Lily Bennett's face instantly flushed, feeling like her entire skin turned red, just like a boiled shrimp. As Maxwell Thornton lowered his head, he immediately saw the alluring lines created by the black swimsuit she wore. It wasn’t overly revealing—a bikini with a loose, thin white cover-up on top. Her struggle had only served to expose her rounded shoulders and the stunning curves of her figure, including her full chest. Maxwell frowned and released her.
Just as Lily was about to speak, the man grabbed her with one hand and threw her into the ocean. As a result, both her nose and mouth filled with water, leaving her gasping for breath. Even though the water here was shallow, her energy had drained from all the struggling she’d been doing. Finally, when she couldn’t hold out any longer, he pulled her up from the water. However, what Maxwell didn’t expect was how fragile the ties on Lily’s swimsuit bottom were. After her coughing fit subsided, she suddenly felt a chill across her chest.
She turned her head in shock, only to find Maxwell staring intently at the water. Following his gaze, she spotted a black swimsuit bottom quietly drifting farther and farther away. Luckily, she still had her cover-up on. Instinctively, Lily immediately squatted down, submerging herself in the water, leaving only her wet hair floating on the surface. She glared at the man with fiery red eyes, as if ready to murder him.
Maxwell hadn’t anticipated things to escalate like this, and he stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do. As Lily’s bikini bottom drifted farther out toward the deep water, her anger flared, and she screamed at him.
"Why are you just standing there? Go get it for me!"
Maxwell raised an eyebrow, stepping into the water, "What do I get in return for helping you retrieve it?"
"You tore my swimsuit! That’s your fault!" Lily sat there, furious, wanting to kick him, but unable to.
He stood there unmoved, like a statue, watching her. Annoyed and on the verge of tears, Lily gave him a sharp glare before grabbing onto his shirt, trying to pull him into the water. But no matter how hard she tried, Maxwell didn’t even budge. Finally, she gave up and chased after her swimsuit on her own. Maxwell sighed—how could someone be so stubborn? Would it kill her to say something sweet?
He easily swam out to grab the bikini bottom, then returned to her side. With a regretful look, he said, “The tie’s broken. You won’t be able to wear this anymore.”
“So what am I supposed to do now?”
"Swim over to the other side of the beach. There are staff members there—you can ask them to get you a new swimsuit!"
Before Lily could respond, Maxwell wrapped his arm around her waist. The water wasn’t deep, and if Lily stood on her tiptoes, her head would stay above water. But when Maxwell pulled her against him, the water instantly rose to her lips. Afraid of swallowing any seawater, she pinched her nose and kept her mouth tightly shut. No matter how much she wanted to curse him, she couldn’t.
And yet, Maxwell, ever the tease, leaned close to her ear and whispered, “If you don’t want to drink any water, then hug me.”
Lily shook her head firmly. No way, she thought. She would rather drown!
Understanding her stubbornness, Maxwell didn’t waste any more words. Tightening his grip around her waist, he swam through the water. Feeling her feet leave the sand and the weightless sensation beneath her, Lily panicked. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms tightly around Maxwell. There was a huge difference between someone who was 1.6 meters tall and someone who was 1.8 meters tall, especially since Maxwell was such a strong swimmer.
It seemed like Maxwell’s words had fully convinced Lily, who, just moments ago, refused to hug him even if she drowned. Now, she clung to him like an octopus.
With one arm around her waist, and her own arms clinging to him even tighter, Maxwell’s mood improved significantly. Taking advantage of the moment, he leaned in and asked, "I’ve got a few questions for you. All I need is for you to answer truthfully."
In the middle of this tense situation, how could he even think about having a conversation? Lily thought. Just focus on swimming! If you let go, I’ll be swallowed by the water!
Clinging to Maxwell, Lily’s teary eyes glared at him. In a small voice, she said, "What do you want to ask while swimming? But first, answer me this—do you want me around because I remind you of your first love? Is that why you keep sticking to me, despite the rumors behind our backs? ... You know, just like those clichés in romance novels or TV dramas?"
“What do you think?” Maxwell's deep gaze flickered toward her.
Without hesitation, Lily answered, “Me? I think you’re probably still in love with your first love, who either passed away or betrayed you. And now you’re emotionally scarred and can't control your actions, turning into some kind of weirdo—a split-personality type weirdo!"
Hearing her childish, yet somewhat accurate guess, Maxwell’s lips curved into a smile. “You think I’m a weirdo, yet you’re not afraid I’ll let you go right now?”
“Please don’t! If I become a water spirit, there’ll be no one left to annoy you. Isn’t it better to let me bother you now while I’m still around?”