Chapter 5

Hayley's POV

Freezing lake water rushed violently into my lungs, and my body sank like a lead weight toward the murky bottom.

I barely even struggled. My waterlogged clothes dragged me down into the abyss. The light above faded fast, and the muffled churning of the water turned into a hollow, surreal roar.

In the final second before darkness took me, there was no thought of Julian's heartless departure, nor any fear of death. The only thing I saw was Jason's face.

Jason, wearing his faded white button-down, smiling at me under the bright sun. He said, "Hayley, once I pass my probation at work, let's get married."

*That sounds so nice,* I whispered in my heart. *Jason, I'm so sorry. I picked the wrong man, and I'm just so tired. I'm coming to find you now. Will you still want me?*

I let my eyes slip shut, surrendering completely to the dark.

*Beep—beep—beep—*

The sharp smell of antiseptic hit my nose first, followed by the rhythmic hum of medical monitors.

Forcing my heavy eyelids open, the harsh white light burned my eyes, squeezing out tears. I wasn't dead.

"You're awake?" A deep, gentle voice sounded from beside the bed.

I turned my head to see a young man in a crisp white shirt looking at me with genuine concern. He wore wire-rimmed glasses, his features soft and welcoming, carrying an aura of quiet reliability.

"Don't move too fast. You inhaled quite a bit of water, and your lungs have a mild infection. You're still on an IV," he said, gently stopping me as I tried to sit up, carefully adjusting the pillows behind my back.

"Who are you...?" My voice was like sandpaper.

"I'm Brandon," he said with an easy smile that felt remarkably warm. "I was doing clean-up volunteer work by the lake with some friends today. I saw you going under and pulled you out. Don't worry about thanking me, anyone would have done it."

"Thank you," I murmured, lowering my gaze. So even the person who pulled me from the water was a complete stranger.

Suddenly, the door flew open with a violent slam.

Julian stood in the doorway, clutching a takeout container, chest heaving. He hadn't even changed out of his clothes, and his damp hair clung to his forehead, leaving him looking thoroughly disheveled.

Seeing another man standing by my bed, his gaze turned dangerously cold. He strode over, instantly putting on an air of territorial possession. "Who is this?"

Before I could speak, Brandon offered a polite nod. "I'm the volunteer who pulled her out. Since her family is here, I'll take my leave. Rest well, Miss Lynn."

Once Brandon left, the air in the room dropped below freezing.

Julian slammed the food container onto the nightstand and yanked a chair over, his tone defensive and abrasive right out of the gate. "Hayley, are you seriously gambling with your life now? Clara doesn't know how to swim, she was going under, so I had to pull her out first! Besides, didn't I send people back to get you?"

I stared at the ceiling, my pupils completely motionless.

"I had someone pick up some oatmeal. Eat it while it's hot." He popped the lid, clearly trying to mask his own guilt with bravado. "Stop giving me that face. It's not like you died."

"Julian," I finally spoke, my voice frail, yet laced with an absolute, biting chill. "From now on, stay out of my life."

His hand holding the plastic spoon froze.

"Hayley, are you still not done throwing your fit?!" He slammed the spoon back down. "Fine. You don't want to see me? You want to cut ties? I won't let you have your way!"

Over the next few days, he acted like a madman, completely ignoring my coldness and boundaries, barging into my life at will. On the day of my discharge, his bodyguards physically shoved me into his SUV.

"Where are you taking me?" I tried to push the door open, but the child locks were engaged.

"Camping," he said from the driver's seat, stepping on the gas. "Didn't you always beg me to take you camping in the mountains? I'm granting your wish today. As long as you behave, I'll let everything that happened slide."

The SUV wound up the mountain highway, the altitude climbing and the temperature plummeting. My lungs were still raw from the infection, and the biting wind leaking into the cabin sent me into a violent coughing fit.

He glanced at me and quietly turned the heater up. He probably thought this small gesture would close the distance between us, entirely unaware that my heart had already turned to stone.

Just as we were ten miles from the summit campsite, his phone on the console began buzzing frantically.

The caller ID flashed a single name: Clara.

He hit answer, and Clara's hysterical, terrified wailing filled the car. "Julian! Help me! I don't know where I drove off to... it's so dark out here, and I hear coyotes... My tire blew out, I'm terrified, please come get me, please..."