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Chapter 8
As soon as they jumped out of the car, Genevieve grabbed Loretta’s hand and all but dragged her down the sloping path toward the lake, words tumbling out in fragments as she tried to explain.}
“Fidelia’s ex–boyfriend chased her all the way from abroad–showed up at the hotel, begging for a second chance. My brother lost it and got into a fight with him. But instead of stopping them, Fidelia egged them on–and then she tossed her necklace into the lake and declared, ‘Whoever brings it back, I’ll be with him.“}
“The ex was about to dive in, and my brother wouldn’t back down either. But Loretta, there’s a sheer drop under the water–professional divers won’t even risk it! Everyone tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen. Loretta, please, you have to help me. He’s my only brother!” The more Loretta heard, the quieter she became.§
She wanted to tell Genevieve that if Fidelia was involved, not even a hundred of her could talk sense into Xavier. But one look at Genevieve’s tear–swollen eyes, and Loretta found herself unable to say a word.
By the time they reached the lake, Xavier was already struggling into a wetsuit.}
Fidelia’s ex had finished suiting up and, without hesitation, dove straight into the water.}
As his body vanished beneath the surface, a cold glint flashed in Xavier’s eyes. He hurried to get his own gear on, hands moving with frantic purpose.}
Nearby, Xavier’s friends paced like caged animals, desperate to talk him down.”
“This lake is way too deep–no one’s going to find that necklace. It’s suicide to go down there, Xavier! Don’t do this!“}
“You’re going to risk your life for a girl? Get a grip, man! Snap out of it!“}
Xavier ignored every word. He fitted his oxygen mask, shoved past the circle of pleading friends, and strode toward the water’s edge. Genevieve couldn’t take it anymore. She lunged forward, grabbing his arm, her voice cracking with despair.}
“You’re really going to risk your life over what she said? Did you even think about Mom and Dad? Did you think about me? About Loretta? If you go in there and something happens–if you die–I don’t have a brother anymore. Do you hear me?“}
The air grew so thick with tension it was hard to breathe.}
Xavier stopped. He turned and looked at his sister, searching her face for a long moment.
At last, he reached out and gently took her hand in his.
“I’ll come back,” he said, voice low and steady. “Don’t teil Mom and Dad about this. And don’t tell Loretta, either.“} With that, he pried Genevieve’s fingers from his arm, one by one, and–without a backward glance–dived into the lake. Ripples fanned out across the water, catching the last of the evening light. Loretta stood a little apart, hands clenched so tightly her knuckles blanched.”
Everything was eerily quiet–until a soft, mocking laugh cut through the silence, turning every head. It was Fidelia.
= ཇ ཥ ཝཿ ཇ ཎྜ ཝཿན ཡི ༤ ༀ ར རྒྱུ རྒྱུ རྒྱུ
She strutted over to Loretta, chin high, pride radiating from her every pore.}
“He’d die for me, you know,” she said smugly. “That’s how much he loves me. Tell me, Loretta–how could you possibly compare?” “Fidelia, if you think risking someone’s life is a joke, you need serious help,” Loretta shot back, voice trembling with anger. Genevieve, still sobbing, finally snapped. She leapt forward and slapped Fidelia hard across the face.
Fidelia had never been treated like that in her life. She reeled, fury twisting her features, and lunged back at Genevieve–only to be held back by the crowd, who quickly separated them.”
Loretta held Genevieve close, whispering soothing words until she finally calmed and sat, staring vacantly at the monitor showing the divers‘ oxygen levels.2
An hour passed before Fidelia’s ex–boyfriend, having run out of air, surfaced–empty–handed.}
The tense hush on the shore broke instantly, everyone craning their necks, anxiously waiting for Xavier.
Minutes dragged on. His oxygen was nearly depleted. Panic swept through the group.
Only Loretta held on to her composure.
She called the Hilton’s rescue tearn, begging them to send help.
Five or six professional divers plunged into the water.
Ten more agonizing minutes went by. Still nothing. Genevieve was on the verge of collapse.
Even Fidelia, who’d been enjoying the spectacle, looked pale and jittery now.
Chapter 8
Loretta’s face was expressionless, but her nails dug so deep into her palms that her hands shook.
Fidelia’s entourage, who’d been treating the whole thing like a show, started whispering nervously.
“This is bad–his air’s been gone for ages. There’s no way he’ll make it.“}
“If something happens, do you think the Kingsley family will let us off the hook?“>
“What’s it got to do with us? He’s the one who risked his life for Fidelia.“}
Before they could say more, a sudden commotion erupted on the water.
A team of rescuers was hauling someone toward shore.
Everyone rushed forward, helping to pull Xavier from the lake.§
He was barely conscious, skin ghostly white as they removed his mask. Tears welled up in his friends‘ and Genevieve’s eyes.”
But Xavier pressed a hand to his chest, staring straight at Fidelia.}
“I found… the necklace,” he managed, voice barely audible.
With trembling fingers, he held up the diamond pendant–its stones glistening in the golden light, dazzling and sharp as shattered glass. Almost blinding.}
But all Xavier’s attention was fixed on Fidelia, oblivious to Loretta standing just a few steps away.
So close, yet so far. All Loretta could do was watch him, helpless, as he burned with love for someone else.}
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