"Mr. Blackwood, you should be directing your questions to him, not me," Amy snapped, her voice laced with irritation. "If this call is just an interrogation, don’t bother calling again."

Alexander’s tone was icy, cutting through the line like a blade. "Stay put. If you even think about leaving with Liam, I won’t hesitate to have you detained."

Amy’s pulse stuttered. He had mentioned Liam was at the amusement park, and she had planned to search for him there. But his condescending tone instantly soured her mood.

"Mr. Blackwood, if I recall correctly, you once said that if you want a favor, you should at least pretend to be civil," Amy shot back.

Alexander scoffed. "A favor? You think this is me asking for a favor?"

"Isn’t it? Or do you honestly believe you can just command me like one of your employees?" She didn’t give him a chance to respond. "Who do you think you are? I don’t take orders from you."

"Alexander, remember your place. I’m not some subordinate you can boss around."

With that, she ended the call.

Returning to the lakeside bench, she realized Sebastian, who had been waiting there, was gone.

Oliver had gone to the restroom, tucked away behind a cluster of trees near the water.

Just as Amy turned to head in that direction, a sudden splash and panicked shouts pierced the air.

"Someone fell in! Two kids—they’re in the water!"

"Oh God, they’re so young! They can’t be more than five!"

"Where are their parents?"

"Does anyone know how to swim? They need help!"

Amy’s heart lurched. She sprinted toward the commotion.

Through the crowd, she spotted Oliver flailing in the water.

No—Oliver can’t swim!

Her face drained of color. She shoved past bystanders and plunged into the lake without hesitation, dragging Oliver to safety.

He had swallowed too much water. "Oliver, breathe!" Amy urged, pressing on his chest to help him cough it up.

He choked, sputtering, before finally expelling a mouthful of water. His dazed eyes met hers, wide with fear.

The moment he recognized her, his face crumpled. He threw his arms around her neck, trembling. "Amy, I thought—I thought I was going to die."

She held him tightly, murmuring reassurances until his breathing steadied. "Oliver, what happened? How did you end up in the water?"

Just then, the other child was pulled from the lake. Unlike Oliver, he seemed more alert, coughing but otherwise unharmed.

But when Amy saw his face, her blood ran cold.

"Liam... what are you doing here?"

Drenched, water streamed down Liam’s face, making it impossible to tell if it was lake water or tears.

For a fleeting moment, her heart ached at how small and vulnerable he looked.

Then his red-rimmed eyes locked onto hers, accusation burning in them. "You saved him first. You left me to drown!"

Amy frowned, about to explain, but the bitterness in his gaze stopped her.

She kept her voice steady. "Liam, unless I’m mistaken, you know how to swim, don’t you?"