Amy Sinclair's piercing gaze locked onto Alexander Blackwood, her eyes as frigid as a midwinter storm.

"Alexander," she said, her voice dripping with venom, "I warned you—keep your precious little pet away from me. If you can't control the beast you've raised, and she dares to bare her teeth at me, don't blame me for putting her in her place."

Her lips curled into a cold smirk. "Not everyone cares whose leash she's on."

The air grew thick with tension, the world around them falling into an eerie silence.

Before Alexander could respond, Victoria Langley's shrill scream shattered the stillness.

"Alex! Help me!"

She flailed wildly in the water, her arms stretching desperately toward the shore where Alexander stood frozen.

Nathan Prescott snapped out of his daze, the sting of Amy's earlier slap forgotten as he lunged forward to rescue Victoria.

But Amy was faster.

With a swift, merciless kick, she sent Nathan sprawling face-first into the lake.

He surfaced, sputtering and furious, his glare burning into Amy.

"You—!"

Victoria's panicked cries drowned out his words.

"Help! I can't swim!"

Nathan shot Amy one last seething look before swimming toward Victoria.

Amy watched, unmoved, then turned to leave.

Alexander's hand shot out, gripping her wrist.

"Amy," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Victoria can't swim. She's not well—what you did could have killed her."

Amy's laugh was sharp, devoid of warmth. "That was the point, Alexander. Did you think I was playing games?"

She tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "I don't hold grudges. I settle them immediately."

Alexander's jaw tightened. "That was attempted murder."

Amy clapped slowly, her voice laced with biting sarcasm.

"Oh, how noble of you, Alexander. She knew I was terrified of water and pushed me in, but that wasn't a crime in your eyes. Now that I've given her exactly what she deserves, suddenly you have morals?"

She leaned in, her smile icy. "Your hypocrisy is almost admirable. It would be touching if it weren't so pathetic."

Alexander's grip tightened. "You're being unreasonable. I've told you a thousand times—there's nothing between me and Victoria—"

"Spare me," Amy cut him off, her voice dripping with disdain. "We're divorced. Whatever you two are to each other means nothing to me. You could marry her tomorrow, and you'd still just be a pair of backstabbing liars in my eyes."

Alexander's expression darkened.

"Just apologize to Victoria, and we can move past this."

Amy scoffed. "In your dreams."

Alexander's voice dropped to a warning growl. "Nathan and I both saw you push her. If she presses charges, you could be facing serious consequences. Apologize, and maybe she'll drop it—for my sake."

Amy's eyes flashed with cold amusement.

"And what about when she pushed me in? How will you handle that?"

"Victoria would never—"

Amy interrupted him with a mocking laugh.

"Oh, right. I just tripped and fell in, all on my own, didn't I?"

She yanked her wrist free, her voice cutting like steel.

"Save your excuses, Alexander. I'm done listening."