Dangerously Submerged

"If you truly loved him, you would agree to this," Samantha declared, her voice rising. "If you really love Leo, you should dive in and retrieve that medicine bottle for him."

Leo indulged Samantha. Following her suggestion, he booked out this underwater performance venue solely for this test.

"I've placed the medicine that can save my life at the bottom of the pool. If you truly love me, you should retrieve it for me." Leo shoved a swimsuit designed to dissolve in water into Angelina's hands. "You have to get the bottle before the suit disintegrates."

Stunned by his words, she froze. Then, a bitter laugh escaped her lips, her heart bleeding. "Leo, have you forgotten I have thalassophobia?" At this moment, her heart turned as cold as an ice cellar. Suddenly, loving him felt utterly pointless.

"I'll dive with you," Samantha announced loudly. "If I win, the whole world will see your pathetic struggle underwater!"

The crowd gathered outside the venue buzzed with excitement. This was, after all, an adult entertainment venue! Leering eyes, thick with vulgarity, raked over Angelina's body. Everyone wanted a glimpse of the world-renowned designer's stunning figure.

Angelina shuddered under their predatory gaze.

"Leo! Surely you don't agree to this? The water's too deep! My fear could make me cramp!"

Leo remained unmoved, his voice icy. "Can't you even overcome a little fear like that?"

"What?" Angelina gasped, disbelief washing over her.

"Samantha is willing to make this bet for me. What about you?

"Isn't she afraid?"

Angelina stood frozen. Samantha was a diving champion. This absurd wager was rigged from the start. A chilling heaviness, like iron chains, coiled around Angelina's heart, squeezing the breath from her lungs.

Three years ago, he'd developed emotional detachment disorder. He never truly believed Angelina loved him.

It wasn't until that island vacation, when he fell overboard while fishing, that she risked her life, plunging into shark-infested waters to save him.

Only then did Leo open his heart, placing her above all else.

"You were willing to jump into a sea surrounded by sharks for me. I know you're the one." Leo promised then that for her, he would actively seek treatment, pledging eternal loyalty and commitment, swearing they would never part.

But since Samantha's return, everything had reset to zero. The tests began anew.

If Samantha suddenly craved a taste of home, Leo would cancel their meticulously planned months-long anniversary dinner without a hint of apology.

If Samantha felt down and needed company, Leo could vanish for days without a word. When he returned, he'd dismiss it with, "Samantha needed me. You know she's still adjusting to being back."

Angelina told herself over and over: He's still sick. It's the trauma. He needs time...

For the sake of that promise forged with her life, she chose tolerance and compromise, again and again.

But now, suddenly, none of it seemed to matter. After saving Leo, she developed thalassophobia. Diving beyond a certain depth triggered paralyzing terror. How could he not know that?

Yet now, Leo's voice was like shards of ice. "Samantha's already in the water. How much longer do you plan to dawdle?"

"What if President Hayes were dying and needed that medicine? Could you not even save him then?

"Seems your love isn't as strong as you claim." Samantha, treading water, ready to dive, couldn't resist a parting shot: "You won't dare compete with me?"

Angelina bit her lip.

"Fine."

She took a deep breath, casting one last look at Leo's indifferent face on the deck and the revolting, greedy stares from the audience seats.

Then, she closed her eyes and plunged into the deep pool.

Cold instantly enveloped her, water pressure stabbing her eardrums. The icy water clung to her skin as terror surged like a tidal wave.

Every kick downward felt impossibly heavy.

Worse, she could feel the swimsuit dissolving. The shoulder straps vanished first, then the fabric at her waist... Cold water rushed directly against her exposed skin.

Humiliation sliced through her like a knife; she could almost hear the audience through the thick glass.

Instinctively, she tried to cover herself, disrupting her balance underwater. She choked violently! "Cough!..." Icy water flooded her nose and throat.

Suffocation and deep-water terror peaked at that moment! Her consciousness began to blur, the stiffness spreading from her limbs throughout her body...

"Look! Quick! Look! Her suit's melting!" "Tsk tsk, so pale..." "Zoom in! Yes, focus on her!" "Look at her struggle! Hah, better than the show!"