Chapter 6

“Help!”

“Ken… Please, save me!”

Her desperate cries echoed across the water. Through her fading vision, Calista saw someone swimming toward her. A strong arm encircled her waist, pulling her swiftly to safety. Before losing consciousness, she glimpsed a blurred face.

Meanwhile, Ken’s face darkened with anger as he searched for Calista. “I only asked her to wash a dress, and she runs away?”

Viola patted his back soothingly. “Let it go. I’m sure she meant no harm. She’ll return when she’s calmed down—”

Better yet, never come back at all.

But her smug smile faltered as she saw a tall figure running toward them, carrying Calista’s limp form.

“Ken! Your sister fell into the pool!”

Ken whirled around to see Calista’s ghostly pale face. He rushed to take her from the man’s arms, his blood running cold at her icy skin.

“How… Calista, hold on!”

He carried her inside, frantically summoning the housekeeper to help change her wet clothes. Then he turned to Henry. “What happened?”

Henry, Ken’s closest friend, explained, “I was passing by when I heard her screams. I found a dress by the pool—perhaps she was washing it and fell in?”

Ken’s brows furrowed. “We have hot water in the kitchen. Why would she wash clothes at the pool in this weather?”

Henry sighed. “Ken, this isn’t like you. You have housekeepers—why make Calista do laundry at all? You’ve been too harsh with her lately.”

“You don’t understand,” Ken retorted. “She’s spoiled. It’s not good for her.”

Henry glanced meaningfully at Viola before addressing Ken again. “When she was unconscious, she kept calling your name.”

Ken’s jaw tightened. “She probably fell in on purpose to get my attention. I don’t know where she learned such manipulation.”

Henry’s expression hardened. Without warning, his fist connected with Ken’s jaw, sending him reeling into the wall.

“What the hell?”

Ken’s eyes blazed with fury, but Henry pinned him against the wall, immovable.

Viola screamed, “Stop it!”

Henry’s voice was icy. “Ken, Calista is your beloved sister. How dare you speak so cruelly of her?”

Ken shoved Henry’s hands away. “She’s my sister—this is none of your business. Stay out of it.”

After Henry left, Ken stood in Calista’s doorway, watching her unconscious form with conflicted emotions.

Outside, Viola collapsed, trembling. Thank God Henry hadn’t seen her forcing Calista to wash the dress in the cold water.