Chloe's eyes flickered, panic flashing through them. "Take back what I'm owed"-what the hell did Jessica mean by that? Was she planning to shove her into the lake too?

She instinctively tried to yank her hand back. The way Jessica had grabbed her wrist just now-quick, precise, and strong-it wasn't normal. If Jessica really wanted to push her into the water, it'd be a piece of cake. And the worst part? She couldn't swim at all.

Chloe's gaze darted around, searching for a way out. Jessica had her back to the pond, while she was standing right in front-technically, she had the upper hand here.

"Jessica, let me go! I get it now, I blamed you for nothing! I'm not mad anymore, really! Just let go of my hand first!"

"Oh? You're over it that fast? That's not really your style, is it?"

"I know... Alan came to find you. This isn't on you." Chloe stammered, clearly forcing the words out. She wasn't thrilled about saying any of this, but she needed her hand free if she was going to do what she planned.

Jessica finally pulled her gaze back from the distance and loosened her grip on Chloe's wrist.

A dangerous gleam flashed across Chloe's eyes in an instant. "Jessica, go to hell!" she screamed, shoving Jessica with all her strength.

Same move, same expression-just like fourteen years ago. She meant it. She really hated Jessica to the bone.

Why was Jessica born as the precious princess of the Southern family, adored by Alan, while she had to grow up as the pitied orphan, the unwanted cousin everyone looked down on?

Back then, she had already wanted her dead. If only a servant hadn't shown up unexpectedly, she wouldn't have had to pretend to panic and call for help.

But today? Today there was no one around. She had made sure of that-no servants anywhere nearby when she walked in.

Chloe watched as Jessica crashed into the lake, water splashing up and hitting her face. A cold smirk crept up her lips, and then-smack-her palm landed hard on her own cheek. Perfect. Now when people showed up, she'd say Jessica attacked her out of jealousy, and in the scuffle, she slipped and fell in.

Flawless plan. She was actually impressed with her own genius. But... why was Jessica smiling? That smug, knowing grin-what the hell?

Could she actually swim? That look... it was like the grin of someone who already won.

So cold. The moment her body hit the icy water, Jessica's first thought was just that-cold. Maybe she should've picked summer to do this. Damn, it was freezing!

She started to regret making this call. She should've thought of a better way-maybe piss Chloe off enough to make her hit her, or just finish her off herself-instead of reminding Chloe about that drowning incident.

Damn it! Her leg cramped! In water this cold, it felt like cold sweat still broke out. Nobody knew that, apart from her combat training, she'd also taken up swimming over the past four years. No matter the situation, she'd never let herself drown... but this time, things were way off track.

Her leg hurt so bad she couldn't move. Her body kept sinking, water rising past her neck, her chin, her nose-

Her last sight was the smug smile on Chloe's face.

Her heart went ice-cold. Four years ago, she'd pinned her hopes on the wrong person. And now? He hated her so much...

She didn't even dare let her thoughts go further.

Paul, where are you? Please, save me! Water covered her completely. She couldn't make a sound.

Shit! She should've listened and practiced diving properly. A face flashed in her mind-that devilishly good-looking one. Not even her miracle lamp could help her now.

Cold water filled her lungs. It hurt. So bad. And in that moment, she truly believed she was going to die.

Out of nowhere, a pair of arms wrapped around her-like she'd found the one thing that could save her. Clinging on tight, she wrapped herself around him. His icy lips pressed on hers, passing her a breath of air.

Eyes shut, she took in that air like her life depended on it. Because it did. There was still so much she hadn't done, she couldn't die now.

Then came the rush of cool wind-he had pulled her to the surface.

The cold wind slapped her wet body, making her shiver uncontrollably. She choked and coughed, desperate for oxygen. Her arms wrapped tight around his neck, like she was terrified he'd drop her.

"Paul... it's freezing..." she murmured, stuck to him, trying to soak in every bit of warmth.

Suddenly, a strong hand shoved her away, and she slipped under again. Instinctively, her eyes opened-just in time to catch the furious storm on the man's face!

An arm shot out, catching her by the shoulder, stopping her from going under again. His rage finally exploded. "You'd better take a good look at me!"

Alan. It was Alan. She hadn't planned for this-but somehow, in the back of her mind, she had.

"Say it. Who am I?" His grip tightened, so hard it felt like her bones were about to snap.

"You're Alan! You're Alan..." she gasped, body trembling from the cold, her shoulder aching where he held her.

"Alan, let me take Jessica," Paul called from the shore, stretching out a hand.

Jessica instinctively reached for him-but Alan yanked her back with one strong pull.

Alan yanked her straight into his arms, gripping her soaked clothes in frustration. He was beyond pissed-she actually ran out in just a thin nightdress and his suit jacket? He'd ditched the jacket underwater to make swimming easier. Now that clinging, wet fabric was plastered all over her body, making her look even more exposed than if she'd worn nothing at all. There was no way he was letting Paul see her like this.

No way he could carry her bridal style like this-the nightdress was way too short. So, like hoisting a kid, he picked her up vertically with one arm and trudged up from the lakeside.

The chilly wind hit Jessica hard, making her shiver uncontrollably. Her teeth chattered, lips turning an alarming shade of purple.

"Coat!" Alan barked.

Paul quickly shrugged off his own coat and wrapped it around her.

"Alan, you're soaked too! Let Jessica go and wear my coat," Chloe offered, holding out her jacket.

From the moment he rushed over till now, Alan hadn't even looked at her. Chloe already realized she fell into Jessica's trap-but what could she say? Alan had seen everything with his own eyes. She couldn't even make up an excuse.

Panicked and flustered, Chloe's hands trembled as she held out the coat. She knew Alan hated Jessica, but he hadn't acted on it-and if he hadn't, neither could she. Going against his will? Not happening. He was always that kind of guy.

Alan didn't spare Chloe a glance. He just carried Jessica straight into the villa.

"Put me down! I can walk!" Jessica protested, squirming in his arms. She could feel the storm brewing behind his tightly clenched jaw.

She had intended to stir things up between him and Chloe. She knew him too well-he despised manipulative women. But clearly, things hadn't gone the way she'd hoped. Now, she just wanted out of his suffocating hold.

"Don't move. Keep it up and I'll toss you back in," he growled lowly.

Hell no. Jessica inhaled sharply. If only she could take him on-she'd really sock him. Chloe had literally just shoved her, and now he threatened to throw her?

She stayed still-not that it saved her from being dumped into a bathtub the next second.

Ouch! The impact nearly brought tears to her eyes. And before she could collect herself, his hands were already tearing at her clothes.

"What the hell, Alan! You jerk!" she screamed, pounding at him in outrage. That was the only wearable piece she had left, and now he'd ripped it too!Alan didn't even flinch at the small fists hitting him. He grabbed the showerhead and turned it on, letting the cold water stream over her. Her skin turned red from the chill, but he kept the water icy at first, only gradually turning the temperature up.

Jessica's leg cramped up again, worse than before. She couldn't even think about hitting him now, just curled up into a ball in the tub.

"What's wrong?" he asked, frowning at her scrunched-up, pained face.

"My leg... ahh!" Her toes curled in spasms as the pain shot through her.

Alan turned off the showerhead and perched on the edge of the tub, dragging her leg up onto his lap.

"Ah! That hurts! Don't touch me!" Jessica screamed, her voice raw.

Alan held her foot firmly, and his expression darkened. "Shut it."

He chucked a towel straight at her face. "Bite this. If you scream again, I swear I'll deal with you right now."

He practically yelled it.

With both hands, he pulled her leg straight despite her resistance. It was the quickest way to ease the cramp, but painful as hell.

Jessica's body trembled under the water from the sharp pain. She bit down hard on the towel, watching Alan's furious face. He looked like he meant every word.

By the time he was done with both of her legs, sweat was dripping from her forehead. It was only then that she realized just how awkward their position looked.

The water was clear, doing nothing to cover her. Everything about her was exposed right under his eyes.

She jerked her legs back and curled tightly into herself, trying to hide any part she could.

"I-I'm good now. I can wash up on my own..." she stammered. Since turning fifteen, she'd never been able to predict his moods. Whatever she said could end up ticking him off.

Sure, sometimes she messed with him on purpose, but that definitely wasn't the case now. Her tone was soft, almost cautious.

Alan stood, his tall figure looming. He reached out a hand toward her.

Jessica shrank back, but there was nowhere to run-she was backed up against the tub's edge. She hugged herself tighter. "Alan, don't touch me!" Her eyes flared, like a cat ready to claw.

His fingers caught her chin, his voice low and cold.

"I didn't touch you, so that gives you a reason to run to Chloe?"

Jessica froze, needing a moment to catch up to what he meant.

Then her temper exploded. "Alan! Get it straight-it was Chloe who pushed me in!"

"She pushed you? Why would she do that? We're about to get married, for god's sake! Unless you said something to set her off, why else would she try to kill you? Jessica! If you've got a death wish, fine, take it somewhere else! I don't want to see you! And you're not a damn cat with nine lives! You won't make it every time!"

Alan's rage that had been simmering just blew up all at once.

Jessica's ears were ringing from his yelling. Lovely. Even if she died today, all this guy would say is, "Serves you right." Ridiculous. Just because he helped her today, she almost forgot how he had abandoned her back in the day like she didn't matter.

She bit her lip so hard, the pain snapped her back. "What does it matter to you if I die or not? Alan, are you done yelling? If you are, get out! Now!"

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her jaw. He grabbed her so hard it felt like her chin might snap.

"Let me go!" She tried to pry his fingers off, both hands working at it, but he didn't budge.

Alan was staring into her eyes, and the hate in them was so raw, so real, it made his heart jolt. She hated him...

There was no mistaking it-that utter, overwhelming hatred was all he could see in her eyes.

After a moment, he finally let go. One hand grabbed the showerhead, the other went to her hair.

Jessica blinked, completely dazed. Two seconds ago he looked like he wanted her gone for good, and now he was...washing her hair? His hands were rough, but somehow he didn't hurt her.

It almost felt like those childhood days, when he used to wash her hair just like this. A weird, sour ache clogged her chest, like cotton stuffed in her heart. She blinked hard, trying to shut out all those old memories.

Alan moved quickly, rubbing shampoo through her hair, using body wash to clean her off. Then he wrapped her up in a big towel like a burrito and carried her to bed. After laying her down gently, he went back to the bathroom to clean himself up.

Jessica curled into the blankets, staring at the wet footprints across the floor in a kind of daze. He didn't even change out of his wet clothes.

A crack appeared in her tightly shut-off heart, and those old memories she kept locked away started sneaking back. Last time she was pulled out of the lake by the maids, her parents made her thank Chloe. They said it was Chloe who had gotten help.

She'd been furious, told them it was Chloe who pushed her. But who would believe that? Chloe may have only been ten back then, but she was born to act. She cried harder than a girl who had nearly drowned.

Jessica got punished for lying-locked in her room for two weeks straight, not allowed to come out.She locked herself in her room and called Alan, crying the whole time. Before she could even finish sobbing out her complaints, he had already rushed to her place. In front of everyone's shocked faces, he didn't hesitate-just charged straight into her bedroom, kicked the door open, and scooped her into his arms.

To her, it felt like the only person she could rely on had finally shown up. She clung to his neck like her life depended on it.

Alan carried her downstairs without a second thought, like she wasn't her parents' kid, but his.

"Jessica belongs to me, to the Knight family!" That's the line he dropped before walking out.

She still remembered the way her arrogant dad suddenly turned beet red, nearly coughing up blood from sheer rage.

A cold shadow loomed over her, pulling her out of those memories. She looked up and saw him-chilled to the bone like someone who just stepped out of an ice bath. He was in a bathrobe, face pale as snow, and his whole presence radiated frost.

"Jessica! This is your last warning. Stay away from Chloe!"

Her chest tightened. She hadn't even had time to put her guard up again before his words stabbed right through her. The pain hit her hard, fast, and deep, seeping through every inch of her body.

Jessica, this has to be the last time you let yourself hurt over him... the last time.

Alan strode out of the bedroom, and right outside was Chloe, tears streaming down her face like she was made of sorrow.

"Alan, please listen to me! I didn't mean to push Jessica, I swear!" She latched onto his arm, panic written all over her face. The contrast between his bronze skin, that white bathrobe, and the serious expression made him look like danger personified. Not that Chloe could appreciate the view-she was too busy freaking out over possibly pissing him off.

With a single sweep of his arm, Alan pulled her into his embrace. "Take me to your room."

Chloe was stunned, staring up at him blankly. She was so thrown off that her body didn't even react until he started guiding her forward. He'd never been to her room before!

Once inside, she rushed to the bathroom, grabbed the hairdryer, and started drying his hair, hands trembling a little. He had clearly witnessed her shove Jessica, he saw everything... so why wasn't he mad? Why hadn't he asked a single question?

Sometimes, silence is worse than an argument. At least if he confronted her, she'd have a chance to explain. But now? Nothing. That image of him holding Jessica, acting like she wasn't even there, kept flashing through her head.

"Alan, it's really not what you think. I know whatever I say now sounds fake, but I never meant to really hurt Jessica..."

"That's enough," his cold voice cut her off mid-sentence.