Chapter 1

As the icy water rushed over my face, the bone-chilling cold seeped into every limb.

My body ached.

But I felt only relief.

I closed my eyes and waited for the suffocation to take me—when suddenly, a hand with brutal force grabbed me from behind and yanked me back to the edge.

Through blurred vision, I saw Nathan Hartwell's eyes rimmed red. His voice carried a tremor he didn't even seem to notice.

"I said a few words to you—was that really worth going this far?"

He reached out to carry me to the private doctor.

But the moment his fingers brushed my soaked clothes, Vivian Gray's sobs cut through the air like a knife.

Tears streamed down her face. She looked so fragile, a gust of wind could have knocked her over.

"Elena, if you resent me, if you hate me—come at me. Why do this to yourself?

"I've felt guilty ever since we sisters got separated as children, and you ended up in that life. Seeing you like this now just breaks my heart..."

She reached out to steady me.

Afraid she might cry again, Nathan softened his voice and said, "This isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself."

Then he instinctively stepped aside to make room for her.

But the moment Vivian's fingers brushed my sleeve, she lurched violently.

She let out a sharp gasp as she tumbled straight into the pool.

At the same time, a crisp slap cracked across my cheek. My face instantly burned with searing pain.

I looked up and met the fury in my son Nathan Jr.'s eyes.

Seeing me stare at his raised left hand, the teenager froze for a split second, then sneered, "Mama Viv was just trying to help you, and you were cruel enough to push her in—you deserved that!"

By then, Nathan had already dove into the water, cradling the sopping wet Vivian tightly in his arms.

When he turned to look at me, the cold in his gaze could have frozen me solid.

"Five years in the Hartwell house, and you haven't changed one bit! You want to die? Then go ahead—jump! I won't stop you this time!"

I knew he was speaking in anger, but I couldn't find it in me to smile.

By now, I was long used to these men—father and son—blindly blaming me, always taking her side.

I didn't lose my mind like I would have five years ago.

I just braced myself against the stone edge of the pool and, under their icy stares, dove again, straight into the deepest end of the three-meter pool.

"Elena!" Nathan's voice cracked as he shouted my name, his instinct to save me kicking in.

But then Vivian's faint cough and soft sobs reached his ears. "Everyone says Elena is such a strong swimmer... why is she putting on this act..."

Watching my motionless figure sinking beneath the surface, Nathan froze mid-step. His face darkened to an ugly shade.

"Nobody move! Let's see if she actually has the nerve to go through with it!"

After barking that warning at the staff, Nathan scooped up Vivian and walked away without so much as a backward glance.

He forgot—I'd told him countless times before: I've been terrified of water since I was a child. I can't swim.

Nathan Jr. didn't leave right away. He just stared coldly at the water and said, "Mom, it'd really be better if you just died. That way, I'd only have one mom—Mama Viv."

His words pierced through the layers of blue water and drilled into my ears. The suffocation was overwhelming. Even my heart felt heavy and raw.

But still, I didn't struggle. Didn't call for help. I just let myself sink, inch by inch.

Because the truth was—

I really did want to die.