Rafael Moreno had been standing at the edge of the lawn, a carefully arranged bouquet of deep red roses gripped nervously in his hands, quietly rehearsing the proposal speech he had spent weeks perfecting. He had chosen this villa specifically for its breathtaking mountain views, timing his proposal for the exact moment the afternoon light would catch Valentina's face perfectly.
Julian's desperate screaming shattered his careful planning instantly. Rafael's head snapped toward the pool, his eyes widening in horror as he registered Valentina's motionless body sinking beneath the water's surface. Every romantic plan he had carefully constructed evaporated in an instant, replaced entirely by raw, urgent panic.
He didn't hesitate for even a fraction of a second. The bouquet fell carelessly from his hands onto the manicured lawn as he sprinted toward the pool's edge, diving headfirst into the water fully clothed, his black suit soaking instantly upon impact. The heavy splash of his entry echoed loudly across the stunned, silent terrace.
Underwater, Rafael's eyes stung against the chlorinated water as he swam desperately toward Valentina's sinking form, his lungs burning with urgency as he wrapped his arms firmly around her limp body, kicking powerfully toward the surface. Every second felt agonizingly slow, the weight of her soaked dress dragging against his effort as he fought to bring her back to safety.
He broke through the surface gasping for air, Valentina's unconscious body cradled tightly against his chest, water streaming down both their faces as he waded urgently toward the pool's edge, guests rushing forward anxiously to help pull them from the water.