"Mom, what are you two talking about? Why aren't you joining us for the cake cutting?"

Randy suddenly approached, brows slightly furrowed, his probing gaze shifting between me and his mother.

"I'm tired. I'd like to rest first," Anne said, turning away.

Randy immediately followed to support her.

I stayed where I was, watching their figures recede.

I don't know how much time passed before the crowd suddenly burst into cheers. Jeanne, cheeks flushed, stood beside Randy as the two of them cut the cake onstage.

When it was done, Randy affectionately brushed the tip of her nose.

The scene looked far more like their engagement banquet.

The hall was filled with laughter and congratulatory voices—all directed at Randy and Jeanne. The noise grated on me, so I turned and left.

By the poolside, I stared blankly at the rippling water.

Footsteps sounded behind me. Jeanne sat down at my side.

"What's wrong? Can't stand seeing me and Randy so close?"

Her tone had shed all pretense; her eyes were cold, laced with scorn.

"You're nothing but my stand-in—a worthless substitute who will never be worthy of the stage."

Her words were so absurd that I almost laughed.

With my last refuge of quiet shattered, I rose without a word, unwilling to spar with her any longer.

But she wasn't about to let me go so easily.

She grabbed my hand, yanking it hard, then suddenly leaned back and plunged into the pool.

The movement was so swift and seamless that I didn't react in time.

"Zoey! How dare you do that to Jeanne?!"

Patricia's shrill voice pierced the air as she came running in high heels, the sharp clicks echoing off the ground. Without giving me a chance to explain, she slapped me hard across the face.

"Jealous witch! You can't stand that Jeanne has my brother's love! Let me tell you, Zoey, if Jeanne gets injured because of you, you're finished!"

While she spoke, Jeanne had already swum to the railing, gasping for breath.

Seeing her in such a pitiful state only fueled Patricia's fury. She suddenly lunged forward and shoved me into the water.

"Let's see how you like it!"

The icy, unyielding pool water rushed into my throat. I forced myself to stay calm, but a sudden cramp seized my calf.

My body grew heavier, my vision darker… until I vaguely saw a shadow cutting swiftly through the water toward me.

Driven by instinct, I reached out.

The next second, I was pulled into a firm embrace.

Once onshore, I coughed up a mouthful of water. Patricia's furious voice exploded beside me.

"Randy! Why did you save her? You should've let her drown, then she wouldn't be around to hurt anyone again!"

Tears streamed down Jeanne's face, mingling with the pool water as she sniffled pitifully.

"Randy, don't blame Zoey. I… I believe she didn't mean it."

Patricia chimed in, fanning the flames with every word.

With each accusation, Randy's gaze toward me grew colder, until it was nothing but ice.

He didn't speak to me. Instead, he scooped Jeanne into his arms and hurried off to find his private doctor.

From beginning to end, he never asked for my side of the story, nor did he give me a chance to explain.

So be it. I'd long grown used to it.

By the time I returned home, still drenched, there was less than an hour before my flight.

After tonight, I would sever all ties with the past.