Reborn Heiress Is Remarrying
Chapter 73: Sink Or Swim

Chapter 73: Sink Or Swim

Chapter 73: Sink or Swim

Diane should have known this wasn’t going to be easy.

Standing at the edge of a wide, fast-moving river, she watched as the event organisers cheerfully explained the rules for their first challenge.

The bright morning sun made the water sparkle deceptively, but Diane had a sinking feeling—literally—that this would end horribly.

The announcer, a man far too enthusiastic for this nonsense, spread his arms wide.

"Welcome, contestants, to your first survival challenge: Sink or Swim!"

The crowd murmured clearly, not sure of this.

"Each team must build a raft from the materials provided and successfully cross the river. The first three teams to make it across will gain points toward the final prize. The rest of you?"

He chuckled. "Well... hope you know how to swim!"

Diane clenched her jaw.

Riot nudged her. "You do know how to swim, right?"

Diane glared at him. "Yes."

"Good," Tessa muttered, eyeing the rushing river.

"Because I guarantee whatever we build is going to end up at the bottom of that water."

Diane sighed, already rubbing her temples.

Then she spotted him.

Across the clearing, Gabriel was with Evelyn and their third teammate—a tall, quiet man Diane didn’t recognise.

And, of course, they were already working on it.

Evelyn barked orders like a drill sergeant, the unknown guy moved like a professional, and Gabriel?

He looked like he wasn’t even trying, casually securing knots like he did this every day.

Diane scowled.

Tessa followed her gaze. "I can feel your irritation."

"Good," Diane muttered.

"Is it because Gabriel ditched you for her?" Riot asked with a smirk.

Diane didn’t answer. Instead, she turned to the pile of scattered building materials in front of them.

Wooden planks, barrels, rope—basic supplies for what should be a simple raft.

"Alright," she exhaled. "Let’s get this over with."

Fifteen minutes in, it was clear they were doomed.

Riot had somehow managed to get himself tied to a wooden plank.

Tessa was aggressively kicking a barrel, muttering about "physics hating her."

And Diane?

She was watching other teams actually succeed.

Gabriel’s team was nearly done. Their raft was sleek, balanced, and built like something out of a survivalist’s guide.

Meanwhile, another team had constructed something so professional-looking that Diane suspected at least one of them was an engineer.

Then there was Team #4, whose raft was literally on fire.

Diane stared. "How—how did that even happen?"

One of the guys from the burning raft team shrugged.

"We thought lighting a torch would boost morale."

His teammate smacked the back of his head. "WE’RE LITERALLY ON FIRE."

Diane shook her head. "At least we’re not them."

Tessa gave their raft a solid kick. It wobbled ominously.

"...Yet," she added dryly.

On the other side, Evelyn was watching Gabriel with tiny irritation.

She had not planned for this.

She’d wanted Gabriel distracted, not on her team.

The entire point was to keep him away from Diane, and now he was right here, quietly but efficiently helping her build their raft.

"Why are you even here?" she finally muttered under her breath.

Gabriel barely spared her a glance. "You looked like you needed competent help."

Evelyn’s eye twitched.

Their third teammate, Mark—one of Evelyn’s own secret contacts—spoke up. "This thing’s solid. We’ll get across no problem."

Gabriel hummed. "I’d be embarrassed if we didn’t."

Evelyn clenched her jaw.

She needed to focus on the plan. They still had a job to do.

But first, she had to get through this stupid river.

And judging by how Diane’s team was falling apart, at least she’d get some entertainment out of it.

Back at Diane’s disaster site, their raft looked... questionable.

It held together. Barely.

Tessa crossed her arms. "Okay, let’s be honest. We have a 60% chance of making it."

Diane gave her a flat look. "That’s generous."

Riot grinned. "If we sink, we sink together."

"Not helping, Riot."

The announcer’s voice boomed across the area. "Alright, folks! Time’s up! Everyone, get ready to launch!"

Diane exhaled.

She had a bad feeling about this...

Diane was staring at the barely functional raft she and her team had put together.

It was holding together—for now—but the moment it hit the water, she had a feeling it was going to betray them in the worst way possible.

Riot clapped his hands together. "Alright! Time to test our engineering skills."

Tessa scoffed. "Engineering skills? Riot, you literally tied yourself to a plank fifteen minutes ago."

He waved a hand. "That was a minor setback."

Diane sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Let’s just get this over with."

The announcer’s voice boomed over the area. "Three... Two... One... GO!"

All at once, teams scrambled to push their rafts into the river.

Diane, Riot, and Tessa shoved theirs forward.

The barrels underneath bobbed slightly, and for a moment—just one blissful moment—it looked like their raft might actually work.

Then the left side dipped.

Then the right side sank.

Riot shouted, "WE’RE TAKING ON WATER."

Tessa yelled, "ABANDON SHIP—"

Diane barely had time to check the disaster before the entire raft tilted violently, and the three of them plunged into the freezing river.

Coughing and sputtering, Diane resurfaced, wiping water from her face.

The river wasn’t deep, but the current was strong enough to pull them a few feet away from where they’d launched.

Riot popped up beside her, grinning. "Okay, so, technically, that was not our fault."

Tessa appeared next, glaring. "No? Then whose fault was it, Riot?"

Riot thought for a moment, then pointed at Diane. "Hers. She’s the leader."

Diane splashed him.

Riot yelped, flailing. "Unnecessary violence!"

From the riverbank, several other teams were dying laughing.

"Oh my god," one contestant wheezed. "They didn’t even last ten seconds!"

Even the announcer had to pause before continuing his commentary.

"A... valiant effort from Team Diane! Let’s have a round of applause for their incredible attempt—"

More laughter.

Diane gritted her teeth, dragging herself toward the shore.

Then she heard his voice.

It was as she thought, Gabriel.

Calm. Pleased. Smug.

"You really are hopeless without me."

Diane turned her head away.

Gabriel stood at the river’s edge, completely dry, watching her like she was the most pathetic thing he’d ever seen.

Behind him, his team was already halfway across the river—on their fully functional, perfectly balanced raft.

Diane’s eye twitched.

Riot muttered, "Oh, you have to hit him for that."

Diane sighed. "I will. Just let me get out of this damn river first."

This was not over.

Not even close.