She reached out her hand, wanting to grab onto him, but he swam past her.

In the state of floating and sinking, she saw him carrying the drenched Vanessa towards the shore, getting farther and farther away from her. That back figure was so firm and decisive.

In that moment, her body lost all strength, and she no longer had the energy to struggle. She slowly sank to the bottom of the pool… Many people gathered around the pool, all exclaiming in shock. They saw Theodore carrying Vanessa back to the shore and quickly reaching out to help her up.

TTheodore and his wife, the FitTzroy family, knelt by Vanessa’s unconscious body. “Vanessa, Vanessa, wake up…”

Theodore gasped for breath as he looked at the unconscious and unresponsive Vanessa. Just as he was about to administer first aid, he heard someone shout, “The young mistress has sunk! Why isn’t anyone saving her? She can’t swim!” The onlookers gasped collectively, and Theodore quickly turned his head. There was no sign of struggle on the shimmering water’s surface.

His heart sank, and he plunged into the water with a powerful dive.

The sunlight refracted into the water, and he saw Phoebe, motionless like a lifeless doll, sinking slowly to the bottom of the pool.

His heart raced, and he swam quickly to Phoebe’s side, lifting her up and kicking towards the surface.

When Phoebe was rescued, Vanessa had already coughed up water and regained consciousness.

On her pale face, it was unclear whether it was pool water or tears as she cried while looking at Theodore emerging from the swimming pool. “Theodore, I almost thought I wouldn’t see you again…”

She knew she had won. Theodore had saved her first.

But Theodore didn’t look at her. He laid Phoebe flat on the grass and began performing CPR, artificial respiration, repeatedly, dozens of times.

Just when everyone thought Phoebe was beyond saving, she suddenly coughed up two mouthfuls of water.

“She’s fine now, she’s fine once she’s expelled the water.” The crowd breathed a sigh of relief, and Mrs. Reynolds was still trembling in fear. “Thank goodness, quickly call an ambulance.”

Phoebe’s face turned pale. After spitting out the water, her eyes slowly opened a crack, weakly seeing Theodore’s anxious gaze.

She gently tugged at the corner of her lips and lost consciousness once more.

***

Two days later, Phoebe woke up in the hospital. The sunlight shone through the glass window in the late afternoon, dazzling.

There was no one else in the hospital ward besides her.

She stared at the floating dust in the air for a while, not knowing what she was thinking, or perhaps she wasn’t thinking anything at all, just lost in thought.

Then, the hospital room door was pushed open.

Phoebe’s eyelashes trembled, but she didn’t look at the person entering until she heard the voice of Mrs. Reynolds. “Phoebe, you’re awake. Thank goodness. We’ve been so worried these past two days.” Phoebe turned her head and saw Mrs. Reynolds looking at her with concern. For some reason, a sense of disappointment washed over her.

Phoebe’s voice was still hoarse, a remnant of swallowing water. “I’m sorry, Mother, for worrying you. Your birthday celebration…”

Mrs. Reynolds pulled a chair over and sat by the bedside. She looked at Phoebe and said, “As long as you’re okay, there’s no need to worry about anything else.” Phoebe bit her lip and remained silent.

Mrs. Reynolds grabbed an apple.

The apple was washed and sat down. As she peeled the apple, she said, “How did you and Vanessa fall from the second floor that day?”

There was no surveillance on the terrace, and the servants by the pool did not notice any movement upstairs. When the two fell into the pool, they were both startled. She had asked Vanessa about it, but Vanessa didn’t say anything, just red-eyed.

Phoebe gently closed her eyes, recalling Vanessa’s frantic appearance that day. Even now, she still felt scared in her heart. Vanessa would do anything for Theodore. Clearly, she had won.