Ariana inched forward, but Sadieâs venomous glare stopped her cold.
âStay back!â Sadie shouted.
âOne more step, and Iâll really kill Adele!â
Ariana froze, noticing with horror how precariously close Sadie was standing to the lake.
But it was too late.
Sadieâs body trembled violently, her mind lost in a haze of rage and madness.
Her foot slipped on the muddy bank.
She and Adele both fell into the lake.
Ariana dashed across the bridge, her footsteps echoing in a desperate attempt to reach Sadie and Adele before it was too late.
Yet, she didnât make it in time.
The usually tranquil lake now bore ripples that expanded in silent testimony to the unfolding drama.
âAdele!â Ariana cried out.
Her complexion was ashen.
Over the last five years, Ariana had mastered numerous skills, from learning psychology to calligraphy, and from playing musical instruments to painting.
She excelled in all but one area-swimming.
She was always afraid of water.
Despite her attempts to conquer this fear by hiring several professional instructors, the psychological barriers had proved too formidable.
She consistently abandoned her lessons halfway through.
Her inability to swim remained unchanged.
Peering down at Adele who had plunged into the lake, Ariana clenched her teeth, oblivious to the taste of blood in her mouth.
Her daughter was in peril.
Overcoming her deep-seated fear, Ariana knew she couldnât just stand by and watch her daughter drown.
With determination, Ariana leaped into the water to save Adele.
The lakeâs cold water enveloped her, sending a piercing chill through her body.
Taking two deep breaths, Ariana fought against her mounting fear.
She recalled her swimming instructorâs advice, trying to stay balanced while moving her limbs in a frog-like motion.
Slowly, she got closer to Adele.
âMom!â gasped Adele, water clogging her nose and mouth.
She struggled for breath and was on the verge of unconsciousness.
Ariana reassured Adele with soothing words and pushed Adele towards the shore.
However, this effort drained Arianaâs strength and oxygen.
Soon, she was choked by water.
She coughed twice, and water flooded inside her mouth.
Pain seared through her lungs, and she could no longer hold her breath.
Her limbs weakened, and her balance falteredâ¦
Panic was evident in Arianaâs expression.