Chapter 4

After seeing the doctor, Arden hurried to the seaside with her medicine.

The Pearl was moored at the shore, its lights blazing like a gem in the night. She didn't have an invitation, so she debated whether to call Graham as she boarded.

"Arden."

Irene's voice rang out, and Arden turned toward it.

Irene wore a pale pink strapless dress and had her hair pinned up behind her head. To match the outfit, she wore the pink diamond she'd just shared on her Instagram story.

Noticing Arden's gaze, she raised her hand and fluttered her fingers, showing off the ring. "Were you looking at this?"

Her smile turned mocking. "You do know where the bracelet Graham gave you came from, right? It was made from the leftover scraps of this ring's diamond."

Arden stayed silent as her chest tightened. It was a long while before she spoke. "Why?"

Irene feigned confusion. "Why what?"

Seeing her smug smile, Arden asked hoarsely, "Why is it that even though you already have everything, you still insist on taking what I have? You don't even like him, do you?"

She'd already learned to step aside. She'd moved out of their home, given up her engagement, and even thought about giving up their parents. Why wouldn't Irene let her go?

Irene tilted her head lightly, her innocent smile edged with malice. "Because you're my older sister. This family is complete with just me, so why did you have to be born? Whatever. I can overlook that. But why did that old coot only like you? Why did he insist on leaving the heirloom emerald bracelet to you?

"If I can't have it, then you're not getting it, either. He wanted you to live well, right? I'll make sure you spend your whole life in my shadow!"

Her words, forced through gritted teeth, landed on Arden like a bucket of ice-cold water.

Arden hadn't expected Irene's hatred to come from something like this.

But as they grew up, everyone had always cared about Irene the most. The prettiest clothes were hers, and the most expensive jewelry was hers. Whenever Arden fell sick, she only had a nanny to care for her, while Irene always had their parents by her side.

Even if they were at conferences abroad or had important deals on the line, they would drop everything to come back and be with Irene.

And even though Patrick was closer to Arden, he'd never neglected or ignored Irene. He'd tried several times to talk to her, only to be snubbed. Yet here Irene was, accusing him of favoritism…

Irene calmed herself. Then, she looked at Arden and suddenly smiled again. "Arden, you'd better transfer those shares to me soon, or I'll just go ahead and steal Graham from you."

She spoke as if it were already decided.

Arden's emotions settled abruptly. She said coldly, "So, you're just jealous of me. You're jealous that I have what you can't get, so you're being like a thief and trying to steal everything."

Irene's expression flipped. "What nonsense are you spouting? How could I be jealous of you?"

"The facts are laid out in front of you."

"Don't you dare act as if you've seen through it all, Arden!" Irene's voice rose. "I'll make you face reality right now and see who's the pathetic one here!"

With that, she grabbed Arden and leaped off.

The instant her body slammed into the water, a surge of terror seized Arden. She instinctively struggled, but the icy seawater closed in from all directions, like a fine-meshed giant net drawing tight around her.

Her limbs felt weighed down with lead as they dragged her toward the depths. The helpless panic yanked up the memory of Irene pushing her into a pool and making her nearly drown. Was she going to die there that night?

No, she refused to accept that.

Arden tried to cry for help, but the salty seawater rushed into her nose and mouth, smothering every sound. Despair swelled in her chest when, at last, someone noticed the commotion.

"Someone fell in the water! Save them!"

"Anyone can swim? Hurry and get in there!"

"I think it's the Jacquet sisters!"

Voices rose in a chorus as people jumped from the ship one after another, but they all swam toward Irene. No one paid attention to Arden, who was still fighting to stay afloat.

It was exactly what she'd expected, yet the realization drained the last of her strength. Maybe she would just let it be…

She stopped moving and let the sea swallow her whole.