Ste fixed her gaze on Haynes, her eyes cold and sharp, like ice on a winterke.


    "Haynes, I warned you-keep your precious little darling out of my sight. If you can''t control the dog you raised, and you let her run wild and bite, don''t me someone else for teaching her a lesson on your behalf."


    She locked eyes with him, her words cutting and deliberate. "Not everyone will spare the dog just because they know who owns it."


    The world seemed to go still. Every sound disappeared in that moment, leaving an unnatural hush.


    Haynes was still processing her words when Rachel''s shrill scream shattered the silence.


    "Haynie, help me!"


    She thrashed desperately in the water, reaching her hand toward Haynes on the shore.


    "Haynie, help! Please, I can''t swim!"


    Jasper snapped out of his daze, the sting of Ste''s earlier p forgotten as he rushed to rescue Rachel.


    But before he could make it, Ste stepped forward and, without hesitation, delivered a swift kick to his backside, sending him tumbling headfirst into theke.


    Jasper crashed into the water in a most undignified heap. He surfaced, dripping and humiliated, and shot Ste a look full of fury and shame.


    "Ste, you-"


    But Rachel''s frantic screams echoed nearby.


    "Help! Somebody, please!"


    Jasper red at Ste, seething, then turned and swam toward Rachel.


    Ste watched the scene with detached indifference, then turned to leave.


    Haynes grabbed her wrist suddenly, stopping her in her tracks.


    "Ste, do you realize Rachel can''t swim? She''s not well right now-what you did could have killed her!"


    Ste''s tone was icy. "Why else do you think I pushed her in? You think I wanted to y house with her?"


    She paused, her expression unchanging. "I''m not one to hold a grudge. I settle scores on the spot."


    Haynes'' eyes darkened. "Ste, that was attempted murder."


    Ste pped her hands slowly, sarcasm dripping from every word.


    "Haynes, you really are somet


    She knew I was terrified of water


    and pushed me in, but you don''t call that attempted murder. Now that I''ve given her a taste of her own medicine, suddenly you have a problem with it."


    She let out a softugh. "Mr. O''Brien, you''re so blinded by your feelings, it''s almost touching. Makes


    outsiders want to shed tears. T


    bad-you two are nothing but a


    sordid little affair best kept inthe dark."


    Haynes scowled. "Do you have to be so harsh? I''ve exined a thousand times- there''s nothing going on between me and Rachel the way you think—"


    "Save it." Ste cut him off, her voice sharp with mockery. "We''re divorced. Whatever you two are, it''s none of my business. You could be married for all I care-you''ll always just be a pair of shameless cheats in my eyes."


    Haynes'' face grew stormy as he struggled to keep hisposure.


    "Just apologize to Rachel and we''ll put this behind us."


    Ste smiled coolly. "In your dreams."


    Haynes'' eyes darkened further. "Ste, both Jasper and I saw you push Rachel. If she presses charges, you could be facing criminal consequences. If you apologize, Rachel might let it go for my sake."


    Ste''s voice was t as she interrupted him. "And what about when she pushed


    me into the water? How will you handle that?"


    "Rachel would never-" Haynes began.


    Ste cut him off again, her expression almost amused. "So what, I just tripped and fell in by ident to get your attention, is that it?"