Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed
Chapter 112

"Hey, she looks a bit off. Should we call an ambulance?" The often-overlooked instructor finally spoke.

At that time, Roseanne realized she was surrounded by a crowd, all of whom seemed to sigh with relief.

Leda snapped back to the moment. "I've called emergency services. How are you feeling now?"

"My hand might be injured." Roseanne moved it slightly. It was fine underwater, but she couldn't move it at all.

Leda asked with concern, "What the heck happened? How did you end up sinking like that?"

Roseanne paused before admitting, "My oxygen tank seemed to malfunction."

Leda quickly grabbed the discarded oxygen tank. The tank looked intact, but the bottom had a hole! Though it was only the size of a pinhole, it was there!

Leda's sharp gaze immediately turned toward the diving instructor.

"That can't be right! Impossible! We replace our gear every year, and we rigorously check everything before handing it out. We've never had a problem in all these years!" With a stern demeanor, the instructor immediately defended himself. "Besides, even if there was a real danger, our designated safety zone ensures quick rescue. There's no way a drowning could happen."

Leda grew more infuriated. "So, are you saying my friend is lying? Do you understand what could have happened if I hadn't driven the boat over in time?"

Roseanne glanced at the diving instructor, who was trying to explain himself. His face was a mix of nervousness and anxiety, not feigning his reaction, which seemed utterly baffling.

Amid the heated argument, Roseanne suddenly said, "I encountered a shark."

Leda gasped.

The diving instructor was incredulous. "That was impossible!"

"Blacktip reef sharks lurk beyond the safety zone but typically stay below two hundred meters deep. They're more cowardly than the other sharks, usually avoiding humans and rarely attacking." Roseanne softly added, "The camera on my diving suit recorded everything. You can check the memory card now if you don't believe me."

The diving instructor was at a loss for words.

"Oh my, what in the world happened here?" At that moment, the delayed arrival of the lifeguard, who seemed utterly unaware of the situation, added to the shock.

Glowering, the diving instructor wanted to punch him. "John, where the heck were you? Why didn't you respond immediately for the rescue?"

The lifeguard raised his hands in surrender, stepping back with a sheepish grin. "Buddy, I went to the restroom. That's all. So, what exactly went down here? Why does everyone look so grim?"

Leda was instantly furious. "You've got the nerve to ask? You're supposed to be on lifeguard duty. When my friend was in trouble, desperately signaling for help, you were nowhere to be found. I have every reason to believe you deliberately delayed your response." In deep-sea areas, the presence of a lifeguard was crucial. His absence could mean Roseanne might not have made it!

Naturally, the lifeguard wasn't going to let such a serious accusation go unchallenged.

He defended himself cleverly and vigorously. "I just happened to have a bad stomach, okay? It's not like there's a rule against using the restroom during work hours. And encountering unexpected situations in the sea is pretty normal, right? Your friend is fine now, isn't she?"

He shrugged, his tone laced with indifference, which was incredibly frustrating.