The wind at the pier was chilly, brushing against my skin, yet I barely noticed. The yacht floated gently, adorned with delicate lights and scattered roses. It looked peaceful… romantic. I pushed Logan’s words aside. They couldn’t be true.
Clutching the small gift box, I stepped forward. “Happy anniversary,” I murmured softly.
Then suddenly—
A shove.
The world tilted, and icy water swallowed me.
I tried to kick upward, but my limbs felt heavy, unresponsive. Panic clawed at my chest. The memory of past trauma — the drowning I had barely survived years ago — resurfaced, dragging me deeper into fear. My lungs burned. The cold wrapped around me, pulling me into darkness.
My vision blurred. Everything faded.
Then I sensed movement above me. A splash. Someone had jumped in.
For a moment, it felt like history repeating itself. Four years ago, during a violent storm, someone had pulled me from the sea — a stranger who became my husband. I remembered the warmth of his grip, the reassurance in his voice, the comfort that made me fall for him.
Now, strong arms circled me again.
My fading consciousness clung to that thought.
If he was saving me… then Logan must be wrong. Sebastian cares about me.
Distant voices reached me, faint but clear enough.
“Candela, have you lost your mind? You could’ve killed her pushing her like that!”
Candela.
Logan’s warning echoed in my mind.
“I want her gone,” Candela snapped angrily. “Why won’t you just finish it? Four years of pretending is enough. I’m tired of waiting.”
My heart froze.
“I told you I can’t yet,” Sebastian replied, irritation lacing his voice. “I still need her company… her money. I have debts to clear. Once everything is under my name, I’ll return to my family. Then my father will take me back.”
Candela let out a bitter laugh. “Or is it because you’ve grown attached?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he shot back. “I’ve never loved her. You’re the one I care about. She’s just a means to an end. So stop acting recklessly until this is over.”
Candela sighed. “Fine.”
A door slammed.
Silence followed, and darkness claimed me completely.
The next thing I heard was a steady beeping sound. My eyes slowly opened, the blurry shapes forming into a hospital room.
Beside me sat Sebastian.
His face showed concern, worry etched perfectly — the image of a devoted husband. Anyone would’ve believed him.
But not me.