A Beautiful Misunderstanding

Essie wiped the sweat off her forehead. Her carelessness just gave Zac the opening he needed.

"Well... How about I make you some braised tenderloin with radish? Would you like that?" she asked, trying to sound normal.

He shook his head, his expression still mischievous.

"I'll cook whatever you want to eat. But I'm afraid I can't do anything else for you," she continued. He lowered his head to kiss her pout. "Do you really think a few dishes could keep me away?"

"Don't get too greedy." She pushed away his arms and stood up. "If you're thinking you can bed me with your attempts, just stop. I'm not the one for you. There are many women there who could warm your bed better than I could." But before she could finish her unnecessary explanation, she found that she had fallen into his trap. Frowning slightly at her, he asked, "Is that what you want? For me to find another woman?"

"I don't want to, but I'm sure you will," Essie replied. Great and powerful men like Zac always attracted gorgeous women begging for their attention. Essie didn't believe that men like Zac would settle for one woman, let alone someone like her. These men craved for the thrill only exciting women could offer.

"You can take me as your private belongings," Zac said in deceitfully soft voice. She was sure it was meant to weaken her. He rested his chin on her shoulder, the back of his fingers gently stroking her face. She turned her head to the glittering lake. The wind was blowing hard enough to create little waves on the water. With a bitter smile on her lips, she said, "I can't do that." She knew that in his heart, she was just a paltry substitute. She shouldn't let herself fall deeper into their pretense. She couldn't expect too much from him.

"I disagree. You're the only one in the world who could." His tone left no room for complaints. It sounded like a direct order from an emperor to his empress. Unfortunately, she wasn't the kind of person who would fight with a mistress. Don't get her wrong, she would never let herself be treated as a substitute to someone else. She would never let herself be a tool to please others.

"I won't. I can't." She pushed past his embrace. She picked up a stone and threw it into the lake. "Let's go check on Eva and Jim."

He heaved a deep sigh, feeling helpless and disappointed.

She was sending him mixed signals and it was frustrating him.

As soon as they stood up, they heard a scream from the other side of the lake.

Meanwhile, Eva realized she had caught a bucket full of crabs. There were only a few fish in Jim's bucket.

Obviously, she won.

She didn't know that Essie had changed the bait. In her excitement over her victory, her foot slipped and she fell into the lake.

Eva knew she had to swim. That much, her brain tried to tell her body to move, to swim, to do anything to survive. But a memory of her drowning before flashed before her eyes and her body immediately froze.

All her fear was aroused. She tried to fight the fear away. Her limbs awkwardly flailed against the water. But she was beginning to drink some lake water already.

Ivy and Daisy saw when Eva fell and tried to call for help.

But before anyone else could, Jim had already jumped into the water. William followed him, too.

By the time Essie and Zac arrived at the scene, the men had already successfully saved and pulled Eva out of the water.

Eva had already passed out, which terrified Essie.

Jim quickly administered CPR on Eva, losing no time before she was coughing up water and gasping for air. Her eyes widened as her lungs filled with air.

around them breathed a

finally calmed down enough to stop coughing, Essie and Daisy tried to

you all right?" Essie asked as she rubbed her best friend's

I just choked up a bit back there." Eva took three deep breaths. She had been terrified while she was underwater. But then she remembered what happened before she slipped. Trying her best to overcome

even gave you a CPR after you passed out," Daisy

CPR?

Eva froze.

mean... he placed his mouth on her own? Like

God! Did that bastard steal

burst into tears, which scared Essie and

you in

wave her concern off as she continued to sniffle. "You can leave now.

look before she nodded her head

alone and joined the rest of the

with

serious. Just a little scared. Let's give her some rest," Essie

so weird. I told her that

face at Jim and said, "Brother Jim, maybe

coughed and pretended he did not hear what Holy said. Was this woman insane? She had fallen into a lake and could have drowned to death. Why was she blubbering over an almost-kiss? Did she think he would like to kiss her while she had passed out? What a joke!

took a long time before Eva came downstairs with bloodshot eyes. It seemed like she cried hard and long for her

and said as haughtily as she

over his chest. He had

Jim and Eva. Her

But don't tell it to others," Eva

What?

seemed like her pronouncement shocked two people in the living room: Jim

Eva could have forced him to

wanted to record every tiny detail of her face into his mind. "I promise you,"

weakened. She asked, "Ice guy, did

comforted her in a low voice.

Could it be?

buried her head into Zac's arms again. How did things turn out to

scene in the living room,

talking and laughing as they feasted on good food, but Eva was strangely quiet. Essie did not know if it was because of the kiss or

was to

they all went to their

us anytime, okay?" Essie said to

yesterday and brought the evil witch some news. You must be careful." Although Alice and Holy weren't staying the family manor anymore, they still had servants in their pockets ready to tell them information as they