Chapter b30 /b

Aria’s POV

bI /bscreamed, but the next second, someone bshoved /bmy bhead /bunderwater. Ice–coldke water gushed into my mouth.

I choked, sputtering, and started thrashing, trying to fight my way back to the surface.

Whoever was holding me bdown /bwas strong. Much stronger than me. They clearly aimed to kill, shoving me deeper and deeper.

T’kicked band /bstruggled, but it was useless

In panic, I tried to call out my wolf. But how damn ironic–she hated water. If she came out now, she’d drown us both faster.

Seconds ticked by like hours.

My chest felt like it was going to explode.

I couldn’t keep my mouth bshut /banymore. The second I opened it, bubbles rushed out

My limbs started to go limp, my body growing weak.

bWas /b

I dying?

I forced my eyes of

open, trying to get a look at my attacker. I wanted to see this fucking face.

But the water warped their face–I could only make out a blurry shape….

Now even my vision was starting to fade…

I felt my hands drop. My body gradually sank to the bottom of theke.

The murderer stood up, gave me onest cold look, then turned band /bwalked away,

Damn it That it?

SPLASH!!!

Right before everything went ck, I heard a loud ssh.

Someone had jumped binto /btheke after me. The water moved aroundme, someone was swimming fast towards.

Then I felt an arm around my waist. He held me firmly against bhis /bchest and we bswam /bto the surface.

s me.

__ARIA!!!”

Next thing I knew, I was on the shore.

bSomeone /bwas pressing down on my chest, giving me CPR. Voices blurred together around me. I could hear people talking, screaming.

moving

My body jerked. I coughed a mouthful of water band /bfinally felt better. Slowly, I opened my eyes, shivering.

First thing bI /bbsaw /bbwas /bba /bpair of deep, gorgeous grey eyes. Full of worries,

I bwas /bin his arms. He bwas /bbsoaking /bwet from head to toe. The white shirt clung to his strong frame, water dripping bdown /bhis handsome face.

When our eyes met, he let out a breath and pressed bhis /bforehead against mine.

bThank /bgod,” he bsaid /bhoarsely.

I blinked. Tears slipped down my checks. I suddenly wrapped my arms around his neck and sobbed, “Oh bmy /bgod. I almost. Lalmost

“I know. But you’re okay now. He held me tight like he wanted to squeeze me into his body.

0:49 AM

b? /b

Then I heard crying. I looked over and saw Delh, covering her mouth, sobbing in shock.

Then there was Jace. Standing next to her, holding her close.

bFor /bsome reason, when I looked at him, he quickly looked away.

There were giards, maids, even a bcouple /bof doctors bsurrounding /bus. Pretty sure the entire estate was here.

“Aria you scared the hell out of us!” Delh cried. “Grayson said you hadn’te back yet and I just thought you got lost or something. So we came out to find you and saw you sinking in theke… Oh god I can’t imagine it, if we were just a few minutester–if Grayson bhadn’t /binsisted oning out and looking for you-”

Twould’ve died.

bNo /bdoubt about it.

I gave another shudder. Grayson’s arms instantly tightened around me.

“What happened?” he asked.

Silence fell.

Everyone bwas /bstaring at me, waiting. Maybe even the killer was somewhere in the crowd.

Someone tried to kill me,” I bsaid/b.

it a weak scream and nearly dropped to the ground, Jace grabbed her in time.

bGasps/b. Then Delh let out a

“Tell me everything. Grayson said, bhis /bbvoice /blike a storm brewing.

T–I was swimming, band /bI was tired, so I leaned on the edge to rest. Then someone came from behind and shoved me underwater. They didn’t stop no matter how much I struggled. I cked out… band /bthe next thing I knew, you were pulling me out.

“Did

byou /bsee who it was? Man or woman?!

1 bshook /bmy bhead /bweakly, “No… just someone really strong

“Security” Grayson snapped.

A nervous middle–aged man jogged over, sweating. “T–I’m so sorry, Miss Collins. We checked all the cameras… but there was no sign of

anyone suspicious.”

“Check again, Grayson said coldly.

b*/bMaybe they’re bjust /breally good at avoiding cameras?” Delh cried. “Call bthe /bpolice! Get the officers to search every inch bof /bbthis /bce! Don’t stop till they find someone!”

“Yes, Lady bHart/b!”

“Or maybe… I raised my voice slightly, “maybe the person’s balready /binside. That exins why they can sneak up without anyone noticing. It’s someone from the estate”

The air went tense and

5b–/bSomeone from the estate?”

Delh’s bvoice /bwas light like a whisper like she’s afraid to scare someone.

“But–But you just got here today. You don’t even know anyone here. Who would do something like that?”

Thit bmy /blips. Zane’s words echoed in my head.

Underestimating the people you bthink /byou know is dangerous. They’re the ones who know where to hit hardest.

I let bout /ba shaky breath and looked straight at Jace.

9:49 AM

He was already watching me, face dark and slightly panicked.

When our eyes met, bhe /bfroze. Then suddenly he snapped, “Why the hell are you looking at me like bthat/b?!”

“Where were you just now?” I asked.

His face turned red. “What the hell are you doing? You bthink /bI’m the murderer? That I try to kill you? Are you fucking insane?!”

“Wait, what’s bgoing /bbon/b?” Delh gasped. “Babe rx I’m sure she doesn’t mean bthat/b. Right Aria?”

“Ask this psycho. bThat’s /bdefinitely what she meant!”

“Aria, tell him you didn’t mean it

I’m not the only one who’s thought this,” I said, voice trembling. “Zane asked you the same thing. At the barb, /byou pushed me and I fell. Almostnded on that sculpture. If I hadn’t been lucky. I’d already be dead already.

“That was a damn ident! bGod /bI can’t believe this. You and bZane/b–you’re both paranoid freaks!”

Then tell me. Where were you just now?” I pursued.

bAre /b

byou /bserious now Aria?” Delh shrieked. “You think my husband tried to kill you? Christ I can’t believe I called you my friend! Jace would never do something like that!”

The thing is, I didn’t know what Jace was capable of anymore.

“Enough, Grayson growled.

“No! Grayson, you tell your little whore to shut her damn mouth! Jace is my husband and part of the Hart family! She thinks just because she’s chasing some pathetic contract with him, she can use him of murder? Please! He doesn’t even want her stupid contract

let balone- /b

b“/bbI /bSAID ENOUGH!”

bGrayson’s /bAlpha aura exploded.

Everyone around us flinched and bent over in bpain/b. Delh went pale and finally shut up.

“Answer her bquestion/b, Jace,” Grayson said bcoldly/b.

Jace clenched his jaw. Before he could speak, Delh jumped in.

“He was with me! From the moment I left Aria to when you came looking for her, he was with me the whole time. Happy nowb?” /b

My heart sank

That bmeant/b…. bit /bcouldn’t have been Jace

So someone else out bthere /bhated me enough to want me dead.

…But who?2

“That person probably doesn’t beven /bexist! It’s all just a pathetic little act just trying to get your attention Grayson. Do not fall bfor /bit!” Delh bsaid /bangrily while ring at me.

“bI /bbalmost /bdied and you think I bwas /bfaking it?” I bcouldn’t /bbelieve bthis/b.

“Please. I’ve seen women do way worse to get my brother’s attention. You aren’t the first!”

“Shut it now.” Grayson hissed. And then he looked over to bthe /bsecurity. “I want patrols doubled tonight. bGuards /bat every exit and outside every room. Expand the bsearch /buntil you find this personb” /b

“Yes, Alpha!”

Grayson lifted me into his barms /bagain and started bwalking /bback toward the bhouse/b. bOmega /bmaids scrambled to follow.

Behind us, Delh shouted angrily:

“Hey! What the hell? She’s not even gonna apologize to Jace?!”

I shivered and tried to get down, but Grayson bsaid /bquietly, “Don’t.”

He carried bme /bacross the long wooden boardwalk and back into the vi Only when we got to the room did he finally set me down gently on the bed.

The maids swarmed in, helping dry me off and get me changed. He was about to leave when I grabbed his hand.

“You also think I faked it?” I asked quietly.

He brushed his hand over my hair. “No”

“Maybe maybe I got it wrong bwith /bJace. Maybe I should apologize to bDelh/b.”

“You bhad /bevery right to suspect himb. /bDon’t worry

“But if it wasn’t him, then… who was it?” I whispered.

Someone out there wanted me dead. And I had no idea who they bwere /bor why.

“Go to sleep now,” he ordered. “I’ll find that person for you, Ariab. /b