JAKE POV.
It wasn’t my birthday, but I came dressed like the celebrant anyway, stealing the spotlight as usual. It’s something I don’t need to stress over; I could get any woman in that hall if I wanted her, with just a snap of my fingers. Let’s be realistic—what else do women want? I was handsome, tall, rich, a multi-billionaire, and, of all importance, a pro in bed. But tonight, it wasn’t just anyone’s birthday, it was HER birthday—Victoria Langston. It’s crazy how I was obsessed with my enemy and rival, maybe it was just how much she hated me that drove me crazy every time she moaned my name in my bed. She sat not too far from my table, gisting and laughing politely, but I could tell how distracted she was from her frequent side glances. “Jake?” One of the models sitting close to me called out. “You’ve been so quiet. I’ve been watching you since you got in.” She bit her lip in a sexy way. “If you want, I could take the boredom away, Daddy.” She slid two of her fingers from my chest down there, but my mind was still set on Victoria. She glanced my way again and this time, the disgust on her face was evident. Her eyes rolled, and she let out a small grin. “Now that’s more like it!” I whispered to myself, enjoying her reactions. I turned to the model with my glass of wine. “Of course, my lady. What’s a celebration without a little fun.” I winked at her, causing her to blush uncontrollably. My voice was audible enough for Victoria to hear and it was intentional. Suddenly she stood up and walked to where I was, majestically in her long elegant black dress. “If it isn’t the great manager and heir of Shark Hotels. How pleased I am to have you here.” Her facial expression betrayed her complement. “Pleased indeed, my lady” I stood up and stretched out my hand for a handshake. “They say keep your friends close but your enemies even closer, especially when they are as hot as you. Why would I turn down your invitation?” I bit my lips and gave a wink. She slapped my hand away, “Do you really have no shame at all? She whispered, not wanting to draw attention. I closed the gap between us and whispered in her ears. “I can flirt with any woman in public. It doesn’t mean that anyone will find out about our affair if I do it to you.” “Whatever... You wouldn’t dare anyway. I’m sure your father would not want you to have anything to do with a Langston. She took two steps backward, revealing her engagement ring. “You keep forgetting I’m now engaged to your cousin. Don’t get too close in public.” She looked around before whispering. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening at our usual spot. We have… unfinished business.” “Unfinished business indeed…” I said with a smirk, watching her sway her hips in sexy positions while she walked away. I got really upset when she went to meet Michael, her fiancé. I never liked my cousin. My dad never liked his dad either. They’ve always been in competition, the Sharks and the Sterling hotels, two of the most powerful hotels. I had a strong feeling their marriage was being orchestrated to bring our hotel down from the top one in New York City. Ever since we took the top one from Sterling Hotel, they’ve been working extra hard and trying all means to get it back. **** A few hours later, Victoria was cutting her cake when I got a call from my dad and had to step out of the ballroom. We talked about tomorrow’s big event—hosting the vice president in one of our luxurious hotels. As I wrapped up the call, I saw thick smoke curling from the direction of the ballroom I had just left, up to the night sky. Soon, I began to hear screams. “Fire! Fire! Run!” Confusion gripped me as some guests began to run past me. The thought of Victoria made me run back to see If she was ok. “Victoria!” I shouted, shoving through the crowd. I scanned the whole crowd but she was nowhere to be found. As soon as I saw Michael hugging and holding a lady he had just saved, I felt relieved. I ran quickly to where they were and grabbed her. “Victoria! You're alive. I was sca…” I paused when I realized it wasn't Victoria, but Vivian—Victoria's younger sister. I grabbed Michael by his collar aggressively. “Where the hell is Victoria?!” I roared in anger, for fear that Victoria might still be inside the fire. Michael’s shocking expression made me realize he had forgotten about her. “The—the restroom! She had gone to use the restroom when it happened. I had no idea… I'm sorry…” I didn't let him finish before I hit him hard with my fist. “You left her there! How could you!” I was burning inside me. I looked at the building, it was completely covered in flames. It was hard for anyone to even go in or come out, but I needed to try. I couldn't leave Victoria there all alone. “The ambulance would take a bit longer to arrive. I have to go in.” I said, taking off my shirt to be able to move freely. “No! You'll die if you do that now!” Michael grabbed my hand trying to stop me. I flung his hands away. “You don't even love her. Why would you care?” **** The heat was intense, burning my skin, and the smoke suffocating me with every breath I took. Yet, I pushed forward. “Victoria!” I screamed, my voice filled with desperation. I refused to give up on her. I just couldn’t stop searching. Soon, I found her on the floor. “Victoria!” I felt a surge of relief. I ran to where she lay half-conscious. “I've found you,” my voice was shaky and my eyes flowed tears of joy. “You're safe now,” I reassured her, but deep down, I wasn't sure if I was safe. As I carried her, the heat scorched my face mercilessly. The pain was unbearable, and I began to feel dizzy. Yet, I didn't give up. Victoria was all I could think of and till she was safe, I fought every pain the fire launched to me. Finally, I managed to exit the building with Victoria still in my hands. The crowd rushed forward in panic towards us, and I managed to drop her down before I fell to the floor. I could barely hear anything, but her mother's frantic voice was the last thing I heard. “Thank God! You're alive…” I stopped hearing anything afterward. I was just relieved that at least—Victoria was alive. **** I woke up at the hospital, my vision slowly adjusting to the white room and white light in the room. The first person I saw was a female doctor adjusting my IV line. “You're finally awake, Mr. Blackwell,” her tone was relieved, yet cautious. I blinked repeatedly. My body felt heavy, and the pain was unbearable, especially my left face. I tried to adjust my sight to the blurry figure standing beside her when suddenly, I heard a familiar voice. “How could you have been so reckless?” His voice was sharp, and full of anger. “How could my only son, the heir to all my hotels and investments, risk his life for a woman?” “D…dad? What—what happened?” I tried to speak, but it took much more energy than I expected. My throat felt like sandpaper. “You! You happened, Jake.” His eyes were red and his voice was full of pain. “But I'm alive. Isn't that what matters now, father?” My voice was still shaky. “Alive?” He laughed bitterly. “Take a look at yourself, Jake.” He brought out a small mirror from his pocket and placed it on my bed. “No… Sir, please don't.” The doctor tried to stop him, making me curious about why she was trying to stop him. “Take a look at yourself!” He yelled out in anger. “No beauty would want a beast like you.” The words pierced through my heart like needles, and I wondered what my father was talking about. I hesitated for a while before picking up the mirror to see what my father was nagging about. “It can't be that bad,” I mumbled. The moment I saw my reflection, my breath stopped. I was terrified; the reflection staring back at me wasn’t mine at all. The left side of my face was completely scared, unrecognizable and irritating. I felt the pain even more now. “No!” I screamed, smashing the mirror to the wall. “That can’t be me… No…” It felt like a living nightmare; I wanted to wake up from it. “You’re a beast! A monster!” He spat. “With a face like yours, our guests would run for their lives at first glance. People will think a beast broke out of the wild.” The sting was unbearable, but he was right. My heart sank and I tried to hold my tears back from falling but I couldn’t. “You can’t take everything from me now, Father. I helped you attain the top position in New York City. We ranked number one within three months, remember?” I was desperate, I knew what my father was capable of. He stopped pacing in the room and walked closer to me. “Watch me, ” he snapped. “Jake Blackwell, you are no longer the manager and heir to Shark Hotels. You threw the privileges away the moment you stepped into that fire to be a hero.” He paused for a while before adding. “A hero's heart cannot rule a kingdom built on power and profit. You have to keep stepping on other people to get to the top. Until you realize that… you’re not worthy.” With that, he stumbled out of the room. The disappointment was palpable, and I felt ashamed for letting my father down. “Father… wait…” I tried to get up and follow him, desperate, but my body betrayed me. With every ounce of strength I used to push forward, the pain was unbearably increasing. The doctor stepped closer. “ Jake, I know this is too much to handle right now, but you’re still alive… you’re a hero.” Her voice was soft and calm, but not enough to comfort me. “Hero? Are you mocking me, Doctor?” I looked at her with red piercing eyes, full of pain, anger, and tears. “No… Of Course not! You saved Victoria Langston, and she’s currently in our hospital now, recovering.” She placed her hand on my shoulder. “I don’t think she’d be alive now if it wasn’t for you.” “Victoria?” Her name triggered something in me. A mixture of Anger, desperation, and hope. “Where is she? Please… take me to her.” “I can’t, Sir. You need your rest.” She was reluctant. I held her two hands, begging her seriously. “It’s urgent, I beg you. Please… help me. I need to tell her something really important. I need to see her.” After a long pause, she finally agreed. “Fine… but be quick. You’re not fully recovered yet, yourself. The journey felt like an eternity. My legs were heavy, but I still kept pushing forward. My breath was rapid and it was hard to get to Victoria, but the doctor assisted me till we got to her room. A familiar face made me pause. Vivian, Victoria’s sister, was coming out of the room when I arrived. “Where’s Victoria? I need to see her.” I tried to go in, but she stopped me. “Stop! Victoria doesn’t wanna see anyone.” I paused. “But I’m not anyone. I saved her life, remember? Leave the way…” I tried to force my way in with my little strength. “Her words were clear. Thank you for saving her life… but you remain a Blackwell. Victoria said she doesn’t wanna see you either, Jake Blackwell.” Her tone was full of so much disdain and irritation. It was at that moment it occurred to me how foolish I was, risking my own life for my enemy, my rival, my competitor. I understood what my father said, I was too weak, too stupid. With a broken heart, I turned around not wanting to cause more problems, and the doctor followed me feeling pity towards me. **** As I sat down on my hospital bed, I clenched my fist hard. Pain, anger, and regret surged within me, and tears flowed freely from my eyes. “What was I even thinking? Why did I think it’ll matter? Langston? There’s no way I have to go through this much pain for her.” My voice was shaking and the tears didn’t stop dripping. The doctor sat in front of me “Jake, you’re alive today is what matters. Please…” “No! I died in that fire. They created a new me. What’s left now is a monster. The monster they turned me into.” My voice was cold. “Doctor… Please, leave me. I need my space to think.” She looked at me, her eyes full of pity. “Okay, but please… don’t hesitate to send for me if you ever need me.” With that, she left. Alone in the room, I stared at the shattered mirror on the floor. My ugly reflection shattered me. I clenched my fist and ground my teeth hard. They created this monster.” I said, looking at my reflection. “But it’s not over yet until I’ve gotten my revenge on every single one of them. Victoria Langston, I’ll make sure you all pay. This is my rebirth, now let me show you all the monster you’ve unleashed!”VIVIAN POV.I watched my mother’s every move from the balcony. She stood there, watching the night sky as if they held the solution to her problems. I joined her, clutching the glass of Champagne I held, and sipping little by little.“Don’t overthink yourself, mother. She’ll be fine.”Her head turned to me, her eyes red and soaked with tears. “Of course, I know she will. But, Vivian, what exactly were you thinking? Do you want people to start talking?”My breath seized for a while. How did she know? “I don’t know what you’re talking about, mother.” I took a sip of my champagne, feigning ignorance. Her voice became cold. “Don’t play dumb with me. I told you to stay away from him, but you just don’t listen!”A pang of relief clouded me. For a moment, I thought she caught me. “I said I don’t know what you’re talking about! Do you have proof that I was with him?” I shot back, now losing my cool.“Oh! Really? Then how come you were with Michael during the fire? He was so busy with you th
MRS. LANGSTON POV. “I won't be able to make it. Something came up.” The words hit me like a slap. I held my phone tightly. “David, today is your daughter's wedding. You can't keep running away from your fami…”“I'm not running away!” He cut me short. His tone was firm and full of anger. “I already called the hospital to check in, and they said she's doing fine. Didn't you say it was a minor scratch?” I paused for a while, swallowing hard. He mustn't know about her condition yet. “Ye—yes,” I lied. “But you haven't seen her since the accident. Don't you care how she feels?”There was a long pause between us, heavy and suffocating. “It's not as simple as you think,” he said, his voice softening.“Then make it simple! Do you want people to talk? She's still your daughter, David! She loves you…”“Stop! Just stop.” His voice cracked, a mixture of pain and frustration. “Does she know the truth yet? Will she still love me after finding out the truth?”The question hit me like a blow to my
VIVIAN POV.I couldn’t let my sister take everything away from me. Not this time. I had the perfect plan–flawless, no one saw it coming. I stayed close to the door, eavesdropping on my mother's conversation with her. As soon as my mother turned to leave, I hid in one of the adjacent rooms and waited till mom was completely gone. Immediately, I approached Victoria. She sat alone there, gazing at the window like a caged bird that wanted to fly away–a bride in distress. I almost pitied her–almost. But my own ambitions were darker. I knelt before her, holding her trembling hands. Her teary eyes met mine.“Sis, you’re the only one who sees my pain. No one here understands me.” She whispered. For a moment, I almost laughed at how easily she trusted me. “Shh,” I cooed, wiping the drop of tears from her eyes with my hand. “It’s okay, sis. I understand you, and that’s why I’ve come to help you today.” “Help–help me. How?” Her voice cracked.I stood and paced the room, feigning deep though
VICTORIA POV.I ran without looking back, my breath heavy, my heart pounding as if it was about to leap out of my chest. The scarf I’d wrapped around my head barely cooperated with my escape. It barely stayed in place as I stumbled down the narrow stairs. My legs trembled under the weight of what Vivian had said, making my heart scream for more answers, but there was no time. Fear gripped me as I reached the gates. “Just walk,” I whispered. “Don’t panic, don’t think or look back now, just go.”I was unsure of which direction to take. From my side view, I saw a muscular man with matching black shirt and black pants leaning against a car. I wondered if he was the stranger waiting to help me escape, but I was unsure and couldn’t trust anyone at that point. I pretended to walk past him, sure that he would approach me if he was the one. Suddenly, he stepped forward. “Miss. Miss!” He called out. “I’m over here.” “Who are you?” I managed to whisper. “I’m Mike. Vivian sent me here to wa
VICTORIA POV.“Mike, you’re joking right?” My voice wavered as I stared at him. He stood tall by the door with his arms crossed, as if preventing me from running away from this harsh reality he’d just revealed. “What sort of games are you playing with me?” “Games?” He tilted his head. “You think this—all this is a joke?” His voice echoed disbelief. “I just helped you escape your wedding. I got you out so you could flee to your real family. Wasn’t that what you asked for?” His brows furrowed. “Yes—but…” “But what?” He cut me short. “You should be thanking me instead, not stand there acting all high and mighty.” His lips curled into a sneer. His words sliced through me sharp like a blade. My heart sank from the seriousness on his face, making me realize that he meant his words. “You forgot so much, sister.” Hazel’s trembling voice broke my focus. She stood a few feet from me with red rimmed eyes locked on me. “I’d have never thought that day would come when you’d reject your own fa
LIZ (VICTORIA) POV.I woke up to a cold splash on my face. I gasped, sitting up, using my fingers to wipe water off my cheeks. My surroundings slowly came back into focus as it hit me that it was reality and not a dream at all. “Good morning,” she said calmly, her face hovering close to mine. Her deep brown eyes stared at me, framed by long lashes that seemed to be weighed down by sadness. They depicted not just sadness but experience—experience of hardship and silent battles. I blinked at her, still struggling to shake off the sleepy haze. “Good morning,” I muttered.Hazel just continued staring at me, as if trying to pierce through my mind. I glanced forward, a small plate of rice and chicken catching my attention.“Did you…?” I trailed off, my eyes wandering. My throat suddenly felt dry so I swallowed saliva.“Eat up. You don't want it getting cold.” she said, motioning her head towards the direction of the food. I crawled towards it, my stomach growling impatiently. It wasn’t
LIZ(VICTORIA) POV.“No! I’m not doing it!” I yelled, standing in the mansion’s sitting room, angrily. “You can’t make me!”Hazel didn’t flinch. She crossed her arms, her voice low yet sharp. “You have no choice, Sis. You wanna starve? How else are you gonna feed?”“I don’t care! I’m not cleaning toilets, washing dirty dishes, or scrubbing floors!” My voice cracked.Hazel stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. “Now hear yourself clearly, Liz. What’s your next plan then, huh? You gonna run away? Again?”“Maybe I will!” I snapped, tossing the maid uniform back to her. “Don’t follow me!” I said firmly. I stormed past her, my direction clear. My steps, firm and intentional—each a rebellion against the life being forced upon me. “Liz! Stop right there!” Hazel’s voice rang out behind me, but I didn’t turn back. My eyes fixed on the gate. “Stop following me!” I shouted, quickening up my pace. “Leave me alone!”Hazel caught up, grabbing my arm and spinning me around—I almost tripped. “You have
LIZ POV. Then I saw him. He stood right in front of me, shirtless. The faint glow of light from the hallway caught on the water dripping from his skin. A towel was wrapped loosely around his waist, making it obvious to me that he had just stepped out of the shower. I couldn’t stop my gaze. I started from his feet, moving slowly up. Drops of water slid lazily down his chiseled abs, making the air around me feel heavier. His body looked like it was sculpted gently into perfection. I swallowed hard as my eyes went upward to his face, but his piercing eyes burned into mine with a force that made my heart skip. He had a mask on, but those eyes were sharp. I wanted to look away, but it was hard. A force—an invisible pull—urged me forward. My hands trembled as they moved forward to feel if what I was seeing was real. Before I could, he grabbed my wrist.“Don’t,” he growled. His deep voice sent shivers down my spine. His hands went to my face, his touch—tender. My breath hitched as his
JAKE POV. I’d barely let Charles’ body heat fade from his chair when Audrina finally stood up. She’d been silent the whole time, perched at the far end of the boardroom table. Her hands were folded neatly on the glossy surface, back straight, posture perfect. But I saw through it. She wasn’t here. She felt distant. She cleared her throat, soft but deliberate, commanding just enough attention to shift every eye in the room her way. When she spoke, her voice was crisp, measured, every word sharp and professional as she spoke.“Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honor that I formally welcome back the man who built Shark Hotels into a global luxury powerhouse. The man who set the gold standard across all our New York branches and beyond…”Her eyes flicked to mine.“…Jake Blackwell has officially resumed his position as General Manager for all Shark Hotel branches across New York City and all associated regions across the country.”She paused for a while, then she smiled. “Welcome b
JAKE POV. The second I stepped into the hotel lobby, everything froze. Conversations cut off mid-sentence. Phones slipped. A pen fell to the floor somewhere near the reception desk. Dozens of eyes snapped toward me, wide and startled—like they’d just seen a ghost.I didn’t stop walking. My steps were calm and measured. Silence stretched a few more seconds before I cleared my throat.“Is that how you welcome your general manager back?” I asked, voice sharp enough to slice through the tension in the air.Everyone scrambled to stand. “G-Good morning, sir!” they echoed, their voices shaky.I didn’t respond. A commotion at the far end of the reception desk caught my attention. A man, who seemed to be around his forties, stood with one of the receptionists, slamming his hand on her desk like he commanded the hotel.“No, I’m not taking this! That room’s always mine! Give it to me!” he shouted.“Please, sir,” the receptionist said, her voice steady. “Someone else already checked in earlier.
JAKE POV. That morning? I woke up with a whole new feeling. There was this weird feeling in my chest. Nerves? Maybe. But I also felt alive. I had a long hot shower, stepped out and picked my best suit—it was a navy-blue suit. I hadn’t worn it since the whole tragic incident. I slid into it, buttoning it up while staring at my reflection in my mirror. Then I heard a knock on my door. I grabbed my mask from the table and put it on immediately. It had already become a habit. As soon as I opened the door to see who it was, I froze. Liz stood there in her maid uniform, head bowed, holding a food tray. My heart kicked hard. I didn’t understand why that happened. “Good morning, sir,” she said in a low tone, her voice calm. “Do you mind if I come in for just a few seconds, sir? I have something to say.” Her voice cracked near the end. She sounded scared. Not of me, exactly… just uncertain. Like she’d been rehearsing those words all morning. I stepped aside. “Sure. Come in.” She walked
JAKE POVI left the living room in rage, my hands clenched into fists as I fought back tears in my eyes. But no matter how much I tried, a few drops of tears still spilled. Thankfully, my mask hid them from anyone who might be watching.Each time the realization struck me that no one—not even my own mother gave a damn about me, it pierced my heart like needles. They used me all this while. I was nothing but a tool to build their hotel up for them. I hurried my steps as soon as I got to the hallway; I was headed to my room when suddenly, I heard footsteps from behind me. “Stop right there, son.” My body stiffened at the sound of her voice. I didn’t have to turn around to know it was her. I exhaled sharply, controlling my tone. “I already said I’m not doing it, Mom. What else do you want from me?”“Jake, try to understand. The company’s ranking has dropped. Soon, it won’t even be in the top five in New York anymore. I scoffed, shaking my head. “I don’t care! Jesus, why aren’t you g
LIZ POV. Jake shot up from his seat, his hand stretched toward our direction as if to stop her. “Mom, no. She’s not the one.”Mrs. Blackwell’s brows furrowed, and she blinked twice. “Oh, dear lord.” She let out a heavy sigh, placing a hand on her chest. “Then who the hell is she, and why is she here?” Jake exhaled. “She just has a slight resemblance to her. That’s all. She’s not who you think.” A slight resemblance? My stomach twisted as I stared at them. Who the hell was this person they kept talking about?Mrs. Blackwell scoffed, taking a step closer. “This ain’t no slight resemblance.” Her cold stare sent shivers down my spine. “Why did you choose to work here in the first place?”I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, Jake interrupted.“Mom—”“No!” She turned on him angrily. “I won’t have this! I don’t want a damn resemblance of an enemy in this house.” Enemy? The word struck me like lightning. “I—I don’t understand,” I stammered. My voice felt small, weak. “You don’t
LIZ POV. The next morning, I woke up to an empty room. I shot up realizing that I was late. Why didn’t they wake me up? I wondered as I made my way to my room. Before I could open the door, thoughts of Hazel still being mad at me crossed my mind. But knowing her, she’d probably be drowning in chores by now. I hurried inside, took my fastest shower, and wore my uniform quickly. My stomach was already crying from hunger by the time I was done, so I headed straight to the kitchen. As soon as I got to the kitchen, the smell of delicious food made me salivate. The chef’s focus was on the food, so he didn’t notice my presence.“Good morning,” I greeted, walking in.The chef turned from the stove, arching a brow. “You’re late.”“I know,” I muttered.“You’ve gotta be careful around here now that the whole family’s back,” he warned, flipping something on the pan. I nodded absently. My thoughts were on food. I was about to grab a clean plate when suddenly, he stopped me.“Dishes first,” he
LIZ POV.“I can explain!”Hazel’s jaw tightened and her fist clenched tight. “Start explaining!” I opened my mouth, but no words came out. No excuse, not even a lie could form in my head. Before I could react, Hazel grabbed a fistful of my hair and pulled hard. “You stubborn little thing. You're going to get us in trouble again.” She snapped. “Wait, wait! Hazel…” I gasped, gripping her fist but she wouldn’t let go. Then an idea struck my mind. I stopped struggling. My body went limp, slumping forward in her grasp like life had left me. Hazel froze. “Liz?”I stayed still, my breathing slow and shallow. Her fingers loosened slightly. “You better not be playing games with me now, Liz.” I still didn’t move. My acting skills were perfect. I needed enough time for her to get distracted so I could run. I could see her hesitation shift to panic. Then she exhaled sharply, tapping my cheek. When I didn’t react, she began to panic. “My God! Liz, get up please.” Her voice cracked. “Water,
LIZ POV. I should be terrified. I was terrified. This same man had tried to kill me, not once—twice! But this—this felt different. I felt his breath on my neck, and I shivered. It wasn’t from fear but something deeper, something I wasn’t ready to name. At that moment, I felt something hard. It pressed right against my stomach causing my breath to hitch. My legs clenched and a low heat curled inside me. What was that?I swallowed hard. I could tell—I could tell he was already hard and it was making me wet too. His hesitation made me restless. I closed my eyes, feeling a strange pull—like déjà vu. I leaned in before I could stop myself, pressing against him. What are you doing, Liz? My head screamed at me to run, but my body betrayed me—it wanted his touch even more. A moan slipped from my lips. “Jake…” Do it! My mind urged. Kiss me!“Fuck it,” he growled. He gripped my neck gently, tilting my head back. His lips hovering just above mine. Every nerve on my body was on fire. His
JAKE POV.My body was unsteady as I ran towards her, my legs unstable. The alcohol made my movement sluggish but I didn’t stop. My vision flickered between blurry and clear. She shielded herself with her hands, trying to say something—but I didn’t care, I couldn’t even hear anything. I was driven by an uncontrollable rage. As soon as I got to her, I wrapped my fingers around her throat. “Die, you bitch!” I snarled. She struggled, her nails clawing at my wrist. “S—stop!” Her voice choked desperately, but it only fueled my rage. “You have to die!” I said, squeezing harder. She struggled, trying to save herself but she was too weak compared to me. “Nobody can save you now,” I growled. “I saved you before. You owe me your life, and I’m finally here to take it back.” In a blind rage, I pushed her into the pool. She stumbled back, her fingers holding onto my shirt. Before I could react, she pulled me in with her. The water hit me like a slap on my face—cold. It shocked my system, a