[BONUS Chapter for reaching 1000 PS! Thank you all!🤍 ]

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[EVE]

Before I could fully process Cole’s dramatic rescue attempt, another splash followed. Victor. Of course. He was swimming toward me with determined strokes.

Then came a third splash—Daniel? My jaw nearly dropped as I watched him enter the water, his normally composed demeanor abandoned as he swam to my side.

And then, the unthinkable happened.

With a sharp cry, Sophie flailed into the pool, creating an eruption of water. My gaze snapped to Lina, who stood at the edge, casually brushing her hands together with a sweet, unbothered smile.

"Oops. My leg slipped," she said, her voice dripping with mock innocence.

No one dared to question her. If Lina Fay claimed she slipped, then she slipped. If she insisted Sophie jumped on her own and that Lina hadn’t kicked her, no one would dare argue—especially not with Cain and Leanna Lee present.

As Sophie sputtered in the water, ignored by the growing crowd of onlookers, I turned my attention to my new dilemma: three outstretched hands, each attached to a man waiting to pull me out of the pool.

"Eve, are you okay?" they asked in unison, their voices overlapping with concern.

I looked between them—Cole, Victor, and Daniel—each vying for my attention, their gazes filled with worry. The weight of their stares and the lingering whispers of the crowd made my cheeks burn hotter than before.

Great. Now I wasn’t just the girl who fell into the pool; I was the center of a very public, very awkward spectacle.

And, like the strong, independent woman I aspired to be, I ignored their outstretched hands and swam to the edge of the pool on my own. The water clung to me like a weighted shroud, but I refused to let my humiliation drown me further.

Before I could pull myself up, Cole was suddenly there. How had he moved so quickly? In mere seconds, he was beside me, intense eyes meeting mine as he reached down and lifted me effortlessly.

"Let’s go," he said, his voice steady but firm. "You need to get out of that wet dress before you catch a cold."

Without waiting for a response, he removed his coat and draped it around me, shielding me from the prying eyes of the crowd. The fabric was warm and carried his scent—woodsy, clean, and grounding. It was strangely comforting.

As he guided me through the gathered guests, his presence alone seemed to command the room. The crowd instinctively parted for him, their whispers dying out as if his unspoken authority had silenced them. It was as though my fall into the pool had been erased from memory; no one dared to stare or acknowledge my drenched state.

Instead, they diverted their eyes, feigning interest in their glasses of champagne or the opulent decorations of the yacht.

At the corner of my vision, I noticed Lina moving toward Daniel. She rested a hand on his arm and spoke softly to him before addressing the staff nearby. Explore hidden tales at novelbuddy

"Get them some clothes to change into," she instructed, her voice carrying just enough edge to ensure no one hesitated.

Then, she turned to manage the tension among the guests, redirecting conversations and smoothing over the ripples of unease as if nothing had happened.

It struck me then: Lina was a natural leader. Her composure, her charisma—all of it spoke to a strength that demanded respect. If anyone was fit to lead the Fay family, it was her.

No offense to Cole.

As Cole led me inside, I caught fleeting glimpses of Daniel and Victor. Their expressions were a mix of concern and frustration, as if they wished they could do more but were forced to remain still.

Cole, however, didn’t stop. His grip on my arm was firm but not forceful, his pace quick but not rushed. The further we moved from the crowd, the heavier the silence became, and yet it wasn’t suffocating. It felt . . . safe.

Finally, we reached one of the private rooms in the yacht’s luxurious interior. The door clicked shut behind us, and Cole turned to face me, his eyes scanning me for any sign of distress.

"Here," he said, his voice softer now as he reached for a towel and handed it to me. "Dry off and change. I’ll have the staff deliver you a new dress. Wait for me here."

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I hesitated for a moment, clutching the towel tightly. "Thank you," I murmured, my voice barely audible.

He paused, his gaze lingering on me for just a second longer than necessary. "You don’t have to thank me," he said quietly, before stepping out and closing the door behind him.

There was something unsettling about him—something dangerous that lingered just beneath the surface. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was up to something, and a strange, unexplainable fear crept over me.

Whatever he was planning, I knew that someone wouldn’t end well.

=== 🤍 ===

While Eve was changing into a dry dress, Cole stepped away from the crowd and called for Sophie in secret. His demeanor was unreadable, his words clipped, yet Sophie couldn’t suppress the thrill that coursed through her as she was summoned.

She followed the quiet instructions from a discreet staff member, her heart pounding as she was led through the lavish halls of the yacht. Her mind raced with possibilities. Why would Cole call for me? Was this it? Had he finally noticed me?

Unbeknownst to anyone else, Sophia’s earlier whispered reminder lingered in her ears: "Don’t forget to inject the drug into Cole when you get the chance. This is our only opportunity."

Who would have thought it would be Cole who created the perfect opportunity for Sophie to be alone with him?

Sophie nodded to herself as she walked, the small syringe safely tucked away between her breasts, hidden beneath her dress. It pressed against her skin like a secret weapon, a promise of everything she had dreamed of and more. Cole’s could finally be hers after this!