In the backyard of the villa, by the pool.
Ella stood shivering at the pool’s edge, wearing a revealing swimsuit. She eyed the shimmering water with a pleading look directed at Eric. "Eric, the weather tonight... it suddenly turned cold. You know it rained this afternoon, and I don’t feel like swimming—I’d rather run!"
Eric, wearing only a pair of swim trunks, leaned casually against the poolside cabinet, his toned eight-pack on full display. "Jump in now, or face the consequences!" he smirked.
Ella pouted, grumbling, "Eric, you don’t care about me at all! You don’t spoil me, you don’t love me!"
Eric shook his head in amused frustration. He doted on her endlessly, or so he thought! Ella needed regular exercise to stay healthy, and swimming had benefits that running couldn’t offer—plus, a quick dip in cool water could boost her circulation. And tonight’s weather was just brisk, not cold.
"If you delay any longer, you will be punished by swimming ten more laps!" Eric chuckled. "Or better yet, if you don’t jump in now, I’ll toss you in myself and then... handle the punishment upstairs!"
Ella shot him an angry look. "Eric, you’re terrible!"
Eric raised a brow smugly. "And if I weren’t, would you love me?"
Ella couldn’t argue—she knew all too well the consequences of defying Eric. She remembered the last time he’d pushed her into the pool at his private villa... and the aftermath was definitely memorable.
Why did she always end up on the losing side with this man?
Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and, like a fish leaping from a river, dove gracefully into the water with a splash.
She wasn’t the same timid swimmer she used to be.
In the pool, Ella swam tirelessly, lap after lap.
Eric watched her with a gleam of pride in his eyes. This little woman had come a long way, transforming from a beginner to an adept swimmer with his endless patience and encouragement.
He was glad. At least now, in his absence, she’d have an extra skill to keep herself safe.
Ella glided gracefully through the water, as agile as a fish.
The sight made Eric’s pulse quicken, and he finally couldn’t resist joining her, diving in with a splash that sent waves cascading.
"Ella... I’m coming for you!" he called, a mischievous grin on his face. He was sure it wouldn’t take long before she’d be his "prey."
"If I catch you, you’ll have to serve me tonight!" Eric teased, to which Ella spluttered as she continued swimming furiously.
"As if! Men’s stamina is always better than women’s. Stop playing these games! If you want to compete, make it fair!" Ella panted, feeling the exhaustion slowly creeping in.
The pool was huge, and back when she was just learning to swim, a single lap had worn her out.
But now she could manage ten laps and keep going—proof that her endurance had greatly improved.
"Quiet down... Tonight, my words are the law," Eric laughed, picking up his speed.
Ella glanced back and saw him closing in. Startled, she summoned all her strength to swim faster.
One lap, two laps, three... her stamina was draining quickly.
Her breaths came heavier as her arms and legs began to feel numb. The initial chill of the water had long faded; now her body was warm, every pore open and breathing freely.
Eric’s devilish grin spread as he gained on her, his eyes fixed on his target. He reached out his long arm and, with one swift motion, caught her leg.
"Aah!" Ella shrieked, startled, and began to sink as he pulled her back toward him.
The water in the pool barely reached Ella’s chest, but as she went under, she swallowed a mouthful. "Cough... cough..." She choked, her body jolting as Eric swiftly scooped her up and carried her to the pool’s edge.
Her flushed face, from coughing, looked even more delicate, like a soft, blooming flower. Wet strands of her hair clung to her snowy shoulders, her elegant neck exposed. Eric’s gaze lingered, his throat tightening. As her coughs slowed, and she caught her breath, he leaned down, capturing her in a deep, fervent kiss.
Ella resisted briefly, but with her energy drained, she could only surrender, becoming Eric’s "prey," leaving her entirely at his mercy.
Amidst the soft splashes of water, her gentle sighs mingled with his heavy breaths as the night unfolded, full of shared warmth.
Later, as dawn approached, Ella blinked her eyes open, watching as Eric returned from the balcony. She lay languidly on the bed, her hair dried by his careful hands.
"Is something wrong?" she asked with a slight smile, raising an eyebrow.
Eric settled beside her, wrapping an arm gently around her waist. "There’s news," he murmured. "Hannah was adopted by the Miller noble family in Country W. Apparently, she resembles their late eldest daughter."
Ella’s face darkened slightly.
"The Miller family," she asked, "they’re quite influential, aren’t they?"
"Yes, very," Eric replied, his voice calm. "It seems Hannah isn’t hiding anymore. She’s making herself known in Country W, though she appears different—likely due to some high-level ’training.’"
"Send that file to my email," Ella requested, her tone resolute. She wanted to understand this new version of Hannah.
Eric nodded. "One more thing... my sources found out some details about your mother, from Sean and Julia. Apparently, she once dated a very handsome man whose identity was mysterious. He wore only custom-made clothing, a hint that he had some standing. However, few believed in the relationship, and people said your mother was only being played. Then, this man vanished, and shortly afterward, she hastily accepted Robert’s proposal."
Eric’s words rendered Ella silent.
A mysterious man who had disappeared without a trace.
Based on that description, it sounded like he was someone with some serious connections. Did her mother rush into marriage with Robert to avoid having a child out of wedlock?
Ella knew that in that era, society judged unwed mothers harshly, unlike today’s more accepting views.
Her mother, Isabella, likely wanted to protect Ella from a life filled with scorn and discrimination, so she married a man she didn’t love to secure Ella’s future.
As the thought settled, Ella felt an overwhelming sadness, realizing that, in a way, her mother’s tragic life was her own doing.
"What are you thinking?" Eric asked, brushing her cheek as he noticed her complex expression. "Are you wondering if that man didn’t abandon her but had another reason for leaving?"
Ella frowned, shooting him a glance. "Not really... I think she married Robert because she was already pregnant with me. So... in a way, I was the reason she ended up living such a hard life."