The cold winter night offered no light; everything was shrouded in darkness. I plunged into the icy water, fumbling blindly as I searched.
Finally, my fingers grazed something sharp. Hope surged through me as I grabbed it. By the faint light, I saw it—it was my jade pendant.
But it was broken.
In the dead of winter, the freezing water clung to my skin, mocking my misery.
Clutching the shattered pendant to my chest, I collapsed into sobs, unable to contain the overwhelming despair.
Jameson arrived moments later, pulling me out of the water in a panic.
My entire body was trembling, my lips purple with cold, but my eyes burned with hatred.
I pushed him away, carefully placed the broken pendant aside, then stormed toward Yvette and slapped her hard across the face.
Her lip split, blood trickling down the corner of her mouth. But it wasn’t enough—I raised my hand to hit her again.
Before I could, Jameson rushed forward and shoved me aside, stopping me in mid-swing.
My hand slammed into the shards of the jade pendant, reopening a wound that had just begun to heal. Blood streamed down my palm, staining it crimson. But I felt nothing.
Consumed by rage, I lunged at Yvette once more, determined to hurt her.
Slap!
A sharp sound rang in the air as pain erupted across my cheek. Jameson had struck me.
His hand trembled after the slap.
"Lauren, calm down!"
I stared at him, disbelief and anguish filling my eyes.
Without hesitation, I raised my hand and slapped him back with all my strength.
Furious, he grabbed my wrist tightly, his gaze burning with anger. "Lauren, you can take out your frustrations on me, but you can't hurt Yvette!"
“Even stubbornness has its limits. I’ll replace your pendant, but now, apologize to Yvette.”
I felt like I was on the verge of madness, unable to bear the humiliation and betrayal any longer.
As Jameson gripped the back of my neck, trying to force me to apologize, I bit down on his arm with all the strength I had left.
Blood seeped through the fabric of his white shirt, spreading into a crimson stain.
I refused to let go until Yvette pushed me away in a panic.
I fell back into the pool. The icy water embraced me once more, seeping into my bones.
Above me, I could hear the distant strains of cheerful music, "Happy New Year," and fireworks exploding in the sky.
But it all seemed so far away, mocking my pathetic state.