By the next morning, the news of Loretta almost drowning had already spread like wildfire.
"Kevin Goodman's new fiancée almost drowned."
"She fell into a pool the same night the engagement was announced."
"Another one…?"
Whispers filled their social circle.
Low voices. Curious eyes.
Fear.
Some people shook their heads.
"The curse is real," one man said. He had doubted it before, but how could he explain this?
"This is the fourth girl. I heard she's in serious condition at the hospital," his friend replied.
"Ahh… this is scary. I bet she won't recover," another added.
No one sounded surprised, if anything they sounded certain. Some people even started a secret betting on how long before she died.
In high society, news like this traveled fast.
At the Gladstone residence, the atmosphere was tense. Mrs. Gladstone stood in the living room, her phone tightly held in her hand.
Her face was pale. "How is she doing?" she asked. The person on the other end spoke quickly.
"She's still unconscious, but she was brought in on time. She should recover."
Mrs. Gladstone listened quietly, her expression did not change. It was as if the person being discussed had nothing to do with her.
"She's alive?" she asked. It was all she cared about.
"Yes." The person on the other end answered.
"…I see." She ended the call. Mr. Gladstone looked at her.
"Well?"
"She's in the hospital," Mrs. Gladstone said. "But she's alive."
She did not go into details.
Mr. Gladstone nodded. "That's good."
There was no warmth in his voice, just acknowledgment.
A moment of silence passed.
"What about Isabella?" he asked. "She must be terrified by the news."
Upstairs, Isabella sat on her bed, her face pale, her hands trembled slightly as she held her phone.
"She almost drowned…" fear crept into her chest. What if— What if it had been her? If she had been the one engaged to Kevin… Would she be lying in that hospital bed now?
"It must be the curse…" she whispered. The more she thought about it, the more afraid she became.
The door opened.
Mrs. Gladstone walked in quickly, seeing Isabella so pale she felt a pag in her chest.
"Isabella."
Isabella looked up. "Mum… I—"
Before she could finish Mrs. Gladstone pulled her into a hug.
"It's okay," she said softly. "You're safe."
Those words calmed her instantly.
"I'm so scared," Isabella whispered. "What if something happens again?"
"Nothing will happen to you," Mrs. Gladstone said gently. "The one engaged to him is Loretta. It has nothing to do with you." Her voice was warm and full of care.
Very different from how she spoke to Loretta. Isabella hugged her tightly.
"Mum, you're so good to me. If not for you, I would be the one in the hospital… or worse…" she did not finish her sentence.
She didn't need to.
Mrs. Gladstone patted her back. "Silly girl. You are my daughter. Of course I will protect you."
Isabella smiled, she felt special. Other stepchildren were plotted against by their step mothers but she was lucky to find a mother.
"Guess what?" Mrs. Gladstone said suddenly, her tone turning light.
Isabella looked up. "What?" Her gaze filled with expectations.
"We're going on a trip."
"A trip?"
"Yes. Three days. Somewhere quiet."
"To relax," Mrs. Gladstone added. "You've been through a lot."
Isabella hesitated for a moment.
"What about… her?" Mrs Gladstone could act like she did not care but Isabella felt the need to show concern after all everything started because of her.
Mrs. Gladstone's expression did not change. "I spoke to the hospital. She will be fine," she said calmly.
"There are people taking care of her. We are not doctors."
Isabella slowly nodded, relief filled her chest.
Soon, she forgot about it and started packing with her mother .
"No need to pack so much, anything neededd can be bought," Mrs Gladstone said seeing Isabella trying so hard not to forget anything. Within an hour they were ready.
When they came downstairs, Mr. Gladstone had just finished a call.
"Everything is ready," he said.
Mrs. Gladstone nodded.
"Good."
"We leave in an hour."
They all smiled.
No one mentioned Loretta again.
....
In another part of the city kevin sat in his office. The evening light fell across his desk. He was looking at the screen of the tablet his assistant just passed to him. On it a news page was open.
The headline was clear:
"Kevin Goodman's Fiancée Almost Drowns—Curse Strikes Again?"
Kevin stared at it, expressionless.
Then he exited the page without a word.
"Sir, should we suppress the news?" the assistant asked.
Kevin tapped his desk lightly.
"No need. Tighten the security around her."
"Yes, sir."
The assistant took back the tablet and turned to leave.
"Wait."
He stopped.
"How is the Gladstone family reacting?"
The assistant hesitated slightly.
"Speak."
"They went on vacation," he said. "With their other daughter. The news… frightened her."
Kevin paused, he found their actions strange.
"Find out everything about her," he said.
His voice was calm but sharp.
"Yes, sir."
Kevin leaned back in his chair, his eyes dark.
.....
Hospital
The room was quiet except for Machines beeping softly. The curtains moved with the morning breeze. Loretta lay on the bed. Unaware of everything happening outside.
Her fingers twitched, her brows tightened.
She was dreaming.
In her dream—
She stood in a grand house. Everything around her looked expensive, but the decorations were dark and cold.
Loretta did not recognize the place. She took a step forward to look around, but she knocked into something, and it came crashing down.
The noise startled her. She had not even seen it, yet it was broken.
"You were not allowed to touch that."
A cold voice echoed. The person was standing by the stairs. There was no warmth in his gaze, just endless darkness, but she quickly recognized him… Kevin.
She looked down. She really had not touched the decoration and had no idea how it ended up broken.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered.
He did not seem moved by her apology. He looked past her. "Feed her to the fish."
Her eyes widened.
"No—please—"
Hands grabbed her and dragged her out.
"No, please… I'll be careful! I promise!" she cried. "Killing is a crime!" she shouted desperately as she struggled for her freedom.
"Don't worry," one of the men laughed.
"Your family will be well compensated."
Then—
She was thrown into the water.
Cold, dark, and endless. Loretta felt her body sinking and the fish swimming toward her. She struggled to swim, but all her efforts made no difference. Her breath was caught in her throat.
On the hospital bed, her body moved, and her breathing became uneven. The machine beeped loudly.
A nurse rushed in hearing the sound.
"Miss! Miss!"
Seeing her struggle, she quickly stepped closer.
"It's a dream. Wake up." She tapped her gently, then shook her slightly.
"Miss, wake up!"
In the dream, Loretta heard a voice calling her. Gar away.and faint.
"Wake up…"
The struggle slowed. The fish seemed to be pulled a distance away from her, and a hand pulled her out of the water.
Loretta gasped for air. Then—slowly—
She opened her eyes.