Chapter 3

The icy seawater flooded my mouth and nose, like it was trying to drag me under. I thrashed desperately, my arms flailing in panic as I fought to break the surface.

Wave after wave kept pounding my body, and I could barely hang on. I felt my strength slipping away.

Just then, a floodlight pierced the darkness, the roar of an engine echoing over the waves.

"Liv!" Chloe's desperate voice cut through the crashing surf.

I caught sight of Chloe standing on her family's billion-dollar luxury yacht, her face twisted with worry as she searched for me among the waves.

"Get the rescue team in—now!" Chloe commanded, wasting no time.

A crew of professional rescuers dove straight into the sea, swimming toward me with expert speed. Before I knew it, they'd hauled me safely aboard the yacht.

Chloe instantly told the butler to bring me a warm blanket and a shawl.

She softly wrapped the blanket around my shoulders, her voice gentle and caring. "Sweetie, the butler will bring you whatever you need to warm up. Just stay here and wait for me.

"Alex is the absolute worst. I swear, I'm going to teach those two a real lesson right now."

I didn't even get a chance to stop her. Chloe had already whirled around and snapped, "Full speed ahead and catch up to that flashy yacht in front!"

The yacht's engines thundered, and we sped off straight toward Alex's boat.

Chloe forced Alex's show-off yacht to a halt right in the middle of the ocean, and then strutted onto the deck like she totally ran the place.

My heart skipped a beat. I was terrified Chloe was about to blow things up and make a scene that would be impossible to clean up.

Not even bothering with the warm clothes and extra shoes the butler had brought, I scrambled after Chloe—barefoot and shivering inside my blanket—hurrying back to Alex's yacht.

On the deck, Alex and Sophia were wrapped up in each other, looking all cozy and lovey-dovey.

Chloe stormed over and yanked them apart, her voice sharp as she demanded, "Who the hell pushed Liv into the ocean?"

Her eyes locked onto Alex, her presence so commanding that everyone froze in place.

No one dared mess with Chloe. Alex just frowned, looking totally clueless about what had just happened.

Chloe let out a scornful laugh, her tone full of contempt. "Seriously, Alex, you shameless jerk! While you're busy snuggling up to your side chick, your official girlfriend is out there, nearly getting swallowed by the ocean.

"Wouldn't surprise me if one of your homewreckers tried to take Liv out just to claw her way to the top."

Sophia tried to smooth things over, giving a polite smile. "Ms. Sinclair, I think there's been a misunderstanding. Alex and I are childhood friends. We've always been close, so sometimes we might cross boundaries without even realizing it.

"Honestly, everyone was just joking around. Maybe Ms. Reed lost her balance and ended up falling into the sea herself while we were all having fun.

"I came here today to wish Alex well, and I specially brought Ms. Reed a custom-made wedding dress as a congratulatory gift for her wedding."

Chloe, never one to mince words, snapped back, "Save your two-faced act. That trick might fool Alex, but it doesn't work on me."

I stepped up and gently tugged Chloe's sleeve. "Chloe, don't let them get to you. Seriously, they're not worth ruining your mood over."

Just then, Alex finally realized I was standing behind Chloe, soaked to the skin and huddled in a blanket.

The sun was sinking low, and the wind off the water was freezing. I couldn't help but shiver.

The cold wind seemed to snap Alex out of his daze.

He rushed over and wrapped me in his arms, his voice low and reassuring, like he always did when trying to sweet-talk me. "Liv, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. You're always so understanding. You wouldn't stay mad at me, would you?"

Alex assumed I'd cave just like before, let his words work their usual magic.

But I wasn't falling for that anymore. I pushed him away, stepped behind Chloe, and grabbed her hand. "Let's go," I said.

Chloe squeezed my hand, her face full of sorrow. "You should've distanced yourself from these people ages ago. Just look at Alex and the parasites he hangs out with; you know this whole crowd is toxic."

Before we left, Chloe gave the wedding dress Sophia had gifted me one final, scornful glance, and then just chucked it into the sea without a second thought.

The gesture was blatant. Sophia's face went sheet-white, completely humiliated in front of everyone.

As I was about to leave, Alex rushed forward, trying to justify himself. "Liv, please, just hear me out. Sophia's like a little sister to me. I'm just taking care of her."

I couldn't help but snort. Seriously? That was his excuse? Sophia was a grown woman of 25, and he'd literally just been feeding her cake moments before.

Then he let her declare her love at our engagement party, and had the audacity to respond to her, in front of everyone.

I twisted my lips into a cold smile. "Let's be real, Alex. For the last four years, I was nothing but Sophia's substitute to you."

Alex faltered, his silence giving me all the answer I needed.