Chapter 217 Falling Into
The Pool
Brian reacted instantly, dashing forward and reaching for the knife in Natalia’s grip.
Tracy’s voice trembled with fear as she cried out, “Brian, help me!”
“Stay back!” Natalia’s voice was heavy with despair as she stared at the man now just inches from her.
But Brian didn’t stop. Without a second thought, he grabbed the blade.
The sharp edge sliced into his palm, and blood gushed out, staining his arm in seconds.
Ignoring the pain, he used his other hand to pull Tracy behind him in order to shield her.
Then, something no one saw coming–Tracy suddenly reached out and shoved Natalia, hard.
“Brian, do you…” Natalia broke off abruptly.
She lost her footing entirely.
Before she could regain her balance, her heel slipped, and with a startled gasp, she toppled straight into the swimming pool behind her.
“Natalia!” Rachel’s panicked scream tore through the air as she bolted forward, ready to dive in.
But Brian caught her wrist, stopping her. “Are you insane? Stay back and don’t do anything stupid!”
Rachel’s fury boiled over, her voice shaking. “Have you lost it? Do you even realize what just happened? She can’t swim! Are you going to watch her die?”
“And what about you? You can’t swim either!” Brian’s sharp words snapped Rachel out of her reckless
impulse.
He was right—she couldn’t swim.
A bitter memory surfaced–she had first met Brian when he saved her from nearly drowning.
Her fear had clouded her judgment.
“I’ll handle this,” Brian said before diving straight into the water.
With his strong swimming skills, reaching Natalia should have been effortless.
Rachel watched, her breath evening out slightly.
But Brian’s words stuck in her mind.
Chapter 217 Falling Into The Pool
He had been concerned–concerned that she couldn’t swim, that she would be the one drowning if she
jumped in
Before she could dwell on it, Natalia’s frantic screams shattered the moment. “Help!”
She thrashed wildly, her hands reaching out in a desperate plea.
Brian pushed through the water, swimming toward her as fast as he could.
Normally, the distance wasn’t an issue–he could reach her in seconds.
But Natalia had never been in a situation like this before. She panicked and choked on mouthfuls of
water.
“Natalia, stay calm! Stop struggling!” Rachel shouted, pacing frantically at the edge.
Tracy stepped closer, putting on an act of concern. “Rachel, relax. Miss Carpenter will be fine.”
Relax? Seriously? How was she supposed to do that?
“Tracy, if you’re so concerned, why don’t you jump in instead of standing there and running your mouth?
If anything happens to her, I swear you won’t get away with it!”
Tracy had probably never seen Rachel this furious before. For a brief moment, she was stunned.
But with so many eyes watching, she couldn’t afford to let her composed, generous image slip.
“Rachel, I know you’re only upset because you’re worried about her. Don’t worry, I won’t take it to heart.”
The way she spoke made her seem gracious and understanding, while making Rachel look unreasonable
and overly emotional.
On any other day, Rachel would have thrown a few sharp words back just to vent her frustration.
But this wasn’t just any situation. Natalia’s life was on the line. And worse, Rachel knew it was Tracy
who had pushed Natalia. There was no room for restraint now.
“Is that right? Since you’re so generous, why don’t you keep her company in the pool?”
“Huh?” Tracy didn’t even have a second to react before Rachel shoved her toward the pool.
A loud splash echoed as Tracy hit the water–but she wasn’t going down alone.
In a last–ditch effort, she grabbed Rachel’s arm, yanking her in as well.
The moment Rachel hit the water, sheer panic overtook her. Memories of her childhood trauma–of nearly drowning–came rushing back.
Fear paralyzed her, stealing her breath before she could even call for help. Her body was sinking fast, the
water swallowing her whole.
The world blurred into darkness, dragging her into a suffocating abyss.
Tracy, however, shrieked in panic. “Brian! Help me!”
Brian snapped his head around at the sound of her voice.
Chapter 217 Falling Into The Pool
Just then, a waiter bolted toward the pool and dove in without a second thought.
He was nearest to Natalia.
Brian pointed toward Natalia, barking orders. “Get her out first! Save her!”
“Got it!” the waiter responded and quickly swam toward Natalia.
Brian, meanwhile, spun around and powered through the water toward Tracy.
His injured hand burned in the water, but he pushed through the pain, refusing to slow down.
“Tracy, stay put! I’m on my way!”
Rachel, on the other hand, kept sinking deeper and deeper.
Her mind was slipping, the edges of her consciousness blurring
Yet, at the sound of Brian’s voice, she forced her eyes open, looking upward.
And in that instant, whatever hope she had left disappeared.
She saw him–his arms cutting through the water, swimming with all his strength. But not toward her.
The water around him was streaked with red blood spilling from his wounded palm.
She watched as he scooped Tracy up and swam her toward safety–never sparing even a single glance
her way.
Her chest tightened. She shut her eyes, and her heart crumbled into pieces.
People said hearing was the last thing to go before death. She had never given it much thought before. But now, she knew it was true.
Even as everything else faded, she still heard Brian’s frantic voice. “Tracy! Wake up! Stay with me!”
Within seconds, the last thread of awareness slipped away, and the world around her faded into an abyss.
About ten minutes later, Tracy, feeling the moment was right, slowly fluttered her eyes open.
She wasn’t a strong swimmer, but she could manage.
To make it look like she couldn’t swim, she had intentionally swallowed a bit of water–just enough:
sell the act, but not enough to be dangerous.
Luckily, everything had unfolded just as she had planned. Brian had rushed to save her without a second thought. She had never actually lost consciousness.
She had simply bided her time before opening her eyes.
And now, after a full ten minutes, Rachel wouldn’t have lasted. No one could hold their breath that long.
As far as everyone was concerned, she was the victim.
Chapter 217 Falling Into The Pool
The entire incident had been caught on camera–Rachel pushing her into the pool.
She was the lucky survivor, while Rachel had sealed her own fate, drowning in the depths.
Without Rachel in the picture, Brian would be hers–no more obstacles, no more competition.
As for Natalia? Tracy didn’t even see her as a rival.
Satisfied with her scheme, Tracy finally fluttered her eyes open, putting on a look of terror as she clung to Brian. “Brian, I was so scared!”
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Brian asked, his voice thick with worry.
Tracy shook her head gently. “I’m fine now… but Rachel–did they save her?”
Brian’s eyes widened in disbelief, his lips quivering uncontrollably.
His heart clenched painfully, as if it had stopped beating. “What? What did you just say? Rachel’s still in the pool?”
