssa away, her damp hair clinging to his shoulder. She rested her head against him, casting me a final triumphant glance before they disappeared into the house.

The crowd slowly dispersed, their whispers carrying a mix of scorn and amusement. My parents turned and followed without so much as a backward glance.

One by one, they all left.

As the cold seeped into my bones, an overwhelming sense of despair settled over me. My arms felt heavy, my legs weaker with every kick. 'I can't... I can't keep this up.'

The water closed over me again and this time I didn't have the strength to resurface. My lungs burned, my vision blurred and my thoughts grew hazy.

Just as darkness began to consume me, a sudden splash broke through the silence. A strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me upward with desperate urgency.

Who... was he?

***

When I opened my eyes, the stark white ceiling of a hospital room greeted me. My body felt heavy, every breath a laborious effort.

I turned my head and was startled to see Dillon sitting beside the bed. His hair was disheveled and his shirt was wrinkled, as if he hadn't slept.

The moment our eyes met, his face lit up with relief.

He immediately began signing, his movements quick and full of emotion. "Honey, you're finally awake! I didn't mean to leave you behind last night. Gabriel is away on a business trip and couldn't take care of Alyssa. She's pregnant—I had to take her to the hospital first... Please don't be mad, okay?"

His hands stilled briefly, his expression softening as he continued. "You know how important heirs are to the Knight family. If something happened to Alyssa's baby, they'd blame you. Even your parents wouldn't forgive you. I was only trying to protect you..."

He looked at me with such sincerity, as if expecting me to believe every word.

But I knew better now.

The ache in my chest was unbearable, but I forced myself to stay composed. I refused to let him see how deeply his words cut me.

I said nothing.

Dillon's smile faltered, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face. He hesitated, then reached for my hand.

I didn't pull away, but I didn't respond either. Instead, I turned my gaze to the window, letting the silence stretch between us.

Later that evening, I sat in the sterile quiet of my hospital room, staring at the photo Alyssa had sent me. It was a picture of Dillon, leaning over her hospital bed, pen in hand, his expression tender and focused. The caption beneath it twisted the knife further: [Your husband is quite the romantic,] she had written. [He actually wrote me a hundred love letters. He stayed by my side all night and didn't even close his eyes. The servants only told him you were waking up and that's when he finally left to see you.]

Her next message came almost immediately, each word dripping with calculated cruelty: [Mia, you'll never be able to surpass me. If you have any sense, you should just step aside.]

The pain in my chest was sharp and unrelenting, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break. My fingers hovered over the screen, trembling with restrained anger, but before I could type a reply, the door to my hospital room creaked open.

A man in a crisp black suit entered, his demeanor professional and impersonal. He barely glanced in my direction before turning to Dillon, who stood near the window, his hands in his pockets.

"Mr. Dillon," the man began, his voice low and deferential. "As per your instructions, we've prepared everything for the press conference. The transfer of Knight Holdings to Mrs. Alyssa can proceed as planned."

My heart sank as the words registered. I turned my gaze to Dillon.

But Dillon's lips curled into a satisfied smile as he nodded. "Good," he said, his tone calm and measured. "If my wife asks about this, just tell her that Knight Holdings suffered a major financial crisis and went bankrupt."

He turned to me then, his expression shifting into one of feigned urgency. His hands moved swiftly, signing with exaggerated concern, "Honey, something urgent happened at the company. I have to handle it. Wait for me here."

For a moment, I simply stared at him, my mind reeling. His performance was flawless. If I hadn't regained my hearing, I might have believed every word. But now, the truth was as clear as the air in the room.

I nodded silently, watching as he left without a second glance. The door clicked shut behind him and the silence that followed felt suffocating.

I stared at the empty space where he had stood, my hands curling into fists. The realization hit me like a wave—there was nothing left to hold onto. No love, no trust, no future.

Rather than endure the humiliation of lingering in his world, I decided it was time to leave it entirely.

With a steady hand, I pulled a divorce agreement from my bag, the papers creased and worn from the hours I had spent deliberating. I placed it neatly on the bedside table, the stark white pages a symbol of my resolve.

Before leaving, I took out my phone and deleted every trace of them—Dillon, Alyssa, even my parents. Each press of the delete button felt like a small release, a severing of ties that had only brought me pain.

***

At the press conference, the room buzzed with excitement as Dillon stood on the stage beside Alyssa, a triumphant smile on his face. Cameras flashed and reporters scribbled furiously as he announced the transfer of Knight Holdings to her.

"This marks a new chapter for our family," Dillon declared, his voice steady and confident.

The crowd erupted into applause, their cheers echoing through the hall. Among them, my parents beamed with pride, clapping enthusiastically as they celebrated Alyssa's success.

As the event concluded, Dillon offered to drive Alyssa home himself. She clung to his arm, her smile radiant, but just as they reached the entrance, a familiar figure stepped into their path.

"Long time no see, Dillon," Nathan greeted, his tone light but pointed. "Taking your niece-in-law out again? Why didn't you bring your wife along? I wanted to ask her about her ears—whether she still has difficulties hearing."

Nathan's words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Dillon froze, his expression shifting from surprise to disbelief.

"What did you say?" he asked, his voice low and strained. "Mia... she can hear now?"

Nathan blinked, confused by his reaction. "What's with that look? Her hearing recovered yesterday. Didn't she tell you?"