Charles Yin didn't think much and dove in immediately. He saw a woman who had lost control of her body, sinking rapidly toward the bottom!
Lydia Lin had been practicing holding her breath underwater the whole time, completely unaware of Charles Yin and Max Mo's arrival.
The moment she couldn't hold it anymore and burst to the surface, before she could react, someone slammed into her hard from behind.
In the next instant, Lydia Lin's mind was filled with a single thought: Crap! I can't move...
However, as Lydia Lin's body continued to fall uncontrollably, she suddenly saw Charles Yin diving straight toward her!
This was her chance! Lydia Lin opened her mouth and a string of bubbles escaped...
Seeing the bubbles coming from her mouth, Charles Yin sped up, grabbed Lydia Lin into his arms, and turned to break through the water's surface.
Lydia Lin naturally collapsed into Charles Yin's embrace.
Holding Lydia Lin, Charles Yin quickly broke through the surface. Max Mo swam over to help support Lydia Lin, and they got her onto shore fast.
When Charles Yin's gaze landed on Lydia Lin's face, he was clearly stunned!
"Lydia Lin?" Charles Yin paused, reaching out to pat Lydia Lin's face. "Hey, wake up!"
"President Yin knows her too?" Max Mo's blue eyes flashed with a sharp glint.
A man's intuition told him that Charles Yin knew this woman—and not just in a casual way.
Charles Yin didn't answer Max Mo. Instead, he began pressing on Lydia Lin's chest, forcing out all the water she'd swallowed.
Cecilia Gu and Rona Muir were chatting outside when someone rushed over, calling out, "Mrs. Yin, something's wrong! The CEO hit someone at the pool. Do you want to go check?"
What? Someone got hurt at the pool?
What happened?
Cecilia Gu and Rona Muir quickly stood up and hurried over.
Cecilia Gu's mind raced, wondering if Charles Yin was the one who got hurt.
Just as the two of them reached the pool entrance, they heard someone inside suddenly cough up a mouthful of water.
Cecilia Gu breathed a sigh of relief and reached out to push open the door.
At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly burst out crying.
Cecilia Gu recognized Lydia Lin's voice and, with a forceful push, flung the door open!
Just as Cecilia Gu was about to ask Lydia Lin something, she saw Lydia suddenly get up and throw herself into Charles's arms. "Charles, I'm so scared! Sob... I thought I was going to die! Charles... you've already punished me enough, please forgive me!"
Cecilia Gu was instantly frozen in place, her face going pale!
Rona Muir followed behind, silently observing the situation.
When Charles saw Rona Muir, his expression turned to disgust and he tried to push her away.
But Rona Muir clung tightly to his neck and said, "Charles! I know you never really forgot me! You only married Cecilia Gu because she was pregnant with your child—it was just a fake marriage! Charles, I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong! Now I realize, I really can't live without you. If I lose you, I'll die!"
Max Mo looked up and saw Cecilia Gu standing at the door.
The hurt in Cecilia Gu's eyes made Max Mo's heart ache.
"Charles, I saw everything when you saved me just now. You still care about me! You're only keeping your distance because of your status and Cecilia Gu's pregnancy, right?" Lydia Lin clung tightly to Charles, crying, "Charles, I don't blame you! I'm willing to be your woman—even if I have no title, I don't care! Charles, I really love you!"
Charles stared at Lydia Lin, completely unmoved.
"Even though you've always kept it from me, I know you and Cecilia Gu are just contract spouses! All that affection between you two is just an act for others! Charles, look at me, okay? I'm the one who truly loves you!" Lydia Lin leaned in and tried to kiss Charles.
Cecilia Gu saw that Charles didn't push Lydia Lin away, and the color drained from her face.
Lydia Lin had already seen Cecilia Gu—everything she said earlier was meant for her to hear!
Sure enough, Cecilia Gu couldn't stay any longer and stumbled out of the pool room.
Rona Muir took a deep look at the couple still embracing by the pool, then turned to follow Cecilia Gu.
Max Mo made a snap decision and stood up, turning to leave.
This was Charles Yin's private matter—it wasn't appropriate for him to stay.
Seeing Lydia Lin try to kiss him, Charles's lips curled into a cold smile. "You really are calculating, aren't you? Waiting for me here? Who let you in?"
Feeling Charles Yin's cold indifference, Lydia Lin tried even harder to kiss him.
Charles Yin reached out, pulled Lydia Lin off him, and straightened up.
Someone nearby handed over a bathrobe, and Charles Yin quickly tied the belt.
"Go back to where you came from." Charles Yin tossed out the words and turned to leave.
Suddenly, Lydia Lin found the strength to get up from the floor and rushed to hug Charles Yin from behind.
"Charles Yin, can you just let me finish? Once I say everything, I'll leave!" Lydia Lin clung tightly to Charles's waist and said, "Do you think I got in here on my own? Of course I came in with Cecilia Gu! This place—without her inviting me, there's no way I could've gotten in!"
"What did you say? Cecilia Gu?" Charles Yin stopped in his tracks, his face darkening as he grabbed Lydia Lin's arm and demanded, "Explain yourself!"
With tears in her eyes, Lydia Lin put on a pitiful look and sobbed, "Cecilia Gu told me that she and you are just contract spouses, and after she gives birth she'll leave the Yin family! She knows we're the ones who truly love each other, and she wants to give you back to me! Since she's going to leave anyway, she said we should restore our relationship sooner. Charles Yin, I promise you—I can give you a child too..."
Veins bulged on Charles Yin's forehead!
Cecilia Gu, you've really outdone yourself!
The baby isn't even born yet, and you're already planning your escape, aren't you?
Do you think I can't live without you once you leave, Charles Yin?
Seeing Charles Yin getting worked up, Lydia Lin continued to wipe away her tears and said, "Charles Yin, I don't know why Cecilia Gu suddenly came to me and said all this. But I truly love you, I really can't live without you! Even if Cecilia Gu humiliates me, so what? As long as I can be by your side, no matter how much she humiliates or scolds me, I can endure it!"
"Charles Yin, even if I'm the woman behind your back, I'm willing. I'll wait for you to divorce Cecilia Gu! I'll treat this child as my own and love it!" Lydia Lin kept going, "Cecilia Gu has entrusted you and the baby to me, and I promise I won't let you down!"
Charles Yin couldn't listen anymore. He pushed Lydia Lin away and turned to leave!
Cecilia Gu stumbled forward, her steps faltering.
That scene instantly stung Cecilia Gu's eyes—and her heart.
She had just made up with her husband, and they'd finally held each other again...
Why does my heart hurt?
Shouldn't I feel nothing?
Charles Yin and I are just contract spouses. I've always known my existence only matters for giving birth to this child, so why does my heart still ache?
I'm supposed to leave sooner or later, so why do I feel so unwilling right now?
Cecilia Gu didn't notice Rona Muir and Max Mo catching up behind her; she just stumbled out alone.
"Cecilia, wait for me!" Rona Muir rushed forward and grabbed Cecilia's arm, finally stopping her.
"Cecilia..." Rona Muir suddenly didn't know what to say.
It seemed like every time Cecilia Gu was in trouble, Rona Muir would always be watching from the sidelines.
This kind of watching from the sidelines really isn't all that great.
"How did this happen? I thought Charles Yin treated you well, so how could it be..." Rona Muir trailed off, not knowing how to continue.
"That's right, Charles Yin and I are just contract spouses." Cecilia Gu lowered her eyes, trying her best to hide her emotions. "Do you look down on me? I sold myself for An Yi's sake."
"Don't talk about yourself like that." Rona Muir sighed. "You wouldn't have done this if you didn't have a reason, right?"
Cecilia Gu couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She trembled and said, "Rona, what should I do? Tell me, what should I do? Lydia Lin and Charles Yin..."
Cecilia Gu was at a loss for words.
Rona Muir gently patted Cecilia's back, saying nothing.
Cecilia Gu finally stopped hiding and told Rona everything that had happened between herself, Lydia Lin, and Charles Yin.
When Rona Muir heard how Lydia Lin had tricked Cecilia into Charles Yin's room, she felt absolutely terrible!
How could there be such a crazy best friend in the world!
The word 'best friend' is really wasted here!
"Lydia Lin has a brain tumor now, and she doesn't have much time left. I know she loves Charles Yin. Morally, I should let them be together, right? But Rona, I just can't do it, I really can't..." Cecilia Gu's tears poured down as she finally let out all the grievances she'd been holding back for so long.
Who could she talk to about all these grievances?
Should she tell her mother?
That would only make her mother worry even more!
She didn't even have someone she could confide in.
She could only grit her teeth and endure it alone!
But her endurance had its limits. She's human, not a machine—she really might break down!
Seeing Cecilia Gu so heartbroken and struggling, Rona Muir just patted her back and let her cry it out.
Max Mo stood quietly in the corner, listening to Cecilia Gu's words.
Even though he'd already investigated everything, hearing it from someone else was one thing, but hearing Cecilia say it herself was another.
He didn't know why, but hearing Cecilia Gu cry made Max Mo's heart ache.
He couldn't figure it out—did his heart ache because Cecilia reminded him of someone, or was it just pure concern for her?
Because, when they shook hands just now, he distinctly heard his heart pounding.
His heart was truly beating for Cecilia Gu...
—End of chapter—