CHAPTER 290

Sophia’s POV

The icy shock of the water hit me like a jolt as I was hauled into the sea. I felt a moment of disorientation before instinct kicked in, and I began to thrash, desperately trying to stay afloat. The surface of the water, once my refuge, now seemed to close in around me. I heard Elijah’s voice through the chaos, his frenzied yell of my name barely reaching my ears before I plunged beneath the surface.

The water was dark and cold, swirling violently around me. I tried to swim, but the current was merciless, pulling me further down. My lungs screamed for air, and I felt my strength waning. My movements grew weaker, each stroke more futile against the relentless pull of the water.

Then, just as I felt my consciousness beginning to slip, strong arms wrapped around me, lifting me from the crushing depths. I was hoisted upwards, and my head broke through the surface. I gasped greedily for air, the sensation of oxygen filling my lungs almost overwhelming after the suffocating des