Chapter 32

Chapter 32 Giselle let out a heart - wrenching scream , but the car had already plunged . Even the best driving skills were useless now . With a loud splash , the heavy vehicle crashed into the water , sending waves into the air . The violent impact made Giselle's vision spin uncontrollably , her heart felt like it was about to explode , and her mind went blank . As the water started to fill the car and it began to sink , she quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and attempted to open the door .

However , the water rushed in too quickly , and the immense pressure from outside made it impossible to move the door . She swiftly understood the sheer horror of her predicament . This was a body of water akin to a reservoir , with depths that seemed unfathomable . At night , it was completely dark , with no signs of people , vehicles , or even shadows on the road . The hit - and - run car that had forced her into the water had vanished . This was undoubtedly an intentional act of murder .

In this dire situation , calling for help was pointless . If she didn't act quickly to save herself , time would run out , and both she and the car would sink to the bottom of the lake at an alarming rate . When the car was eventually recovered a few days later , her body inside would be bloated , foul - smelling , and beyond recognition . The authorities would likely need to use her DNA to conduct a paternity test with Tony to confirm her identity .

This thought sent a shiver from her scalp to her feet , causing her to tremble uncontrollably . However , she couldn't afford to linger on it . She had to begin her self- rescue efforts immediately , racing against time . Thankfully , her passion for extreme sports had sharpened her mental toughness . She quickly composed herself . Unable to find a safety hammer in the car , she crawled to the back seat and began searching through the trunk .

There , she spotted the mountain bike Zachary had given her last time , which was disassembled and stored inside . Among the parts , she found a wrench . Grabbing the wrench , she started striking the four comers of the rear window . Water kept rushing in , already flooding the back seat , and the car was more than halfway submerged . Panic was inevitable in such a scenario . Her body trembled like a sieve , yet her hands relentlessly pounded the window .

As she shattered the window with the wrench , she repeated silently to herself , " I must survive ! I absolutely must live ! Don't die ! I can't die ! " There was still so much left to accomplish in her life . She hadn't yet taken back what was hers from Renee , hadn't experienced true love , and hadn't made arrangements for her family's dog . Thinking of her grandparents and mother , she prayed quietly for their spirits in heaven to shield her . The heavens couldn't be so cruel .

It couldn't have taken her three dearest family members and now attempt to end her life too . Finally , summoning every bit of her strength , she broke through the window just before the car was completely submerged . The lake water rushed in like a breached dam . Holding her breath and driven by a strong instinct to survive , she deftly slipped through the broken window . Despite the glass cutting her hands , she ignored the pain and swam desperately toward the surface .