Liza flailed her arms dramatically in the water, pretending to struggle for her life. Despite all her exaggerated movements, Gavin stood on the side, completely unfazed. Why isn’t this guy doing anything? she thought indignantly. Can’t he see I’m about to drown? Shouldn’t he be worried by now? Although she had come to the pool to swim, she had a more calculated plan in mind. She thought smugly, If I act like I’m drowning, Gavin will have no choice but to jump in and save me. Then he’ll carry me to the side, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and… sparks will fly! Our bodies will touch, and everything will become romantic and fiery! Lost in her little fantasy, she didn’t notice Gavin quietly observing her from the side, his lips curving slightly into a smirk. He could tell exactly what was going through her mind, and it was clear she wasn’t afraid of water at all. With her over-the-top performance, she wasn’t fooling anyone—least of all him. “Mrs. Stone,” he called out calmly, watching her flail around with amusement. “Do you not know how to swim?” Liza made a show of coughing and splashing, gasping dramatically. “I… don’t! Help me! Gulp, gulp.” She even blew a few bubbles for effect, as if that would make her act more convincing. Gavin raised an eyebrow and said in a low voice, “Mrs. Stone, why don’t you try standing up? The water here only reaches your chest.” Liza froze. Her movements stopped abruptly as she stood up in the shallow water. The embarrassment was written all over her face. “Uh… is that so?” she muttered, wiping the water from her face and forcing an awkward smile. Inside, she was fuming. Damn it! This man is too sharp. He saw through my plan immediately. No point in acting anymore; I’ve already made my intentions obvious.Determined not to give up, she suddenly lunged forward and wrapped her arms around him, clinging tightly. Her voice turned soft and shy. “Brother Gavin, teach me how to swim!” Gavin froze, his expression stiffening. He was all too aware of the warmth of her skin against his, and her bold actions were starting to affect him. Liza was playing a dangerous game. Wearing only her swimsuit, she clung to him without a care, completely oblivious to how much she was tempting him. His body tensed as heat coursed through him. His voice came out hoarse and low. “Let go.” But Liza wasn’t about to back down. She tilted her head up and gave him a coy smile. “Gavin, I’m not afraid of the water anymore, but I still don’t know how to swim. Can’t you teach me?” Her breath brushed against his chest, sending shivers through him. Gavin’s hand instinctively rested on her back. The smoothness of her skin under his touch made his cheeks flush slightly. He clenched his jaw, trying to keep his composure. “Alright,” he finally said. A mischievous smile flickered across Liza’s lips. Hooking him is easier than I thought, she mused. She floated gracefully along the edge of the pool, her pale legs gliding through the water. Her voice was soft and playful as she teased, “Gavin, is this how I’m supposed to move?” Gavin swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. His eyes darkened slightly as he murmured, “Stop messing around.” He knew full well that Liza wasn’t trying to seduce him out of genuine desire. Her goal was far simpler—she just wanted to recover her sense of taste. Still, her antics were testing his self-control. This wasn’t the time or place for anything reckless. After all, they were still in a pool—hardly a setting for anything serious. Gavin inhaled deeply, his gaze calm as he placed his hands gently on her waist. With a steady voice, he said, “Your posture is wrong.” Without waiting for her reply, he adjusted her position, demonstrating the proper way to hold herself in the water. His tone was serious, almost professional. “Try it like this,” he instructed. Liza’s excitement faded into a pout of disappointment. Reluctantly, she mimicked his movements and swam a few strokes, glancing back at him with a sulky expression. Wait a minute… How did this turn into an actual swimming lesson? she thought in dismay. Hearing the frustration in her heart, Gavin’s lips twitched into a faint, amused smile. “Didn’t you want to learn how to swim? Go ahead—swim,” he encouraged, his tone calm but teasing. Feeling like she had no choice, Liza swam obediently, completing a full lap. However, something felt terribly off. This wasn’t how she imagined things would go at all! When she reached him again, she abandoned her attempt to follow his instructions and leaned closer, her voice soft and pleading. “Gavin, I’m scared. Can you hold me while we swim together?” Her request was deliberately coy, her eyes wide with feigned innocence. She tugged lightly on his arm for emphasis, her slender figure drawing his attention. The swimsuit she wore revealed her bare waist, and she knew that if he held her, he wouldn’t be able to avoid touching her skin. Looking up at him, she added pitifully, “Please? I’m really scared.” Gavin’s eyes darkened slightly as he stared at her, and after a pause, he gave a faint smile. Lowering his head, he leaned in closer. His warm breath brushed her face as he said, “Alright.” Liza’s heart raced wildly. The proximity, his voice, the intensity in his gaze—it was all too much. His hand gently settled on her waist, and the heat of his palm burned against her skin like a small furnace. She stiffened slightly, her cheeks flushing. His touch wasn’t just casual; it lingered, sending waves of warmth coursing through her.Gavin’s thumb brushed over the smooth surface of her skin, but despite his own rising heartbeat, his expression remained composed. His voice was calm, though there was an undertone of restraint as he asked, “Liza.” She blinked up at him, her mind racing with thoughts about her next move. She was already planning how to escalate the situation when his next words pulled her back to reality. “I’m teaching you how to swim,” he said slowly, his lips curving slightly into a knowing smirk. “Why are you just standing there floundering?” Liza froze. Her face dropped as she stared at him in disbelief. This… this infuriating man! All her careful planning and efforts to seduce him had been brushed off without a second thought. Instead of falling for her charms, he was calmly correcting her swimming technique. It was as if he didn’t even notice her intentions.Liza felt like screaming. She stomped her foot in the water and crossed her arms, pouting as she mulled over her failure. Is something wrong with him? she wondered, narrowing her eyes. I mean, look at me! I’m practically throwing myself at him, and he’s acting like nothing’s happening. Her gaze flicked to him suspiciously as a wild thought crossed her mind. Could it be… Gavin actually has some hidden issue? Maybe he’s incapable of— She stopped herself, shaking her head. No, that can’t be it… or can it? Despite her irritation, Gavin remained composed, entirely unaffected by her little tantrum. The contrast only made her more frustrated.