Chapter 74: The Bridge Jump

Isabella's POV

I turned and walked away, not wanting to look at his face for even another second. Without my coat, the damn wind cut through me like knives straight to the bone. I hugged myself tightly, rubbing my arms vigorously, just wanting to get as far away from him as possible.

"Get back in the car."

His commanding tone made me continue walking without looking back, until his hand grabbed my arm, effortlessly pulling me back. I tried hard to shake him off, but it was like hitting a brick wall—completely impossible.

"Let go," I hissed through clenched teeth.

Those bottomless eyes of his narrowed as he looked down at me.

"It's just a coat. Is it really worth being this upset?"

I felt tears welling up again. Damn it, why was I so weak? I'd just finished crying, and here I was ready for round two? But this wasn't about some "stupid coat." This was about his tyranny! How he so casually ruined my expensive clothes just because he felt like it!

"I'll buy you ten, a hundred, a thousand. I'll cover your clothes for the rest of your life," his tone softened, but I could still hear that resentment underneath, like he couldn't understand why I cared so much about that coat.

I didn't even bother explaining. "Wow, how generous of you. No thanks. Please take your hand off my arm."

"Isabella..."

"Let go, please."

His fingers suddenly tightened, almost painfully. "You really need this specific coat?"

"Yes."

"You really care about it that much?"

"Yes." I looked up, staring directly into his eyes, hoping he could see just how much I despised him right now.

A flash of pain crossed his expression. "Fine."

Ethan's mouth twisted into a smile that was so bitter it made my heart tighten. Before I could react, he tossed his black overcoat aside, grabbed the railing, and smoothly vaulted over.

My heart seemed to skip a beat.

"Ethan!" I screamed, rushing to the railing. The river below was dark and gleaming, looking mercilessly cold. Minutes ago I was furious with him, now I was terrified for him—this conflicting emotion was driving me crazy.

A car screeched to a halt nearby. "Oh my God, someone jumped!" a passerby shouted, running over. "It's so high... how do we help?"

I couldn't speak, couldn't move, my heart pounding like it would burst, my eyes fixed on the water's surface. All those angry words suddenly became completely meaningless. It seemed like centuries passed before his head finally broke the surface, and I could breathe again. He swam powerfully, cutting through the freezing water toward the shore.

"Holy shit, I thought it was a suicide attempt, but it's an extreme winter swimmer?" the passerby said, looking completely baffled.

I didn't have time to answer, racing along the bridge toward the shore, following the direction of Ethan's swimming. The cold air burned in my lungs like fire, and I nearly slipped several times.

When I reached the riverbank, Ethan had already climbed out, completely soaked, his clothes clinging to his body, water still dripping from his hair.

I stood there breathless, watching him wipe the water from his face, shake the droplets from his hair, and walk toward me. He was holding that soaking wet coat, his expression unreadable.

When he handed the coat to me, that bone-chilling cold spread from my fingertips throughout my entire body. Without saying a word, Ethan brushed past me and walked away.

I stood there holding the dripping coat, completely stunned. Minutes ago I was cursing him, and now he'd jumped into an icy river for a coat. What kind of lunatic would do that? Why was he always so extreme in everything he did? The wet coat felt heavy in my hands, weighing me down like the tangled mess in my heart.

That night I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ethan unhesitatingly jumping over the railing, and those few seconds when I feared he might never resurface played like a nightmare on repeat in my mind.

The next morning, I dragged my aching body out of bed. As I headed toward the kitchen, I heard Olivia talking on the phone in the living room, her voice so sickeningly sweet it gave me goosebumps.

"Victor darling, when are you coming to see me? I miss you so much~"

"I heard your mom's been setting you up with potential matches? If you're looking to get married, aren't I the perfect choice? Why bother looking elsewhere?"

Her giggly, affected manner made me nauseous. "No, no, I don't want to be your sister, I want to be your wife~"

I just wanted to grab some coffee and escape back to my room.

"Okay, okay, I won't distract you from work. Bye-bye~"

The moment she hung up, her voice instantly reverted to normal.

"Well, well, if it isn't Isabella," Olivia put down her phone, her hand with perfectly polished nails, turning to look at me with eyes that seemed to regard me as something dirty. "Doing pretty well lately, huh? I heard you're trending? Now you're the designer everyone's raving about?"

I ignored her, focusing on pouring my coffee.

"From what I've read, you got famous through the Horizon project? My brother helped you, didn't he?"

The coffee smelled wonderful, but I'd completely lost my appetite. I maintained my silence, keeping my expression blank.

"Ethan never does anything without getting something in return," her eyes scanned me from head to toe, her lips curled in a sneer that made me want to slap her. "What did you give him? Your body? Come on, what else do you have that would interest him?"

I gripped my mug tightly, my knuckles turning white, but I kept quiet. Over the years, I'd learned that silence was the best counter to people like her.

"How many nights did you spend in his villa to earn this kind of treatment?" She stepped closer, her perfume so strong it almost made me sneeze. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"

I finally looked up, meeting her gaze calmly, though my heart raced irritably when she mentioned Ethan. "Olivia, if you're so curious, why don't you just ask your brother directly?"

She was visibly taken aback, her expression faltering. We both knew she would never dare ask Ethan such a thing. But she quickly recovered her arrogant demeanor.

"Isabella, don't get too comfortable. Your good days are numbered. Your mother will spend the rest of her life in prison. No one can save you."

Those words froze me completely, a chill creeping into my heart.

Back in my room, I immediately locked the door, my hands shaking so badly I could hardly hold my phone.

"Mom, where are you?" I asked urgently the moment she answered.

"At work, honey. What's wrong?" Mom's voice was so calm, clearly unaware of any danger.

"Mom, I'm coming to find you right now. Just stay at the company, don't go anywhere, okay?"

"Isabella, what's happening? What's wrong?" Her voice grew tense.

"Just... stay there. Please." I hung up quickly, not wanting her to ask more questions.

Every step in the Black household felt like walking through a minefield, with potential enemies at every turn. I hastily grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

Just as I stepped outside, I saw two figures on the garden path. Samuel was half-dragging, half-carrying someone who was hanging limply on his shoulder—it was Ethan! The usually impeccable, controlling man was now disheveled, his hair a mess, his entire body as limp as if his bones had dissolved.

Had he been drinking since his river plunge last night?

"Isabella!" Samuel's handsome face lit up with relief when he saw me.

I stood frozen, not knowing how to react. "Um... hi."

Samuel adjusted his grip, as Ethan nearly slipped off his shoulder. "Quick, help me get your brother back to his room. He's drunk."