Chapter 89

After Amber signed up for the next round, Sienna gently placed her hand on Amber’s head and said softly, “If you don’t like it, you don’t have to join. There are other games we can try.”

Amber pouted and swatted Sienna’s hand off her head.

Her hand wasn’t warm. In fact, it was cool. Yet her touch was so gentle, her fingers running through Amber’s hair in a way that sent waves of comfort through her, lifting her spirits.

But the race was about to start. Amber reluctantly pulled her hand away.

“Who says I don’t like it? I’m going. You two just wait for me at the finish line.” With that, she dashed off toward the starting area before anyone could stop her.

Lana was gradually getting to know Amber’s personality. She never said what she really felt—proud, and a bit stubborn, with just a hint of an adorable temper.

The two walked over to the finish line, a short course where each round of the race took under ten minutes.

Amber tensed for a moment at the sight of the moving water in front of her. Then she quickly clenched her fists and locked her eyes on the Bartholomew Bear waiting at the finish line.

‘It’s just a Bartholomew Bear, isn’t it?’ Amber wondered, ‘Piece of cake. It’s not like Sienna actually likes it. I just think paddle boating is fun, and I’m going to be the champion.’

Taking a deep breath, Amber stepped onto the paddle boat, her fingers gripping the sides tightly.

“On your marks, get set, go.” At the signal, the paddle boats surged forward.

Amber strained to paddle, forcing herself to move faster and faster.

The cheering crowd roared around her, yet with each stroke of the paddle, Amber felt a needle-like pang in her chest. Dread coiled around her heart as her face gradually paled.

When Amber glanced up and saw Sienna waiting at the finish line, she gritted her teeth and forced herself to paddle even faster.

‘Nothing to be afraid of,’ Amber told herself.

Just as Amber was nearing the finish line, her paddle boat was suddenly rammed and capsized. She plunged into the water.

The terrifying sensation of suffocation gripped her whole body as water rushed into her mouth, stung her eyes, and filled her nose. She was drowning.

Driven by terror, Amber thrashed wildly in the water. It was barely deep enough to reach her shoulders. She could have just stood up and been safe. But no matter how hard she tried, her body simply wouldn’t obey.

Just as Amber was about to lose consciousness, her mouth opening helplessly, an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist and yanked her up from the water’s depths.

Sienna patted her back firmly before pulling her into a tight embrace. “Amber?” she called urgently, her voice tight with worry.

Upon hearing Sienna’s voice, Amber’s long lashes fluttered faintly before her eyes slowly opened.

“Sis,” Amber choked out, throwing herself into Sienna’s arms as her whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Sienna’s heart twisted with bitter guilt as she realized Amber was terrified of water.

‘How could I not know?’ Sienna wondered. Guilt washed over her like rising water, submerging her whole being in its suffocating embrace.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ve got you.” Sienna lifted Amber up in her arms, holding her close.

As Amber caught that familiar scent, her fear slowly faded away. She opened her eyes and gazed up at Sienna.

Amber could feel Sienna’s steady heartbeat against her chest, each strong, rhythmic pulse gradually easing away the last traces of her panic.

Amber just sat there in a daze until Sienna gently settled her onto a chair and asked with concern.

Sienna leaned in, her voice full of concern. “Amber, are you hurt anywhere?”

Amber snapped out of it, a little embarrassed, and shook her head. ‘Did I just call her Sis? With all that noise, she shouldn’t have heard me, right?’ She wondered, ‘She couldn’t have heard that.’

Sometimes Amber felt so tangled up inside. She was a mess of contradictions, and she didn’t even make sense to herself.

She kind of wanted Sienna to hear her, but at the same time, she really hoped she hadn’t.

Her conflicting emotions were all tangled up inside her, like a ball of thread she just couldn’t unravel.

“I’m fine,” Amber murmured.

Sienna pinched Amber’s cheek, her voice laced with urgent concern. “You’re afraid of water? Why didn’t you tell me? And why did you still insist on joining that paddle boat race?”

Amber pouted, her eyes reddening and nose tingling with unshed tears.

When Sienna saw Lana returning with the Bartholomew Bear, it all clicked. A dull ache weighed on her chest, and a lump formed in her throat.