Chapter 7
Ivy blinked, disoriented. “Nothing. Just a dream—Grandma said she’d take me away.”
Landon studied her in silence, half believing, half not. He touched her forehead. “Your fever finally broke.”
His expression grew complicated. “Chloe, do you… hate me?”
She looked at him, a little lost, and shook her head.
He clasped her small hand, eyes brightening. “You really like me that much?” She had no answer.
His phone rang—Shannon. “Landon, I want Ivy’s seafood congee.”
Ivy lowered her gaze. “Okay. I’ll make it for her.”
A few days later Shannon was discharged. She dragged Landon out deep-sea fishing and insisted Ivy come along.
Ivy didn’t want to go. “Let’s all go,” Landon said mildly. “Don’t spoil the mood.”
On the luxury yacht the wind was fierce. Shannon and Landon were like conjoint twins. Ivy felt she was an outsider.
The ocean at night was a sheet of endless black—scenery she had always hated. As a child, before they sent her to the countryside, every time her sister framed her, her parents locked Ivy in a dark room to “reflect.” She hated the dark. She hated nights.
The boat pitched on slick decks. Ivy gripped the rail, stomach heaving. Open water scared her now—especially since she’d been forced into that lake.
“Chloe! Come quick! Dolphins!” Shannon waved from the stern, beaming.
Liar. Ivy knew better than to trust her. But… dolphins. The creatures she’d longed to see with her own eyes since she was small. Just one look.
She stumbled toward the stern. The waves rose, nearly flipping the yacht.
A violent tilt—Shannon “lost her balance” and slammed into Ivy. A wall of water crashed down.
"Ah!" “
Shannon screamed and grabbed her arm.
They fell together into the sea. Salt and cold rammed into Ivy’s nose and lungs; her waist screamed with pain—she’d hit a protruding screw on the hull on the way down, slicing the skin. Blood feathered into the water.
“Help—help!” She flailed, but the swells were too strong. She was at the ocean’s mercy.
“Save them! Now!” Chaos erupted on deck.
“Save Shannon first!” Landon’s roar split the wind.
Ivy’s hand hung in the dark water. She almost stopped fighting. She’d known he would say it—but the despair still hollowed her out.
Searchlights smeared pale paths over the waves. Shannon sobbed and begged; a life ring arced precisely toward her, and the rescuers dove to her side. No one looked toward Ivy.
Water filled her ears. The world blurred.
Cold. Dark. Hopeless. Like being buried alive.
“Blood!” a crewman shouted. “Sharks will come!”
Sharks? Ivy almost laughed. Compared to sharks… Landon Moore was scarier.
In the Hayes house, her parents always took her sister’s side: “Ivy, why are you always bullying your sister? Such a nasty mind at your age—what will you be when you grow up?”
In the Moore house, Landon always chose Shannon: “Save Shannon first!”
No one loved her—except Grandma.
Grandma. She almost saw the kind, wrinkled smile, felt the papery hand on her cheek. “Ivy, live.”
Don’t die. She kicked hard—broke the surface in a choking gasp.
“Is Shannon okay?” “Get towels!” On deck, Landon wrapped Shannon in a blanket, eyes tender as if cradling a jewel.
Ivy still drifted in the water. Blood kept streaming; strength leaked away. At last— “Where’s Mrs. Moore? Save Mrs. Moore!” Someone finally remembered her. Too late. Her consciousness unraveled and sleep pulled her under.
When she woke again, she was in the hospital. Ever since Shannon’s return, they lived in hospitals.
Shannon lay on the neighboring bed. Landon touched her forehead. “Landon, I want an apple. Peel it for me,” Shannon whispered. “Okay. But if the peel breaks, you won’t eat it, right?” he teased. “Fine—you win.” He picked a big red apple and carefully shaved the peel into one long ribbon.
He didn’t even notice Ivy had woken—not until a nurse came to change her dressing. “Miss Hayes, you’re awake. You’ve got pulmonary edema—we’ll start antibiotics. Mind your breathing from now on.” “Thank you.”
Landon glanced over—only for Shannon to chime in, “Landon, the peel is about to break.” “Right.” He finished, cut the apple into small pieces, speared one with a fork, and fed it to Shannon.
“Landon brother, feed me!”
He helplessly took another piece of apple and put it into Shannon mouth.
Ivy turned her face away—she didn’t want their love show.
After the nurse left, Landon approached Ivy’s bed, gaze like ice. “Did you push Shannon into the sea?” His voice was as cold and frightening as the water that night.
“I didn’t.” She was too weak to argue, and she knew he’d only ever believe Shannon.
“Still denying it? I thought you were truly magnanimous. Turns out it was an act. I actually let you fool me.” He leaned down and clamped her arm. The smell of smoke on him sent Ivy into harsh coughs. She coughed so hard blood splattered onto the white sheets.
Landon froze.
Shannon noticed the commotion. “Landon, I’m fine. Don’t blame Miss Hayes. Look at her—she’s so sick it hurts to see.”
“Let it go.”
Landon pointed at Ivy. “See how magnanimous Shannon is? Learn from her. But wrongdoing brings consequences. I’m transferring you to a standard ward—you won’t get in Shannon’s way there.”
Soon, Ivy was wheeled to a three‑bed room.
