Both boys pushed off the wall at the sa ti, cutting through the water with powerful strokes. Max was fast, but Azzy… he was sothing else. He was smooth, efficient, almost effortless.
However, unknown to everyone, Azzy held back. He matched Max's pace for most of the race, letting him stay just a little ahead.
As they reached the final stretch, Azzy finally picked up speed. He surged forward, nearly catching up, but stopped just short of overtaking him.
Max slapped the wall first.
He won—barely.
Panting, he turned to see Azzy erging beside him, barely looking winded.
There was a mont of silence before the reactions began.
"Expected," Nash shrugged.
"Still, that was so close!" Wendy remarked.
"Rael almost had it in the end!" Rina added.
Leiza narrowed her eyes, sensing sothing was off. Azzy didn't even look like he had exerted himself.
Max, however, had an ugly expression. They couldn't see, but as a professional, how couldn't he understand what happened? He knew Azzy had held back.
But he couldn't call him out on it.
So, forcing a grin, he patted Azzy's shoulder. "Not bad, man. You're fast."
Azzy just nodded, his usual calm deanor unchanged.
As Max caught his breath, Wendy waded over to him with a bright smile.
"You were amazing," she praised, before pressing a soft kiss on his lips.
Max's earlier frustration lted away as he grinned and pulled her closer. "Of course, I was," he teased.
The music shifted into a slower, rhythmic beat, and the two couples—Max & Wendy and Nash & Ciesta—started swaying together in the water, dancing under the warm glow of the lights.
Azzy was about to step out of the pool when suddenly—
Leiza moved in front of him.
Without hesitation, she placed her arms around his neck, pulling him into the dance.
Azzy blinked in surprise.
Her violet eyes t his, daring him to pull away.
Azzy glanced around. The others were watching, and if he refused, it might embarrass her. He sighed internally and placed his hands lightly on her waist, allowing her to lead the dance.
Leiza smirked slightly, satisfied.
Their bodies moved in sync, floating gently in the water. The soft glow of the lights reflected in her wet hair, and for a mont, she looked… different. Relaxed. Almost happy.
On the other side of the pool, Rina and Zack were watching—both wearing equally ugly expressions.
Rina's fingers clenched into fists under the water. She was trying to be patient, but seeing Leiza take Azzy like this, dancing so naturally in his arms, made sothing burn inside her.
Zack, anwhile, gritted his teeth. He had already endured enough today, but seeing Leiza get close to him—he couldn't stand it.
Neither of them said anything. But their eyes held the sa thought:
This wasn't over.
*
The warm scent of grilled fish, spiced ats, and tropical fruits filled the air as Wendy finished setting up the long dinner table under the open sky. The others were still gathered near the pool, laughing and talking, completely unaware of what was happening in the kitchen.
Rina wiped her hands on a cloth and exchanged a glance with Zack. It was ti.
"Wendy," she called out sweetly. "Can you go tell everyone dinner's ready?"
Wendy, unaware of anything suspicious, nodded and left.
As soon as she was gone, Rina reached into her handbag and pulled out a small vial. Inside was a clear liquid—colorless, odorless, but dangerously potent.
Zack furrowed his brows as she pulled the cap off an injection. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, watching as she filled the syringe.
Rina scoffed. "Of course. I use this every week. Trust , the dosage is enough." She flicked the needle, releasing a tiny drop, before leaning over the steaming pot of seaweed soup. Carefully, she injected the liquid into the broth, letting the drug mix with the swirling greens.
Zack frowned slightly. "But there's so much soup. Won't it get too diluted?"
Rina smirked. "That's the beauty of it. It doesn't need to be concentrated. Once it's in their system, it'll heighten their senses. Lower their inhibitions. Tonight, Rael will be mine."
Her fingers curled into fists as she thought about Leiza. That arrogant bitch, always acting superior. How dare she try to control her? To tell her who she could and couldn't have?
Rina turned to Zack, her eyes gleaming with malice. "And you," she whispered, "can do whatever you want with Leiza. She will be at your rcy. But, make sure to leave an evidence behind."
Zack's breath hitched slightly at her words. "You ant the video?"
"Make sure to take it," Rina said darkly. "Once we have it, she'll have no choice but to keep her mouth shut. She won't be able to afford a scandal. Not when she's so close to inheriting everything."
Zack hesitated for only a second before a twisted excitent flashed in his eyes.
Rina smiled, feeling victorious already.
Tonight, she would get what she wanted. And Leiza—
Leiza would finally learn her place.
*
Dinner was lively, filled with laughter, conversations, and the clinking of glasses under the warm glow of lanterns. The ocean breeze carried the scent of grilled seafood and tropical fruit across the open-air dining area.
Azzy ate in his usual calm manner, noticing the smirks exchanged between Rina and Zack as they watched everyone consu the seaweed soup—everyone except for them. However, he acted as if he didn't see it, to see where this will go.
At first, nothing seed unusual.
But then, one by one, the changes began.
Ciesta giggled uncontrollably, her face flushed as she leaned into Nash. Wendy's laughter turned into slow, sensual movents as she ran her fingers over Max's chest before pulling him into a deep kiss. Nash, grinning lazily, wrapped an arm around Ciesta and pulled her closer. The couples were just making out in the open, without even bothering to go for privacy or care about their surroundings.
Azzy blinked as Leiza suddenly clung to him, her body pressing tightly against his.
"Rael…" she murmured, her voice husky and eyes hazy.
He stiffened as he felt the warmth of her body against his, her soft curves pressing into him. Sothing wasn't right.
Leiza's fingers traced along his arm, her breath warm against his neck. "You're always so distant…" she whispered, looking up at him with half-lidded eyes.
Azzy didn't react. He wasn't affected by whatever was happening. His mind remained clear.
His sharp eyes flickered across the table.
His gaze landed on Rina and Zack, who sat at the edge, untouched bowls of soup in front of them. They were watching the scene unfold with too much amusent, too much satisfaction. However, to play it out, he acted all hazy, just like the others.
It was then, with a sudden movent, Zack grabbed her arm, yanking her away from Azzy.
"Co on, dance with , Leiza," Zack said smoothly, pulling her toward him. Leiza, her vision hazy, frowned slightly and struggled, but the drug made her weak.
At the sa ti, Rina took advantage of the separation and slid up to Azzy.
"Let's go sowhere quieter," she whispered seductively, fingers tracing down his arm.
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