Water was all around her.
Overwhelming her and forcing their way into her orifices.
Alessia Fisher's most fatal weakness was that she couldn't swim.
Now that she had fallen into the sea, the salty sea water was starting to get into her lungs.
The sea in early spring was bone-chillingly cold and the suffocating fear gradually enveloped her.
At this moment, a crowd thronged the deck of the ship.
Most of the guests at tonight's party were the young heirs of wealthy families with power.
The net worth of twenty-or-so people present amounted to the entire city's wealth, if not more.
But there was always going to be someone richer. And in this case, it was the Bennett Group.
At this moment, a storm rose on the surface of the sea. Bean-sized raindrops fell from the sky, heralding heavy rain that came down a few seconds after.
The two figures that had fallen into the sea were constantly struggling.
"Help..."
"Save me..."
The two cries for help were almost inaudible in the heavy rain.
A tall and straight man suddenly rushed out of the crowd.
When his eyes fell on the two struggling people in the sea, his handsome face was full of panic.
He didn't even have time to take off his suit before diving into the cold sea.
The rain pelted down on the surface of the sea, blurring his vision. Despite having exerted a great deal of effort, he could only save one of them.
"Veronica! Veronica, wake up..."
The man gasped and shouted anxiously at the unconscious woman in his arms, regardless of his current state.
But he was oblivious to the other woman still flailing about in the sea...
At this time, an anxious female voice suddenly shouted in the crowd.
"Where is Alessia? She was called out here by Veronica! Where is she?"
"Oh, gosh! Alessia... must have fallen too!"
Someone shouted in a panic, which spread throughout the crowd like a virus.
In the distance, the blinding lightning and the roaring thunder could not wait to tear the whole night apart along with the dark sea.
Everyone trained their eyes on the dark and rough sea, but there was no longer any sign of another person.
The first woman who'd said that Alessia might have fallen into the sea suddenly burst into tears.
"Alessia can't swim!"
At this moment, the man holding Veronica suddenly stiffened.
Indeed, he had seen Alessia just now.
At the exact moment, the woman's cry pierced the air, another person had jumped into the sea.
By the time Alessia was rescued, Veronica had already coughed out water and woke up.
With tears, or rain masquerading as tears, no one could tell, she gazed at the two men standing before her with a sorrowful expression on her pallid face.
"Stephen..."
After wailing and hollering, she extended her arms and enfolded Stephen Burton, pressing her pale face into the embrace of the man who was soaked but still striking and charming.
Stephen's eyebrows furrowed slightly. His thoughts remained obscure, but his hands gradually wrapped around the woman's waist and gently tightened.
"It's okay. You're all right now."
There were obvious traces of happiness in his gentle voice and the massive relief of having survived a tragedy.
Seeing this, the people on the deck whispered to each other.
They all turned to look at Alessia who had just been rescued.
Chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth were administered to her. After more than a dozen attempts, she finally coughed and exhibited indications of respiration.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly and her eyes opened weakly.
However dizzy she was, she could still clearly glimpse the two people hugging each other beside her.
One corner of her lips rose faintly. Raindrops slapped against her pale face, and she lost her consciousness again.
—
Alessia had had a close brush with death.
When she woke up, it was noon three days later. There was no one in the ward except her.
The bright white light shone through the window. Her fatigued but beautiful eyes stared at the dust participles floating around in the ward. Her expression was indifferent and no one knew what she was thinking.
In the end, she got up alone and trudged weakly to the bathroom.
Thinking of the bright sunshine outside, she decided to go out for a walk.
Her physical health might not be in the best condition, but she couldn't stand another minute in this cold ward.
In the park of the hospital.
Alessia was only wearing a thin hospital gown. Although the sun was warm, it was still a little cold.
She found a quiet place and watched the flowering trees in front of her. There were already some buds waiting to bloom.
She hugged her fragile but flinty body.
She had a very beautiful face, but it was a pity that her beautiful features rarely looked alive.
However, this had never affected her charm. She just stood there quietly, with white skin and black hair. Her unique charm stemmed from an air of solitude and an otherworldly presence.
She took a deep breath and felt somewhat better. That was when she realized a person standing in front of her.
Veronica Fisher clutched a coffee cup in her grasp. Her lengthy, curly locks cascaded over her shoulders, while her eyes gleamed and her teeth shone white. She was donning a jacket that appeared to be tailored for a man.
As Veronica gazed upon Alessia's frigid and exquisite countenance, her detached and haughty demeanor, Veronica's heart seethed with envy, causing her to grit her teeth in frustration.
Nonetheless, upon observing Alessia's frailty, Veronica's expression suddenly transformed into a smug grin, as if she was flaunting her superiority. She extended her arm and tugged the jacket closer to her body.
Alessia looked at her with no emotion in her eyes. "For God's sake, why am I seeing you everywhere?"
Veronica raised her eyebrows and walked slowly toward her. Alessia's sickly pallor and thin body put a bright smile on her face.
She came up to Alessia and taunted.
"Are you not going to concede defeat yet? My dear sister, even the man whom you love with all your heart is now enamored with me."
