Chapter 42

Sarah, a skilled swimmer, quickly surfaced, her strokes confident and strong. Lily, on the other hand, struggled to stay afloat, her lack of swimming skills evident in her desperate thrashing.

A few partygoers saw the commotion and quickly ran away, not wanting to get involved. Ethan, however, saw the whole scene unfold and rushed toward the pond. Sarah, seeing him approach, quickly changed her demeanor, pretending to struggle in the water.

Lily, still underwater, was running out of breath, her lungs burning from the lack of oxygen. She saw Ethan jump into the water, and her heart sank as she watched him swim toward Sarah first. She knew Ethan was aware of her inability to swim, yet he prioritized saving Sarah, who was pretending to drown.

Just as Lily thought all was lost, a strong hand grabbed her waist, pulling her upward. She broke through the surface, gasping for air, and saw Lewis's furious face staring back at her. He helped her to the surface and soon brought her out of the water, cradling her in his arms.

Meanwhile, Ethan was taking care of Sarah, who was playing the damsel in distress. "I've got you, Sarah," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "You're safe now."

As they reached the shore, Ethan asked Sarah, "What happened? How did you both fall in?"

Sarah's face crumpled, and she began to fake cry. "Lily pushed me in anger," she sobbed. "She's always been jealous of me, and she couldn't stand the fact that I'm carrying your child. She pushed me, and I fell in. Then, she slipped and fell in herself."

Lily's eyes widened in shock and outrage. She tried to speak, to defend herself, but she was too exhausted and breathless. Lewis's face darkened with anger, but he kept his emotions in check, focusing on Lily's well-being.

Without a word, Lewis scooped Lily into his arms and strode toward the hospital, leaving Ethan and Sarah behind. As they walked, Lily's gaze met Lewis's, and she saw the concern and fury burning in his eyes. She knew she was in good hands, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal. Ethan had chosen to save Sarah first, despite knowing Lily's struggles in the water.

The hospital loomed ahead, and Lewis's grip on Lily tightened. "You're safe now," he whispered, his voice a gentle contrast to the anger simmering beneath. "I'll take care of you."

Lily's eyes fluttered closed, and she let out a sigh of relief. She knew she could trust Lewis, but the memory of Ethan's betrayal lingered, a bitter taste in her mouth.

Ethan's eyes narrowed as he watched Lewis tend to Lily, his concern evident. A pang of jealousy shot through Ethan, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He turned away, his thoughts consumed by Sarah and their unborn child. He needed to make sure they were okay.

"Sarah!" Ethan called out, rushing toward the hospital room where she was being treated. He burst through the door, relief washing over him as he saw Sarah sitting up in bed, her face pale but otherwise unharmed.

"Hey," Sarah said, her voice weak. "I'm fine, Ethan. Just a bit shaken up."

Ethan's eyes scanned her face, searching for any signs of distress. "And the baby?" he asked, his hand instinctively reaching for hers.

Sarah smiled, placing a protective hand on her belly. "The baby's fine too. Just a bit of stress, that's all."

Ethan's expression softened, his jealousy momentarily forgotten. He sat beside her, holding her hand and gazing into her eyes. "I'm glad you're both okay," he said, his voice filled with emotion.

As he sat there, Ethan couldn't shake off the image of Lewis's concern for Lily. It bothered him, stirring up feelings he thought he'd long buried. He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on Sarah and their child. For now, that's all that mattered.

****

Lily walked down the hospital hallway with Lewis, her steps steady and determined. The doctor had discharged her, and she was ready to put the ordeal behind her. As they turned a corner, she saw Ethan approaching, his eyes fixed on her.

"Hey, Lily, Are you okay?" Ethan asked, his voice laced with concern.

Lily's gaze met his, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of bitterness. She remembered how he had chosen to save Sarah first, despite knowing she couldn't swim. "I'm alive, as you can see," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Unfortunately."

Ethan's expression darkened, and he clenched his fist. "Can't you answer straight without any sarcasm?" he asked, his voice low and even.

Lily raised an eyebrow, her anger simmering just below the surface. "Stop bothering to worry about me, Ethan," she said, her voice cold. "You don't have to. Go and take care of your Sarah, who is a well-known swimmer, yet you still chose to save her first."

Ethan's face reddened with anger, and he took a step closer to her. "It's all your fault," he spat. "You pushed her into the pond."

Lily's eyes widened in incredulity. Did he really still believe that? She felt a wave of frustration wash over her. It was pointless to try to make him understand. "Fine, think whatever you think," she said, her voice laced with venom. "I don't fucking care. You know Sarah is in danger when I'm around her, so why don't you both just stop coming in front of me?"

With a sudden burst of anger, Lily pushed Ethan aside and stormed off, leaving him standing alone in the hallway. Ethan's eyes followed her, his anger and frustration evident on his face.

Lewis, who had been watching the exchange, smiled slightly and nodded to Ethan before following Lily out of the hospital. Ethan's gaze lingered on them, his anger simmering just below the surface.

Sarah walked toward Ethan, her eyes fixed on his tense expression. "I'm ready to go home; let's go," she said, her voice soft and gentle.

Ethan turned to face her, his anger still simmering from the encounter with Lily. He nodded curtly, his jaw clenched. Without a word, he turned and walked away, expecting Sarah to follow him.

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