After Three Divorce Demands, Her Awakening and New Life

Chapter 4 Stop Right There!

As Noelle spoke, she suddenly raised her hand and flung something hard into the air. It hit the pool with a sharp splash.

Before Yvonne could react, the sliding door behind her flew open. A group of people, led by Tanner, rushed out. "Noelle, I've been looking everywhere for you. What are you doing out here?"

"Tanner..." Noelle threw herself into his arms, her face twisted with hurt. "I'm so sorry. I didn't keep the gift you gave me. The house keys..."

"What about the keys?" Tanner asked anxiously.

Noelle said, sobbing, "Your ex-wife threw them into the pool."

The group fell silent for a moment, then whispers started up again.

"How does she still have a man? She looks pretty enough, but she's clearly vicious."

"Who'd want to marry a woman so jealous? Good thing Mr. Cooper divorced her already."

Tanner made his way toward Yvonne through the noise. "Yvonne, apologize to Noelle right now."

"I didn't throw the keys," Yvonne said firmly.

"Don't lie to me. It's just you and Noelle here. Would Noelle throw her own keys away?"

"Why don't you ask her?"

Tanner froze for a second, then caught her meaning. Rage flared in his eyes instantly. "Yvonne, are you going to apologize or not?"

"I won't."

"Fine. If you won't apologize, go get the keys out of the pool." He shoved her hard, and she tumbled into the water with a splash.

Water splashed everywhere, and the people by the pool covered their mouths in shock.

Yvonne hit the water and immediately knew something was wrong.

She could swim, but her head spun, and her body felt heavy and weak.

It was the drink—someone had spiked it.

She bobbed in the water, too exhausted to fight, and watched the group walk away.

Cold water filled her lungs, and Yvonne slipped into darkness.

*****

Yvonne woke to the sound of voices.

In the hospital room, two nurses changed her IV drip, chatting quietly to each other.

"How dare she stay unconscious? She threw Ms. Hayes' birthday gift into the pool, and she didn't even get in trouble for it."

"I heard she can swim. She must have been overacting, trying to make him feel sorry for her. She almost died for nothing."

"Mr. Cooper won't feel sorry for her. She's always clinging to him. If I were him, I'd choose Ms. Hayes too."

Their footsteps faded, and the door clicked shut. Yvonne opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling.

She was grateful she didn't love Tanner as much as everyone thought.

'If you don't love someone, you can't get hurt.'

Yvonne checked herself out of the hospital that afternoon.

She had no idea that in the two days she'd been unconscious, the incident at Noelle's birthday party had blown up in the media.

She had been painted as a jealous villain, out to get Noelle after the divorce.

Yvonne got out of the taxi at the villa compound gate.

She had only taken a few steps when someone threw a foul-smelling liquid over her. "b***h! Take this urine to wash your filthy heart. Noelle is a kind girl, but her fans aren't pushovers. If you mess with her again, you'll regret it."

It was one of Noelle's crazed fans, and she had gone so far as to throw urine at Yvonne.

"Stop right there!" Yvonne chased after her.

The woman pulled out her phone and started taking photos nonstop, laughing as she did so. "I'll send these to the media. A little free pee lesson for the evil woman."

Yvonne was furious. "You!"