She was gasping for breath. Her mouth and nose were filled with water, arms iling. "Casper... let me... out." He ignored her struggles. It was as if he was determined to scrub away every trace of Easton''s touch.


    Eliza''s delicate skin was now marked with red trails, every inch he scrubbed leaving a bloody streak.


    "Tell me, where else did he touch you?"


    He was practically peeling her skin off.


    Eliza had swallowed too much water, her strength ebbing away. Her body gradually stopped fighting, bing limp, until she slid uncontrobly into the bathtub.


    Just as her face slipped beneath the water, a pair of strong hands pulled her out.


    "Eliza, Eliza," he tapped her face lightly. "Don''t you y dead on me. We''re not done here."


    She didn''t respond. She looked lifeless, water filling her eyes and ears.


    Casper panicked, checking for her breath, his pupils shrinking in fear. "Eliza, wake up, please wake up."


    "Eliza,e on, wake up."


    She was still, like a cold, unresponsive Sleeping Beauty.


    Frantic, he carried her out of the bathroom,id her on the floor, and started CPR. "I won''t let you die. You can''t die. Breathe,e on, breathe! You hear me?" His eyes were bloodshot. His lips trembled.


    He took a deep breath, lowered his head, and breathed air into her lungs. "Eliza, I promised to spare your brother. You can''t die. Wake up."


    "Wake up, please, I''m begging you."


    He didn''t know how many cycles he performed.


    Over and over again, he didn''t stop for a second until she let out a faint cough. His heart, tight with fear, finally eased.


    "Eliza, I knew you wouldn''t die."


    Eliza was weak. Her mind was foggy.


    Casper called an ambnce, and Eliza was hospitalized again. She thought for sure this time she''d end up in hell, but she survived.


    Casper''s secretary sat across from


    her, watching with a nk


    expression. Mrs. Welton, you''re in the hospital way too often. You really don''t need to keep fighting with M. Casper. He''s doing all this for Welton International. If


    the


    have all the luxuries you''re used to,


    will you?" Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Faithe''s words cut deep as if it was all her fault. Eliza had nothing to say to Faithe. She gave her a cold nce and then looked away.


    Faithe noted her silence and spoke


    again, "Last night, Mr. Gillum was furious, and the contract didn''t get signed. It''s baffling. You had already left with him, so why did you return home? Do you realize how important thatnd is for Welton International? It''s a billion-dor project, the lifeline for thousands of employées."


    Faithe got more agitated, pushing her sses up her nose. "You''re really too irresponsible."


    Eliza smiled faintly.


    Faithe took that smile as


    indifference, her tone getting nastier. "Of course, you don''t work at Welton International, so you don''t know how tough things are. If Mr. Gillum sells thatnd to our rivals, we''ll lose many projects. It''s a domino effect. Surely, even a housewife can understand that, right?"


    "If Welton International copses under Mr. Casper''s leadership, you''re letting down everyone in the Welton family. And you still have the nerve to smile."