Scars and Lies

Alyssa's screams pierced through the garden, shattering the evening calm and drawing a crowd of startled guests to the poolside. The hum of chatter turned to gasps as they took in the scene.

Without hesitation, Dillon tore off his suit jacket and leapt into the pool, the loud splash sending ripples across the water. He swam swiftly toward Alyssa, his movements decisive and frantic.

When he reached her, he scooped her into his arms, cradling her protectively as he brought her to the edge of the pool. Water streamed from her soaking gown, pooling around them as she trembled against his chest.

"Alyssa! Alyssa, are you okay?" Dillon's voice was thick with concern, his hands gripping her shoulders as if to anchor her. His eyes darted over her face, searching for any sign of injury.

Alyssa clung to him, shivering dramatically, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She cast a fleeting glance at me and the hurt in her gaze was unmistakable.

"Sis, if I did something to upset you, you could have just told me," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why did you push me into the pool? You know I'm terrified of water..."

The crowd murmured in shocked disbelief and before I could open my mouth to defend myself, my mother stormed forward. Her face twisted in fury, her voice laced with venom.

"Mia, how dare you push Alyssa into the pool!"

Her sudden shove caught me off guard. My feet slipped on the wet tiles and I stumbled backward.

The moment I hit the water, the icy cold enveloped me, stealing the breath from my lungs. Panic gripped me as I sank beneath the surface, water rushing into my mouth and nose. I kicked and flailed, but my movements were erratic, each one draining more of my energy.

I can't swim.

My chest burned as I struggled for air, the heavy weight of the water pressing down on me. Above the surface, muffled voices and laughter filtered through, but no one jumped in after me.

Through the ripples, I glimpsed my mother standing at the pool's edge, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

"Stop pretending, Mia," she scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "No one's going to fall for your act. You've been nothing but a curse on this family. Letting Alyssa be kidnapped wasn't enough for you—now you're trying to hurt her again? I should never have brought you into this world!"

Each word felt like another weight pulling me further underwater.

My father stood beside her, his lips pressed into a tight line. He didn't bother to speak; his cold, condemning glare said it all.

I surfaced briefly, gasping and coughing, but the effort sapped what little strength I had left.

Through the blur of water and tears, my gaze landed on Dillon. My last shred of hope clung to him. Surely, he wouldn't let me drown. 'He knows I can't swim. He might not love me, but he isn't cruel enough to let me die... right?'

But Dillon didn't move.

He sat on the pool's edge with Alyssa still in his arms, his expression hardening as he looked at me.

"Did you know Alyssa is pregnant?" he spat, his voice filled with anger. "How could you do this to her? You could have killed her—and the baby!"

The accusation struck me like a slap. My throat tightened and I tried to plead, but the words were lost in my gasps for air.

Dillon's face darkened further. "Stay in the water tonight and think about what you've done."

With that, he stood and carried Alyssa away, her damp hair clinging to his shoulder. She rested her head against him, casting me a final triumphant glance before they disappeared into the house.

The crowd slowly dispersed, their whispers carrying a mix of scorn and amusement. My parents turned and followed without so much as a backward glance.

One by one, they all left.

As the cold seeped into my bones, an overwhelming sense of despair settled over me. My arms felt heavy, my legs weaker with every kick. 'I can't... I can't keep this up.'

The water closed over me again and this time I didn't have the strength to resurface. My lungs burned, my vision blurred and my thoughts grew hazy.

Just as darkness began to consume me, a sudden splash broke through the silence. A strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me upward with desperate urgency.

Who... was he?

***

When I opened my eyes, the stark white ceiling of a hospital room greeted me. My body felt heavy, every breath a laborious effort.

I turned my head and was startled to see Dillon sitting beside the bed. His hair was disheveled and his shirt was wrinkled, as if he hadn't slept.

The moment our eyes met, his face lit up with relief.

He immediately began signing, his movements quick and full of emotion. "Honey, you're finally awake! I didn't mean to leave you behind last night. Gabriel is away on a business trip and couldn't take care of Alyssa. She's pregnant—I had to take her to the hospital first... Please don't be mad, okay?"

His hands stilled briefly, his expression softening as he continued. "You know how important heirs are to the Knight family. If something happened to Alyssa's baby, they'd blame you. Even your parents wouldn't forgive you. I was only trying to protect you..."

He looked at me with such sincerity, as if expecting me to believe every word.

But I knew better now.

The ache in my chest was unbearable, but I forced myself to stay composed. I refused to let him see how deeply his words cut me.

I said nothing.

Dillon's smile faltered, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face. He hesitated, then reached for my hand.

I didn't pull away, but I didn't respond either. Instead, I turned my gaze to the window, letting the silence stretch between us.