Sebastian’s gaze turned instantly murderous. "I knew it. You’re still obsessed with pursuing this! Clara, why are you so stubborn?"

"I gave you a chance, and you threw it away!"

He gave a slight wave of his hand. The bodyguard understood the signal, grabbed Clara, and dragged her toward the outdoor pool.

Clara panicked. "Sebastian! What are you doing?"

The bodyguard gave her a shove, sending Clara plummeting into the water. "Ma'am, Mr. Sebastian said you should stay in there and reflect. You can come out when you’ve cleared your head."

It was the dead of winter. The water in the pool was bone-chillingly cold.

The moment she hit the surface, Clara’s limbs went rigid, and her entire body began to shake.

Three years ago, Sebastian, who couldn't swim, had nearly drowned.

It was Clara who had jumped into the water regardless of the danger, dragging him back to safety. She had nearly died from severe water inhalation and had been left with a paralyzing phobia of water ever since.

Back then, Sebastian’s face was filled with guilt and heartache.

He had held her tightly and promised, "Thank you for saving me, Clara. If I ever betray you, I deserve to die a thousand deaths."

But now...

Clara’s lips were a deathly blue, her whole body convulsing. "No... please... let me go..."

The bodyguard remained indifferent, reaching down to shove her head under the water.

The nightmare of drowning flooded back. The veins on Clara’s forehead bulged as she struggled with everything she had.

It was useless.

Just as she was on the verge of suffocating and her movements grew weak, the bodyguard would pull her up by her hair to let her catch her breath.

The cycle repeated, seemingly without end.

Clara felt the last of her body heat draining away.

After an unknown number of repetitions, she heard the bodyguard say to Sebastian hesitantly, "Sir, I think she’s reached her limit..."

"If she’s reached her limit, why hasn't she agreed to film the video?"

"Keep going!"

Hallucinations began to flicker before Clara’s eyes.

She saw Sebastian clumsily knitting a scarf for her.

She saw him complaining about her workaholism while he washed her charcoal pencils.

She saw so many things.

She couldn't understand how that kind, loving Sebastian could have turned into this monster.

When her consciousness finally returned, she was lying in a bed.

Her body was still stiff, but she managed to let out a slow, shallow breath.

At least... at least she hadn't become an accomplice to the devil.

At least she hadn't given in...

"Clara, you're awake."

Luna leaned over her with a beaming smile, the malice in her eyes completely undisguised. "Thank you for agreeing to clear my father’s name."

What...?

Clara stared at her in a daze.

Luna’s smile widened as she tapped on a video.

In the video, "Clara" said with absolute conviction: "I am the sole survivor of the arson case. I guarantee that Mr. Arthur has nothing to do with it."

"As for my sister? Her death certainly can't be blamed on him."

"She just liked messing around with men. Mr. Arthur never touched her..."

Clara’s eyes widened, her emotions surging. "I never said those things!"

"Of course you didn't. Sebastian hired the most advanced tech team to create this AI-generated video. It’s quite realistic, don't you think?"

"Oh, and there’s this."

Luna played another video.

It was a sickening display of sexual violence.

The girl pinned down by several men was young, her screams of despair heart-wrenching to hear.

The comments below the video were even more repulsive.

"So disgusting. She was really that desperate for men?"

"Looks like we really misjudged Arthur. This woman was just trash to begin with."

Every word was a filthy insult!

Clara felt the blood boil in her veins!

That was her sister—her most precious sister!

She slapped the phone out of Luna’s hand. "How dare you! How could you do this!"

"Animals! You’re all animals!"

Clara lunged at Luna’s face like a madwoman. Luna gave a triumphant smirk and fell backward.

"Sebastian, help! Clara is trying to kill me!"

Startled by her sharp cry for help, Sebastian rushed into the room.

"Clara!"

Seeing the scene, Sebastian exploded in rage and shoved Clara away with brutal force.

"Why are you blaming Luna! I’m the one who released the video. It’s your punishment!"

"If you ever dare to hurt Luna again, I don't know what I'll do to you!"

After throwing those words at her, Sebastian scooped Luna into his arms and rushed out the door to take her to the hospital.

He left so hurriedly that he failed to see Clara slumped on the floor, a pool of blood beginning to seep from the back of her head.

The force of his shove had sent Clara’s head crashing directly onto a protruding nail on the floor.