Published: August 15, 2025
I fell into the river.
No, I was pushed from the side by someone else and thrown in.
The sudden impact made me lose my footing on the pier. It was a complete surprise—I was helpless, still holding the baby.
Just before hitting the water, I caught a glimpse of the person who pushed me. A white-haired woman looking down at me from the pier—Ella Fuchs, with an evil smile on her face.
"—Ella!"
Before I could even shout, my body sank into the water. My body crashed against the riverbed, the coldness of the water seeping into my bones, and my breath stopped. For a moment, I might have fainted. It took me several seconds to realize, "I was pushed into the river," and "I’m drowning right now."
First, I tried to raise my face above the water and shout, "Help!"
But water filled my mouth, silencing me. The current was strong, and no matter how desperately I kicked and flailed, I couldn’t fight against it. Terrified by the sudden prospect of death, I was confused. My mind and body were unable to move as I wanted, struggling helplessly as I was swept away.
...No good. There’s too much water. I can’t go against the current...
Having grown up on a dairy farm territory, rivers were familiar to me. From the time I was little, I touched, played in, and used the river for work. The blessings of nature I knew so well had turned into merciless torture.
The cold water pushed my body and stole my breath and even my consciousness. I tried many times to lift my face above the surface, but the current was fierce, dragging me back down each time. Even when I opened my eyes, my vision was filled with water and bubbles—nothing was visible.
My heart pounded wildly, and my lungs screamed for oxygen. My limbs grew heavier, and I felt my strength fading. The cold burned through my body, and my consciousness gradually dimmed.
...Somehow, make it to the shore... I tried to swim, but I couldn’t.
I was holding a baby in both arms.
...No. I’m definitely going to die.
Somehow, calmly, I accepted that fact.
Still, somehow—at least Lisa—
I felt a sudden strong impact on my back. I had drifted against a large rock. That stopped me from flowing further, but I couldn’t grasp the rock. Water fiercely struck my face; the current blocked both my nose and mouth.
Beneath my feet was soft gravel. My legs sank like into a bottomless swamp. Meanwhile, the water level kept rising, reaching just below my eyes.
I hadn’t breathed for over a minute.
...Lisa. Lisa...
My vision was submerged by water.
Lisa—stay alive.
Though my forehead was submerged, I raised both hands high above my head—as high as possible, to where there was air—and lifted Lisa up.
Lisa’s loud crying pierced the air.
Ah... since birth, Lisa had always cried loudly like this.
I’d often wondered how to get her to stop crying. I had even cried myself, wondering if I was a bad mother because of her night crying that kept me awake.
Every time, Lord Cyrus would hold both me and our daughter close.
Whenever I told him I was fine and he should rest, he would shake his head.
"My precious treasure. Please, let me care for her. I’m begging you."
—Both Lord Cyrus and I had desperately, lovingly borne and raised our daughter.
If only she would just live. Lisa. If only you would live.
Please continue being part of Lord Cyrus’s family.
At that moment—
"Marie!"
A muffled voice came through the water.
The next moment, my body was pulled towards something hot. Instantly, my face broke the surface.
"—Gasp!"
I took a deep breath.
In that instant, the survival instinct I had almost given up exploded back to life. Like biting into the sky, I opened my mouth wide and breathed deeply. Some water splashed into my mouth several times, but it didn’t bother me—I was just desperately trying to breathe.
I was held in the hands of a large person. Compared to the cold river water, the warmth of a human body was unimaginable heat. But I couldn’t cling to it—I was holding Lisa in both arms.
The supposed savior, while holding me, looked helpless. He must have realized that, in this powerful current, he couldn’t guarantee the safety of all three of us, including himself. He hugged me and the rock tightly with his long arms, then reached up toward the sky. Then he took Lisa from my hands.