Chapter 5

Elara's POV

The freezing lake water rushed into my nose. I struggled violently in the water.

I couldn't swim.

On the shore, the three Hunt brothers watched coldly.

"What's she pretending for? The water's only five feet deep. She could stand up and live." Ethan had his hands in his pockets, saying mockingly, "Elara, your acting is way too fake."

Serena leaned against Cole, deliberately saying, "Cole, Elara really seems like she can't swim. Maybe we should pull her up. What if something happens..."

"What could happen? She's strong as an ox." Nathan pushed up his glasses, his eyes cold. "Let her soak in the water for half an hour. Then we'll see if she dares hit you again."

Underwater, I heard these words, and the despair in my heart was colder than the lake water.

I gave up struggling and let my body slowly sink.

Just as my consciousness was about to blur, park staff finally noticed something was wrong and jumped in to rescue me.

I was completely soaked, coughing violently on the shore in a wretched state, almost vomiting bile.

Cole looked down at me from above, like looking at garbage. "Today's just a warning. If there's a next time, I guarantee you won't be able to stay in New York."

After speaking, they escorted Serena into their luxury car and left.

The night wind blew, and I shivered all over. I dragged my heavy steps to kneel by the storm drain grate, using my frozen fingers to pick at the gaps bit by bit, trying to retrieve the fallen cufflink.

But it was too deep. I couldn't feel anything.

I was alone on the deep-night street, like a pitiful ghost abandoned by the whole world.

The next day, I developed a high fever.

I forced myself to open my phone, only to find that online abuse had completely drowned me.

Serena had done a livestream last night. In the stream, she held my golden retriever "Buddy" that I'd raised for three years, crying miserably.

Buddy looked very unwell. Serena said in the livestream, "Poor Buddy. His previous owner often locked him in a cage for work and didn't even feed him. Now that I've brought him home, I'll definitely take good care of him."

The three Hunt brothers even reposted this video from their respective accounts with the caption: "People who abuse animals don't deserve forgiveness."

This was undoubtedly slandering me with a scandal.

Online fury was completely ignited.

"Elara can go die! Dog-abusing bitch!"

"I used to like her, but she's actually a poisonous woman!"

"Boycott Elara! Make her get off the internet!"

I looked at those vicious curses on the screen, my whole body shaking with anger.

Buddy was a pet I'd raised from a puppy. I loved him like family. The day I moved out of the villa, Cole forcibly kept Buddy, saying he'd give him to Serena. Now they were turning it around, slandering me for abusing him!

Just then, Mom called again.

"Elara! What have you done! Cole officially announced the withdrawal of investment today. Our company's stock has already hit the limit down!" Mother screamed on the other end. "You need to start a livestream right now and kneel to apologize to Serena! Admit that you abused the dog, that you're jealous of her! Otherwise, I'll act like I never had a daughter!"

I closed my eyes as tears finally slid down my burning cheeks.

"Mom," my voice was hoarse, "I have a fever. One hundred and three point six degrees. I'm dying."

"That doesn't matter!" Mom cut me off. "Even if you die, you need to resolve our company's crisis first! I'm giving you one hour to post an apology video, or don't ever come home again!"

The call was hung up again.

I curled up in the cold blanket, feeling like all the blood in my body had frozen.

No one cared if I lived or died. My lovers. My family. My fans.

Every one of them was pushing me toward the edge.

Just as I was suffering, my phone screen suddenly lit up.

It was a text from an unknown number.

"Need help? -Damon Hunt."

Seeing this short sentence, my despairing heart suddenly beat violently.

I bit my cracked lips and replied with trembling fingers.

"No. I can handle it. Damon, can we move up our wedding?"

He replied almost instantly.

"As you wish. See you tomorrow, Elara."