Chapter 5

Theodore shoved Matilda aside, his eyes darting wildly through the crowd for that familiar figure. But there was nothing. Gemma was nowhere to be seen. His heart tightened as if gripped by an invisible hand, his breath catching in a sudden choke. "Where's Gemma?" he demanded, grabbing a waiter by the collar, his voice raw with desperation. The waiter trembled, pointing toward the lake. "I-I think I saw Ms. Hodge heading that way just now…" He dashed toward the lake like a man possessed. Without pausing to shed his suit jacket, he plunged straight into the icy water. Darkness enveloped him underwater, but he forced his eyes open. He strained until he caught sight of her—a faint silhouette drifting down like a fallen leaf. Gemma's hair floated around her, her skin pale and almost translucent. She saw him. For a fleeting moment, their gazes met through the water. There was no fear in her eyes, no trace of hatred, only a peaceful calm that felt almost like relief. Theodore's heart sank. She didn't want to live anymore. Just as his fingers were about to touch her, Matilda's piercing scream shattered the silence from the shore. "Theodore! Help me! I can't swim!" He froze. He glanced back at Matilda, who had somehow fallen into the water, then at Gemma, who had already closed her eyes. After a brief hesitation, he turned and swam toward Matilda. Gemma's consciousness began to fade. There was no pain—only cold. Maybe this was for the best, she thought. With only four days left, dying sooner or later made no difference. But fate wasn't done with her yet. When she opened her eyes again, the first thing she saw was Theodore's grim face. His hand shot up, gripping her throat, his voice as cold as ice. "Gemma! Was that some sick stunt to ruin Tilly's birthday party and get a reaction out of me? Or are you really trying to kill yourself?" She forced a weak smile. "I long for death every moment… You know that, don't you?" His grip tightened, his jaw clenched hard. "Don't even think about it. With all the bodyguards and private doctors in this house, even if you make it to Hell, I'll drag you back." His voice carried a madness bordering on obsession. "You're not dying without my permission. Mark my words, Gemma—you'll stay by my side and suffer for all eternity." The lack of oxygen made Gemma's vision go black. As she was on the verge of suffocating, he finally let go. "You ruined Tilly's birthday party," he said coldly. "So now you'll make it up to her with a proposal. Tomorrow, you'll arrange everything yourself. Disappoint me again, and you know what's coming." Her cough tore through her chest, her voice barely a whisper. "Alright." Theodore seemed even angrier. He stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Gemma didn't rest that entire night. Barely holding herself together, she personally oversaw the preparations for the proposal. The venue was extravagantly decorated. Crystal chandeliers cast shimmering light across the grand hall. A path of rose petals she had laid herself stretched from the entrance to the central stage. She stood in the shadows of a corner, watching Theodore slowly enter, holding Matilda's hand. Matilda wore the wedding dress Gemma had once dreamed of, her smile bright and radiant. Theodore, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, carried himself with refined elegance. "Tilly." He knelt on one knee at the center of the stage, pulling out a dazzling diamond ring from a velvet box. "Marry me. I'll love you forever and treat you well for the rest of our lives." His voice was impossibly tender, his eyes locked on Matilda. The guests erupted in cheers: "Say yes! Say yes!" Gemma stood at the back of the crowd, mechanically clapping along. Her lips moved silently, echoing the chant. "Say yes... Say yes..." Matilda's face lit up with happiness. Just as she was about to say yes, Theodore inexplicably withdrew the ring. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Gemma standing silently in the corner. Seeing her expressionless face, his gaze darkened even further. Under the crowd's bewildered gazes, he shifted his eyes back to Matilda, his expression softening. "Tilly, since you haven't made up your mind yet, we'll do this another time. Next time, I'll prepare an even grander proposal for you."