The Unspoken Fear

A suffocating darkness surrounded her. Water filled her lungs, the cold biting through her skin as she struggled against the overwhelming weight pulling her down. Just as the last bit of her strength faded, a hand gripped her wrist, strong and unwavering, yanking her out of the abyss.

Her consciousness wavered, but she could still feel herself being dragged to the surface, then laid gently on the cold, hard floor. The distant sound of water dripping echoed around her, but what stood out was the frantic voice calling her name.

Pressure pushed against her chest. Once. Twice. Then a rush of air filled her lungs as she felt a warm lips pressed against hers, desperately coaxing life back into her.

She tried to open her eyes, but they felt unbearably heavy. Her body refused to move, drained and weak. A violent cough tore through her, forcing out the water trapped inside. She blinked sluggishly, her vision blurred, but through the haze, she recognized the face above her.

Adrian Vaughn.

Her heart clenched, a thousand emotions crashing over her at once. With what little strength remained, she reached out, her trembling fingers gripping the collar of his drenched shirt, pulling him closer. His frantic breath fanned her face, his panicked murmurs barely reaching her ears. Slowly, she rested her forehead against his, as if grounding herself in the moment.

The warmth of his skin sent a shiver down her spine. It felt real, so painfully real. She didn't want this to be a dream.

Tears slid from the corners of her eyes, merging with the dampness of her skin. Her fingers slipped from his collar as exhaustion overtook her, and before she could say anything, darkness claimed her once more.

Adrian's chest tightened as he watched her go limp in his arms. "Eve," he called urgently, shaking her slightly, but she didn't respond. Panic surged through him, his heart hammering against his ribs. Without a second thought, he scooped her up, wrapping her in a thick towel, shielding her from the night's cold air.

He moved swiftly through the house, his wet clothes dripping onto the marble floor. The butler, Mr. Song, rushed toward him, his eyes widening at the sight of Eve's unconscious form in Adrian's arms.

"Call Mr. Douglas immediately," Adrian ordered, his voice sharp with urgency. "Eve is unconscious. And send the maid to her room she needs to be changed."

Mr. Song didn't hesitate. He hurried away to make the call while also summoning a maid to tend to Eve.

Adrian carried her straight to her bedroom, carefully placing her onto the soft mattress. Looking over his shoulder, he saw the maid standing nervously at the doorway. "Wipe down her body and change her into dry clothes" he instructed, before stepping out of the room to give her privacy.

He stood outside, still soaked to the bone, his mind replaying the events over and over.

He had just returned from the office, expecting to have dinner with her, when Mr. Song mentioned she was by the pool. Something had compelled him to check on her, and the moment he stepped outside, his blood ran cold.

She was sinking.

His heart nearly stopped at the sight of her motionless body being swallowed by the water. Fear gripped him, something foreign and terrifying. Without a second thought, he dived in, his only thought being to reach her before it was too late.

But what unsettled him the most wasn't that Eve an advanced-level swimmer had nearly drowned in a pool she knew like the back of her hand. It was the way she had reached for him after regaining consciousness.

Her trembling fingers had latched onto his collar with a desperation that sent a chill down his spine, pulling him closer, her breath mixing with his. Then, as if seeking comfort, she had pressed her forehead against his.

Eve had never been the type to show weakness, let alone vulnerability. And yet, in that moment, she had leaned into him, her silent tears slipping down as if she were clinging to something, clinging to him.

Was she dreaming? Was she reliving something in that moment?

The sound of footsteps pulled him from his thoughts. Mr. Song approached him. "Mr. Douglas has arrived."

Minutes later, Adrian walked beside the family doctor as he finished examining Eve. The doctor packed up his things before glancing at Adrian with a knowing look.

"She needs rest," Mr. Douglas said, his tone calm yet firm. "This is exhaustion, Adrian. Physically, she's fine, but whatever pushed her to this point, it needs to stop. If she keeps going like this, she'll fall sick. Make sure she eats properly and takes her medication on time."

Adrian nodded, his expression unreadable.

As Mr. Douglas walked away, Adrian lingered outside Eve's door. His gaze dropped to the floor, water still pooling beneath his feet from his drenched clothes.

He exhaled sharply.

Something had happened to Eve tonight, something that went beyond just exhaustion. And he was going to find out what.

Adrian turned to Mr. Song, his voice low but firm. "Call my assistant as my phone was drenched in water and also I need a change of clothes."

Mr. Song nodded and left without question. Within minutes, a fresh set of clothes was brought to him, and Adrian stepped into the guest room to change. The warmth of dry fabric did little to ease the chill running through him.

As soon as he stepped back out, Mr. Song handed him the phone before stepping away. Adrian brought it to his ear, his voice steady but carrying an underlying sharpness.

"Charles," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I want to know if anything significant has happened in Eve's life during this period. I want an update on any person, new or old."

There was a brief pause on the other end before Charles responded, "Understood, sir. I'll look into it immediately."

Adrian hung up, his jaw tightening. He wasn't going to let this go. Whatever was happening to Eve, he was going to get to the bottom of it.