Chapter 5

Seraphina’s POV

“Silas, help me!”

Evelyn’s terrified scream echoed through the night.

Cold water filled my mouth instantly as I struggled beneath the surface.

The moment I resurfaced, coughing violently, I saw dozens of people rushing toward the pool.

Their shocked faces blurred before my eyes.

Then I saw Silas. He had reached the edge of the pool. For one brief second, our eyes met. Relief flooded through me. Silas was here. Everything would be fine.

Then Evelyn screamed again.

“Silas!”

Tears streamed down her face as she desperately splashed around in the water.

“Our baby! Please save our baby!”

The relief inside me vanished instantly.

I watched Silas’s expression change. Without hesitation, he jumped into the pool.

Not toward me but toward Evelyn.

My heart stopped as the water swallowed me again. When I surfaced, I forced myself to speak.

“Silas…” My voice came out weak. “I can’t swim…”

It was true. I never learned.

Years ago, Silas promised he would teach me. Just another promise he never kept.

For a brief second, his eyes flickered toward me. Then they returned to Evelyn.

“Don’t move!” he shouted at her, “I’m coming!”

Something inside me shattered.

The next few moments felt strangely slow. I watched Silas pull Evelyn into his arms.

I watched him carry her toward the edge of the pool. I watched everyone rush forward to help them.

Nobody looked at me. Nobody remembered I was still in the water, still drowning, still struggling.

My body felt heavier with every second as the cold seeped into my bones.

The sounds around me became distant and blurred as I thought about the past ten years.

About the girl sitting outside an orphanage in the rain. About the man who opened a car door and told her to come with him. About all the years I spent loving him.

Waiting for him. Believing in him and in the end when both Evelyn and I needed saving Silas chose her. Just like he always would.

The last thing I saw before darkness swallowed me was Silas wrapping Evelyn in his suit jacket.

Then everything went black.

—

The first thing I heard when I woke up was voices. My body felt heavy. Every muscle ached and even breathing hurt.

Slowly, I opened my eyes to white ceilings and white walls. I was in the hospital again.

I stared blankly ahead for several seconds before memories returned. The pool, Evelyn, Silas. The pain in my chest returned immediately.

Outside the room, voices continued arguing. One of them sounded familiar.

It was Chairman Wolfe, Silas’s grandfather.

“The patient still hasn’t fully recovered,” a doctor was saying carefully, “Chairman Wolfe, I strongly advise against disturbing her right now.”

“She remained unconscious for two days. Her body temperature dropped dangerously low after prolonged exposure to cold water. She needs rest.”

The old man scoffed. “Nonsense.”

Before the doctor could stop him, the door suddenly opened. Chairman Wolfe, Silas, and Evelyn entered with the doctor.

Evelyn looked pale and fragile as she leaned against Silas’s chest. The moment Chairman Wolfe saw me awake, his face darkened.

“Good.” His voice was cold, “Since you’re awake, explain yourself.”

I frowned weakly. “What?”

The old man slammed his cane against the floor. “How dare you push Evelyn into the pool?”

I stared at him. For a moment, I wondered if I had heard wrong.

“I pushed her?”

Chairman Wolfe’s expression grew uglier. “Are you denying it?”

Before I could answer, Evelyn spoke softly.

“Grandpa…” Her eyes filled with tears. “Please don’t be angry. I’m sure Seraphina didn’t mean it. I know she was upset after seeing Silas kiss me but I don’t blame her.”

I almost applauded. What a wonderful performance.

One sentence and suddenly I became the jealous girl who tried to murder a pregnant woman.

Chairman Wolfe’s face softened immediately.

“You’re too kind.” Then he turned back to me, “Apologize.”

I stared at him and Silas. Silas never said a word.

My chest felt strangely empty.

“I won’t apologize,” I stated.

The old man’s face darkened. “What did you say?”

I slowly sat up despite the pain. “I said I won’t apologize. Evelyn pushed me. I didn’t push her. She dragged me into the pool.”

“Enough!” Silas snapped, “Seraphina, you need to stop.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “Stop what?”

“This jealousy.”

My fingers tightened around the hospital blanket.

“You left me to drown.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

For a second, something flickered across his face. Then Evelyn tightened her grip on his arm and it disappeared completely.

“Evelyn is pregnant.”

His answer was immediate. As though that explained everything. As though my life mattered less. My heart finally died completely.

Chairman Wolfe struck the floor with his cane again.

“Enough of this nonsense.” His eyes narrowed, “Apologize to Evelyn.”

“I'm not apologizing to someone who tried to kill me.”

Chairman Wolfe looked stunned. Perhaps because I had never disobeyed him before. Not once in ten years.

“Ridiculous! How dare you! Ungrateful girl!” The old man’s face turned red with fury.

Then he pointed toward the door. “Take her outside.”

The guards immediately stepped forward.

The doctor looked horrified. “Chairman Wolfe! Her condition is unstable. She can’t—”

“I said take her outside.” The old man’s voice thundered through the room.

The guards grabbed my arms and I closed my eyes. I was so tired and cold.

The doctor continued protesting desperately but nobody listened.

As the guards dragged me toward the door, I looked back one final time.

Silas stood beside Evelyn protectively. His arm around her shoulders. His attention was entirely focused on her.

The guards pulled me into the hallway. The hospital doors opened as cold air rushed toward me instantly.

Then Chairman Wolfe’s voice echoed behind us.

“Take her outside and make her kneel.”