Chapter 176

Evelyn felt her consciousness slipping away like sand through fingers. The icy water embraced her like a lover's final farewell, pulling her deeper into its merciless depths. Each desperate gasp only brought more liquid fire into her lungs.

Death's cold fingers brushed her cheek. In that terrifying moment, Liam's face flashed before her eyes - her last tether to life in this drowning darkness.

Then suddenly, Victoria's grip vanished. The woman who had been trying to drown her now thrashed wildly, screaming, "Help! Someone help me!"

Through the roaring in her ears, Evelyn faintly heard Victoria's cries, followed by two splashes nearby.

Her vision darkened at the edges as she fought against the water's deadly embrace, her body rising and falling with the waves.

When she broke the surface again, her blurred vision caught Liam carrying Victoria to safety.

Was this real? Why was Liam here? Had he really chosen to save Victoria instead of her?

The crushing weight of realization confirmed this wasn't some nightmare. Liam had returned - only to rescue the woman who couldn't swim, leaving Evelyn to drown. Her heart turned to stone in that instant.

Closing her eyes, she stopped fighting. The water welcomed her descent, its cold fingers soothing her burning lungs as darkness claimed her.

Suddenly, strong arms yanked her back to the surface. Julian's frantic voice cut through the haze, "Evelyn! Stay with me!"

But she didn't want to stay. The pain of living was too great. The future too bleak. Death would be kinder.

She felt herself sinking again into the abyss, weightless and free.

Then - a jolt. Her eyes flew open to sterile white ceiling tiles. The hospital. And beside her bed - Liam's worried face, with Julian standing nearby.

"Evelyn." Liam's voice was rough with emotion as he grasped her cold hand. "How are you feeling?"

His touch still burned with familiar warmth. She pulled away slowly, unable to meet his gaze.

Liam's expression crumpled as she withdrew, pain flashing across his features.

In his panic to save Victoria - who'd been terrified of water since childhood - he hadn't seen Evelyn struggling beneath the surface. By the time he'd carried Victoria to shore, Julian had already reached Evelyn.

He couldn't abandon someone who couldn't swim. Yet the cruel irony was that Evelyn, who could swim, had nearly drowned.

Julian stepped closer, his doctor's calm barely masking his concern. "You gave me quite a scare. You weren't breathing when I pulled you out. Thank God for medical training."

Evelyn's heart shattered. Tears threatened but she refused to let them fall - she wouldn't waste another tear on this hopeless love.

She turned to Julian, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you for saving me, Dr. Whitmore."

His smile was gentle. "Just glad you're okay. No thanks needed."

Her next words came out hollow. "Please... I need to be alone."

Liam leaned forward, hand gripping the bedrail. "Let me stay with you," he pleaded.

Evelyn closed her eyes against the fresh wave of pain, turning her face away. "Liam... I don't want to see you anymore."