The icy lake water surged from all directions.
The dark waters stretched endlessly into the abyss.
Sophia Sullivan felt the man behind her sinking.
The metallic tang of blood permeated the water.
She whirled around.
Ethan Sullivan had lost consciousness.
Tiny bubbles escaped from his lips.
Like a silent farewell.
Gritting her teeth, Sophia dove deeper.
The prolonged breath-holding made her vision darken.
But she didn't stop.
Her fingertips finally brushed his cold cheek.
The underwater world was silent and blurred.
Closing her eyes, she pressed her lips against his chilled ones.
In the chaos, Ethan sensed a flicker of warmth.
The soft contact jolted his numb nerves awake.
Yet his consciousness still drifted in darkness.
He dreamed of his younger self kneeling in the rain.
"Stay on your knees for a full hour!"
His father's voice cut like ice.
"The heir of the Sullivan family cannot have weaknesses."
"If you can't endure it, get out of the Sullivan family."
...
Ethan's eyes snapped open.
Weeds tangled in the woman's hair like dark tendrils.
Instinctively, he deepened the kiss.
Sophia was caught off guard.
The life-saving act turned into something more intimate.
She bit his lip sharply.
The taste of blood spread between them.
When they finally broke the surface, moonlight bathed the lakeshore.
Sophia coughed violently.
In the distance, sirens wailed closer.
Ethan leaned against a tree trunk, drenched.
His pale face was drained of color.
"Don't move."
Sophia tore the hem of her shirt.
The fabric soaked crimson instantly.
She tightened the makeshift bandage around his wound.
Ethan groaned, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Thank you."
His voice was hoarse. "But I have to leave now."
The sirens grew louder.
Tonight's explosion had drawn too much attention.
His identity as Zephyr couldn't be exposed.
"Julian Roscente will handle the aftermath."
Ethan panted. "I need to return to the Sullivan estate."
Sophia nodded immediately.
She knew this area well.
There was a hidden path to evade the search.
As she stood, her numb legs buckled, sending her stumbling into his arms.
Their heartbeats thundered.
Too loud to tell whose was whose.
Steadying herself, Sophia helped Ethan up.
"Stay close."
The path was overgrown with thorns.
They trudged forward until finally flagging down a taxi.
Back at the Sullivan mansion, the old butler paled in shock.
"Young master! What happened?"
"Call the doctor!"
Before the family physician arrived, Ian Gallagher appeared instead.
His golden hair gleamed under the lights.
"Even the great Mr. Sullivan gets injured."
Ian smirked, opening his medical kit.
Ethan frowned. "Why are you here?"
The needle pierced his skin smoothly.
Ian winked. "Sophia called me."