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Chapter 179 Shattered Facades
Chapter 179 Shattered Facades
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Zacharias froze when his gaze collided with another pair of eyes–cold, fathomless, and sharp enough to cut. Jonathan’s stare hit him like an icy blade, carrying the kind of warning that
could freeze the entire pool solid.
Jonathan?! What’s he doing here?
The shock slammed into Zacharias‘ chest like a heavy hammer. His heart squeezed painfully as he saw Jonathan holding Anneliese. She clung tightly to his neck, her body limp against him, surrendering herself completely as he swam her toward the far side of the pool.
All the strength drained out of Zacharias. He stayed rooted in the water, forgetting to move, forgetting even to climb out.
Breaking through the surface, Anneliese gasped as fresh air rushed into her lungs. She coughed hard, still choking on the water. Jonathan kept one arm firmly around her while his other arm cut through the pool with steady power, carrying her swiftly to the edge.
“Mr. Fullbuster, this way!”
Zion was already waiting there.
Just minutes earlier, he had parked the car and reached for the handle to open Jonathan’s door, only for Jonathan to bolt out on his own.
Zion had followed his line of sight and saw Selina and Zacharias leap from the terrace. By the time he blinked, Jonathan was gone. Zion had rushed back to grab a blanket before running straight toward the White family’s garden.
Still out of breath, he dropped to his knees at the poolside. Seeing Anneliese drenched and pale, he didn’t care about propriety–he grabbed her arm and hauled her up with Jonathan’s help.
She collapsed to her knees, coughing hard.
Jonathan surged up out of the pool, snatched the cashmere blanket from Zion’s arms, and bent to wrap it snugly around her shivering frame. “The ground’s freezing,” he said, scooping her up. without hesitation.
Anneliese curled into him under the blanket, trembling. Instinctively, her arms went around his neck, and she pressed herself closer. He was soaked and freezing too, but she felt only warmth and safety in his hold.
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Chapter 179 Shattered Facades
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How many times has he saved me now? I really don’t know how I’ll ever repay this debt.
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Her dazed thoughts wandered as Jonathan glanced down at her. She leaned into him with unguarded trust, and his long lashes caught the droplets of water, blinking with a glint of quiet satisfaction.
Zion hurried after them, picking up Jonathan’s discarded cashmere coat from the grass and draping it over his shoulders.
By then, the commotion had spread. Guests rushed out from the banquet hall, voices rising in alarm.
Melanie and Timothy were among them. Their eyes went wide at the sight of Selina soaked through, kneeling pitifully on the ground with her face red from Jessica’s slaps.
Christopher stormed forward and shoved Jessica back. “How dare you assault a White on our estate grounds?”
Jessica staggered two steps and nearly fell back into the pool.
Seeing Christopher shielding Selina like a precious chick while Timothy and Melanie pulled her up and fussed over her, fury burned hot in her veins. She glared at Christopher, then turned on the crowd with a sharp voice.
“Everyone, look! The imposter heiress, eaten up with jealousy, just pushed the Whites‘ real daughter off the terrace! She even clung to her brother–in–law to get him to save her, ignoring his wife’s life completely!”
Her words cut through the noise like a blade. Gasps and whispers rippled through the crowd.
Christopher’s face darkened, his eyes blazing. He grabbed Jessica by the arm. “Shut up! Stop spouting nonsense!”
“What nonsense? I saw it with my own eyes!” Jessica yanked against his hold, her voice carrying even farther.
When he refused to release her, she lifted her knee, aiming straight between his legs. He let go instantly, but she pressed the advantage and kicked the back of his knee.
They had been standing right at the edge, and with that kick, Christopher toppled into the pool–splashing Zacharias full in the face as he swam past.
Selina, meanwhile, had just been helped up by Melanie. She leaned pitifully into her, preparing to sob out her grievances to her parents. But Jessica’s voice rang out again, and Selina nearly choked on her own breath. She looked up with a pale face, ready to defend
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9:41 Thu, Sep 11
Chapter 179 Shattered Facades
herself, when Christopher fell into the water.
“Chris!”
“Christopher White fell in!”
“Quick, someone bring a towel!”
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