After Amber signed up for the next round, Sienna gently ced her hand on Amber’s head and said softly, “If you don’t like it, you don’t bhave /bto join. There bare /bother games bwe /bbcan /btry.b” /b

Amber pouted and swatted Sienna’s hand off her head.

Her hand wasn’t warm. In factb, /bit was cool. Yet her touch bwas /bso gentle, her fingers running through Amber’s hair in a way that sent waves offort through her, lifting her spirits.

But the brace /bbwas /babout to start. Amber reluctantly pulled her hand away.

“Who bsays /bbI /bdon’t blike /bbit/bb? /bI’m going. You two just wait for me at the finish line. With that, she dashed off toward the starting barea /bbefore anyone could stop her.

Lana was gradually getting to know Amber’s personality. She never said what she breally /bfelt proud, and a bit stubborn, with just a hint of an adorable temper.

The two walked bover /bto the finish line, ba /bshort course where each round of the race took under ten minutes.

Amber tensed for a moment at the sight of the moving water in front of her. Then she quickly clenched her fists and locked her eyes on the Bartholomew Bear waiting at the finish line.

b‘/bIt’s just a Bartholomew bBear/b, isn’t it?‘ Amber wondered, ‘Piece of cake. It’s not like Sienna actually likes it. I just think paddle boating is fun, and I’m going to be the champion.

Taking a deep breath, Amber stepped onto the paddle boat, her fingers gripping the sides tightly.

“On your marksb, /bget set, go.” At the signal, the paddle boats surged forward.

Amber strained to paddle, forcing herself to move faster and faster.

The cheering crowd roared around herb, /byet with each stroke of the paddle, Amber felt a needleb–/blike pang in her chest. Dread coiled around her heart bas /bher face gradually paled.

When Amber nced up and saw Sienna waiting at the finish line, she gritted her teeth and forced herself to paddle even bfaster/b.

‘Nothing to be afraid of, Amber told herself.

Just bas /bAmber was nearing the finish line, her paddle boat was suddenly rammed and capsized. She plunged into the water.

The terrifying sensation of suffocation gripped her whole body as water rushed into her mouth, stung her eyes, and filled her nose. She was drowning.

Driven by terror, Amber thrashed wildly in the water. It was barely deep enough to reach her shoulders. She could have just stood bup /band been safe. But no matter how hard she tried, her body simply wouldn’t obey.

Just bas /bAmber was about to lose consciousness, her mouth opening helplessly, an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist and yanked her up from the water’s depths.

Sienna patted her back firmly before pulling her into a tight embrace. “Amber?b” /bshe called urgently, her voice tight with worry.

Upon hearing Sienna’s voice, Amber’s longshes fluttered faintly before her eyes slowly opened.

“Sis,” Amber choked out, throwing herself into Sienna’s arms bas /bher whole body trembled uncontrobly.

Sienna’s heart twisted with bitter guilt as she realized Amber was terrified of water.

‘How could I not know?‘ Sienna wondered. Guilt washed over her like rising water, submerging her whole being in its suffocating embrace.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ve got you.” Sienna lifted Amber up in her arms, holding her close.

As Amber caught that familiar scent, her fear slowly faded away. She opened her eyes and gazed up at Sienna.

Amber could feel Sienna’s steady heartbeat against her chest, each strong, rhythmic pulse gradually easing away thest traces of her panic.

Amber just sat there in a daze until Sienna gently settled her onto a chair and asked with concern.

Sienna leaned in, her voice full of concern. “Amber, are you hurt anywhere?”

Amber snapped out of it, a little embarrassed, and shook her head. ‘Did I just call her Sis? With all that noise, she shouldn’t have heard me, right?‘ She wondered, ‘She couldn’t have heard that.

Sometimes. Amber felt bso /btangled up inside. She bwas /ba mess of contradictions, and she didn’t even bmake /bsense to herself

She bkind /bof wanted Sienna to hear her, but at the same time, she really hoped she hadn’t

Her conflicting emotions were all tangled up inside her, like a ball of thread she just couldn’t unravel.

Tm bfine/b.” Amber murmured

Sienna pinched Amber’s cheek, her bvoice /bced with urgent concern. “You’re afraid of bwater /bWhy didn’t byou /btell me? And why did you still insist on Joining that paddle boat race?”

Amber pouted, her eyes reddening and nose tingling with unshed btears/b.

When Sienna bsaw /bLana returning with the Bartholomew Bear, bit /ball clicked. A dull ache weighed on her chest, and a lump formed in her throat