Chapter 321

Evelyn Sinclair's thoughts raced. What kind of ridiculous game was this? Were they trying to torture her? Ethan Caldwell grabbed the diving gear from the speedboat and began suiting up.

Evelyn froze. Ethan studied her expression carefully. "Ms. Sterling," he said slowly, "did you plan to dive yourself? There's no way out—"

"I can't swim," Evelyn blurted out.

The silence stretched for ten excruciating seconds as Ethan processed this revelation. Adrian Blackwood, the renowned explorer, had spoken of Evelyn like she was invincible. Yet here she was, admitting she couldn't perform the most basic water survival skill.

Evelyn blinked up at him, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Ethan paused mid-motion. "Then... just wait here." When Evelyn nodded solemnly, he finished securing his wetsuit and executed a perfect dive, barely disturbing the water's surface.

True to his legendary explorer reputation.

Four minutes passed. The ocean remained eerily still.

No bubbles. No movement.

Evelyn's fingers dug into the boat's edge as memories from three years ago flooded back...

The empty swimming pool echoed with her solitary strokes.

Her scheduled coach had canceled last minute. Instead, tattoo-covered men appeared, their gazes predatory as they zeroed in on her.

"You're the one who saved that soldier," the leader spat.

Evelyn's blood ran cold. Underground fight club members. Here for revenge.

Though they'd let her and Nathan go that day, could terrorists ever be trusted?

When she didn't respond, one yanked her hair violently, shoving her face underwater.

Evelyn thrashed wildly. Another man pulled her legs down, dragging her deeper. No chance to surface. No air.

Helpless. Powerless.

One minute. Two. Seven?

Water filled her lungs. Her strength ebbed away.

Consciousness faded. Heartbeat slowed. Muffled voices above the surface sounded distant.

A heavy shroud wrapped around her, pulling her into suffocating darkness.

The water's chill seeped into her bones.

Death felt closer underwater. More intimate.

Eventually, she stopped moving.

The men released her.

Face-down, she floated like discarded trash. Satisfied with their work, they left.

Never had Evelyn felt so cold.

The water's grip was absolute, paralyzing.

Just as she surrendered, strong hands hauled her up.

Warm lips sealed over hers, breathing life back into her frozen body. That familiar scent—him.

Tears mixed with pool water as realization struck. He'd saved her again.

How could she ever repay him? In that moment, Evelyn knew she wanted to marry this man.

At the hospital, Evelyn jolted awake choking. She bolted upright, gasping.

Outside her room, a familiar voice—usually so controlled—rang with desperate panic: "Save her! Whatever it takes!"

The doctor sounded strained. "Ms. Holloway has lost too much blood. Her RH-null blood type is incredibly rare. We don't have any in stock—"

Evelyn found herself moving before conscious thought. "I can donate," she heard herself say.