Chapter 5
Pain jolted Selena awake. She was back at the Smith estate.
William sat beside the bed, his expression shadowed and dangerous. “What did you mean just now—‘leave'?" Selena's heart gave a violent jolt. Her voice came out hoarse as she tried to play dumb. “Leave? What are you talking about? I must’ve been delirious with fever… just talking nonsense.”
William studied her in silence for a long time. At last, he seemed convinced and loosened his grip. “You should’ve told me you were on your period. Why would you stay in the lake that long?”
Selena managed a weak smile. “If going into the lake could earn her forgiveness for you, I’d rather not say a word.”
His expression darkened, complicated and unreadable. “Do you really like me that much?” he asked again.
Her lashes lowered.
It wasn’t love.
She only wanted to preserve the alliance between their families. Once Anna returned, she could finally disappear from his world.
The door burst open. Alice stepped in. “William, when are we heading out for the fishing trip?”
Then she noticed Selena was awake and feigned surprise. “Mrs. Melford, how are you feeling?”
Before Selena could answer, Alice smiled sweetly. “I only said those things in anger last time. I didn’t expect William to actually throw you into the freezing lake. That was… unfortunate.”
“I heard you even donated blood for me. Why don’t you join us for the fishing trip? Think of it as my apology.”
Selena opened her mouth to refuse, but Alice had already taken her hand warmly. “Don’t say no. I already talked to William.”
William gave Selena a look that clearly meant Don’t ruin the mood.
So in the end, she nodded.
The luxury yacht glided over the sea, the air thick with salt.
Alice clung to William the entire time—giggling, demanding he feed her fruit, reapply her sunscreen, even whining until he carried her to the railing to admire the view.
Selena stood quietly on the deck, eyes on the endless horizon, as if none of it concerned her.
When William stepped away to take a call, Alice finally approached her. “Sometimes I really don’t understand you,” she said suddenly.
Selena turned her head.
Alice narrowed her eyes. “Everyone in our circle says you adore William, that you’d do anything for him. But isn’t love supposed to come with a little… possession?”
“I framed you—you didn’t react. He threw you into an icy lake—you didn’t react. Even now, watching me in his arms—you still don’t react.”
She leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper. “Do you even love him at all?”
Selena’s lips curved faintly. Alice wasn’t wrong—she didn’t love William.
But before she could say it, a massive wave surged out of nowhere.
“Ah—!”
Both women lost their footing and were swept into the sea.
The freezing water swallowed them whole. The yacht’s metal edge tore deep gashes along their arms, and blood bled quickly into the water.
“Man overboard! Help! Someone fell in!”
The deck erupted in chaos. Rescue divers plunged into the sea, but surfaced moments later, faces grim. “Their blood will attract sharks soon! They fell in different directions—we can only save one first!”
William’s face went pale. His eyes darted wildly across the waves.
On one side, Alice was thrashing desperately. On the other, Selena was being carried farther and farther away by the current.
“Save Alice first!” he roared.
By the time Selena heard it, her lungs were already burning with swallowed seawater.
She watched the rescuers swim toward Alice, watched the panic on William’s face, and gave a bitter, broken smile before closing her eyes.
She should have known.
To him, she would always be the one left behind.
Saltwater filled her lungs. Her consciousness began to fade.
Through the haze, a dark shadow rushed toward her.
A shark.
Pain tore through her leg—sharp, searing. Her last memory was of the blue water turning red, spreading wider and wider until everything went dark.