Chapter9 Sienna Quinn's hand slid where she wanted , pressing and stroking with a satisfied sigh . Whether by accident or design , her touch jolted Chase Rylan hard enough that the steering wheel jerked in his grip . The car veered , crashed through the guardrail - and plunged straight into the Merriton River . Boom ! Icy water surged into the cabin . Lydia Rivers's head spun from the impact , but instinct clawed her back . She snatched up the emergency hammer , smashing at the window until glass gave way . Water poured in as she forced herself through the opening - only to remember , with rising terror , that she couldn't swim . " Help Chase ! Help- " She choked on river water , flailing helplessly . Chase surfaced nearby , gasping . His gaze locked on Lydia thrashing in the current . He lunged toward her - until a scream ripped the air from the other side . " Chase ! Save me ! I can't swim - I'm drowning ! Please ! " Sienna shrieked , her voice piercing . He froze . His eyes darted from Lydia sinking deeper , to Sienna's panicked sobs . Conflict twisted in his face . Then , with a brutal clench of his jaw , he turned away from Lydia and swam for Sienna . Lydia saw the moment his back turned . The last ember of hope drowned with her . When she woke again , it was in her own bed . Chase sat beside her , hair damp , skin pale , eyes red - rimmed from exhaustion and fear . The instant her lashes fluttered , he grabbed her hand . " Lydia ! You're awake - you scared me half to death . I'm sorry ... I saved Sienna first because she couldn't swim at all . You looked like you were still hanging on , and she was about to go under . I had no choice ... She once helped me , and I owed her . I called rescue immediately - I went back for you right after ... " Lydia stared past him at the ceiling . His words washed over her , meaningless . When pain reached the point of breaking , it numbed into nothing . His phone rang . He glanced at the screen , torn . " Chase ? Where are you ? I'm scared ... I don't feel well ... Can you come ? " Sienna's fragile voice bled through . Chase looked down at Lydia , guilt writ clear . " Lydia , I ... " " Go . " Her eyes slid shut . He hesitated , then muttered , " I'll be back soon . Rest , " and hurried out . Days passed . He never returned . Sometimes Lydia opened Instagram and saw Sienna's Close Friends Only posts . X Chase asleep at her bedside , Chapter9 4091 % Their fingers entwined . X X Him slicing a Honeycrisp apple , the curve of his shoulders caught in warm light . 四 e was a knife turned in . Lydia felt nothing anymore , only dull emptiness . When graduation photos came in , she returned to campus . Walking the tree - lined path , she heard a sharp , pitiful cry - a cat's scream -from the Old Hall's fourth - floor balcony . She climbed quickly and found Sienna tormenting a terrified kitten , its tiny body shaking , cries desperate . " Stop ! " Lydia shoved her away , reaching for the cat . But Sienna clutched its leg , refusing to let go . They struggled - and then Sienna's lips curved in a strange smile . In the next heartbeat , she let herself fall backward off the balcony . Lydia gasped , instinctively reachin caught only the edge of Sienna's sleeve before it slipped away . At that split second , a figure sprinted below . Chase . He dove under Sienna's falling body , catching her with the full force of her weight . They tumbled hard to the ground , but he held tight , shielding her . " Are you okay ? What happened ? " he asked frantically , checking her face . Sienna clung to his shirt , tears spilling instantly . " Chase ... Lydia - she ... she pushed me . Maybe she's still angry you saved me first in the river . She wanted to get back at me ... " Lydia had just reached the bottom steps when she heard it . Rage shook her voice . " You're lying ! I didn't push you - you were hurting that kitten ! I tried to stop you , Sienna's sobs rose louder , her tone fragile as glass . and you " She's framing me . Everyone knows I love animals . Why would I ever hurt one ? " Chase's face hardened . His gaze sliced to Lydia . " I saw you , Lydia . You were standing right there when she fell ! You already shoved her once at the hospital , and now you escalate- pushing her from a balcony ? Do you realize if I hadn't caught her , she could've been crippled for life ? " " I didn't ! She jumped - don't you believe me ? " " I saw it with my own eyes ! " Chase's voice was ice . " I've been helping her , saving her , only to repay a debt . That's all ! But why can't you accept her ? Why do you keep targeting her , over and over? " Chapter9