No Longer Yours to Break

The only sound cutting through the dark water was Zoe thrashing, struggling to stay up.

Connor froze. He knew—Zoe had never learned to swim.

As a kid, she'd fallen into a river once. He'd jumped in right after her, no hesitation.

She'd been terrified of water ever since. Wouldn't even go near a deep pond.

But tonight? Just to go head-to-head with Vicky over a bangle, she dove in like it meant everything.

Connor didn't get why he felt so on edge. He told himself it was just frustration—Zoe being her usual stubborn self.

It was just a bangle. Why couldn't she let Vicky have it?

Vicky was marrying into his family. That meant Zoe was still family, too.

It's not like Vicky would lock the thing away and never let her see it.

No—Zoe was just jealous. Jealous that Vicky had him now. That's why she always tried to take things from her.

The more he fed himself that story, the colder his expression turned.

Any hint of doubt disappeared as he watched Zoe flailing in the water.

He turned his back.

"Zoe, I hope this snaps you out of it," he said flatly. "Stop going at Vicky. Do that, and I'll treat you like I used to. Keep pushing, and I promise—it'll only get worse."

Then he walked away without a glance.

His words carried on the wind, brushing past Zoe's ears—but her mind couldn't even register them.

Connor thought the pond was shallow. No big deal.

What he didn't get was that for someone who couldn't swim, even knee-deep water could turn deadly.

In the dark, Zoe couldn't see the shore. Had no clue which way to go.

She kicked and flailed toward what she thought was land—but she wasn't moving. Not an inch.

The cold, murky water filled her mouth and nose.

Her limbs were giving out. Her body temperature tanked. Her right leg locked up, stiff and useless.

Connor's last words echoed in her head, colder than the water.

She opened her hand—just a metal ring. Probably from a bag.

Not the bangle. Not even close.

All the fight left her in a snap.

She'd been given a second shot at life... and she still hadn't done anything that mattered.

"Ms. Hertbert!"

Two splashes tore through the water. Someone grabbed her and hauled her back to shore.

It took a full fifteen minutes before Zoe's vision cleared.

She was in a car, dripping and dazed, staring at a group of strangers in all black.

Her voice came out raw. "Who are you?"

One of them handed her a folder. "Ms. Hertbert, our boss asked us to give you this. Please take a look."

She opened it under the dim car light—and froze.

Inside was a share transfer agreement. Five percent of Lyttelton Group.

And a full stack of documents returning every bit of Hertbert family property that had been sold off.

She looked up, stunned.

The man's tone was calm, but it carried the weight of someone else entirely.

"He also said—everything's set for the wedding in five days. He's just waiting on you."