CHAPTER 361: CHAPTER 361: PROTECT YOURSELF

Audrey Sutton wiped the water off her face and recalled that moment earlier; it seemed she didn’t feel much, nor was it as frightening and unpleasant as she had imagined.

Shane was surprised that after she came up from the water and paused for two seconds, she actively said, "I want to try again."

Looking at her determined eyes, Shane smiled: "Alright."

Although her attitude changed, the fear within her hadn’t disappeared.

Just like before, she tightly grasped his arm, pinched her nose, closed her eyes, and pursed her lips, sinking into the water.

When she decided to try again, she set a goal in her mind, not counting in the water, but mentally counting to five seconds. After six seconds, she felt she could still hold on, so she didn’t come out of the water.

Shane also silently counted in his mind, and when he reached nine, she emerged from the water.

He smiled contentedly like a proud father, reaching out to arrange her wet hair.

Audrey gasped for air, wiped the water off her face, and jokingly asked for a reward: "Aren’t I impressive?"

Shane nodded and asked her, "Continue learning?"

This attempt might not immediately dispel Audrey’s inner shadows, but at least it made her feel like she was confronting her fear instead of merely avoiding it.

"I’ll learn, but you have to hold onto me a bit."

"Would I let anything happen to you?"

Audrey jokingly asked him, "You didn’t secretly buy insurance for me, did you?"

Shane replied, "If I were to buy it, it would be for myself; if anything happens to me, you’ll have assurance for yourself and the child, won’t you?"

It was meant as a joke, but hearing Shane’s response made Audrey unhappy: "Don’t speak nonsense!"

The water level in the middle of the pool was deeper than at the edge; Shane led her by the hand towards the center, the water level gradually rising, stopping just above Audrey’s stomach.

Shane first let her get used to the buoyancy of the water and explained the basic swimming techniques to her.

No matter how much is said, she has to practice on her own, so he quickly moved to the main topic.

Considering her situation, Shane chose the simplest yet safest method to teach her.

This involved him standing beside her, holding her waist to keep her body afloat on the water’s surface, allowing her to practice her swimming posture.

Though she was vigorously flailing her limbs, she kept her head up almost the entire time, not daring to dip her face into the water.

Shane deliberately and gradually lowered her, increasing the water depth bit by bit until her face submerged.

"Cough, cough—"

Audrey didn’t control her breathing rhythm well and choked on the water, stopping her movements. Shane released her, letting her stand in the water, then explained breathing techniques to her.

This repeated twice through the flailing and choking process; she said her nose was uncomfortable and refused to continue, so Shane took her back to shore.

A little progress each day was enough; he didn’t expect her to learn it immediately.

So over about a week, he would pull her into the water daily for practice, until she could float by herself without his support.

Her swimming style might be a bit clumsy, but she no longer resists swimming and would drag him to the pool for a couple of laps every afternoon.

She could now enjoy herself in the water.

Of course, the pool environment was much safer than rivers or the sea, and at home, the pool water always remained at a safe level.

This was probably an important factor allowing her to swim.

However, he believed that she would slowly grow; her inner fighting spirit also contributed to her inherent bravery.

Watching her swim back and forth in the pool, Shane suddenly recalled the initial reason for teaching her to swim, and a sense of melancholy settled in his heart.

He wanted her to learn more things, fearing that one day she might leave him, hoping she could protect herself at the very least. But thinking of this, he was also afraid that she might truly not need him anymore.

The oppressive heat lasted most of the month; by the end of June, the temperature dropped.

With rain and wind, there was a chill in the air; in the morning, Audrey pulled out long clothes and trousers from the closet.

Raindrops fell into the pool, forming countless small pits; Shane held an umbrella, shielding Audrey as she got into the car. After closing the door, he walked around the car hood and sat in the driver’s seat.

"Regarding the wedding planning, I talked to my mom; she suggested celebrating on Qixi this year since it’s a good date."

As Shane started the car, he nodded: "Okay."

Audrey, however, pouted: "But Qixi is still a long way off; it’s toward the end of August. I was hoping we could have it right after summer break."

Shane smiled and said, "We’re just having a ceremony; we’ve already registered. It’s not like ten days will make a difference."

"Alright, then we’ll set it like that? I’ll find a friend to design the wedding invitations."

"You’ve prepared everything; what am I supposed to do?"

Audrey smiled and said, "Aren’t you supposed to earn milk powder money for the baby? Leave these little things to me."

On the way to school, they would pass by Clarissa Morgan’s dance studio.

Looking out of the window, Audrey happened to see a man wearing a light gray suit getting out of a car and walking straight into Clarissa Morgan’s dance studio.

Due to the rain, Audrey couldn’t see clearly, but the figure and walking posture seemed a bit like Nolan Hawke. She wondered if these two were planning some kind of scheme again.

...

In the riverside apartment.

Vanessa Sterling sat by the bay window, looking at the rain outside.

From the high vantage point, all Crendon appeared misty.

She opened the window and stretched her hand outside; the cold raindrops hit her palm, feeling quite refreshing.

"Woo—woo—" The phone placed next to the puzzle rang; seldom did anyone call her, so she was startled upon hearing the ringtone.

She reached for the phone; she only had Shane and Audrey’s numbers stored in her phone because he often checked her phone and didn’t allow her to keep anyone else’s number. Therefore, the incoming call was only a string of numbers, leaving her unsure who it was.

"Hello?"

"Vanessa, it’s me."

"...Aunt?"

"Yes, are you at home now?"

Vanessa hesitated for two seconds before nodding: "Yes."

Clarissa Morgan: "I’m downstairs at your building. Is it convenient for me to come up? I have something to discuss with you."

Vanessa looked at the clock on the wall; it was past nine.

Miles Sterling had gone out early in the morning and was unlikely to return until after lunch, so she replied to Clarissa Morgan: "Sure, should I come down to get you?"

Clarissa Morgan: "No need, just tell me the floor, and I’ll come up myself."

...

Vanessa stood at the elevator doors waiting for Clarissa Morgan, who, as always, was elegantly dressed.

Even with the recent temperature drop, she was wearing a relatively thin bodycon dress, paired with a pair of ten-centimeter high heels, beautifully accentuating her figure.