The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 67

**TITLE: Dreams Rise Again by Braxton**

**Chapter 67**

Evan launched himself into the pool with a forceful dive, his body slicing through the water like a well-honed blade. His arms churned with a speed that seemed almost otherworldly, propelling him forward in a desperate bid for safety.

As he soared into the cool depths, a primal instinct took hold of him, a visceral awareness of the looming danger. He could feel the vibrations of the Saltwater Croc, ominously crawling just behind him along the pool deck. Its elongated snout was already inching dangerously close to the edge of the water, a harbinger of the chaos that was about to unfold.

Once submerged, Evan surged ahead, his movements driven by an urgency that left no room for rational thought. All that occupied his mind was a singular, raw desire—to escape, to flee. The water churned around him, and he propelled himself forward as if his very life depended on it, a fire igniting within him that pushed him to go faster.

Suddenly, he felt the chilling brush of the crocodile’s jaws graze against him, a sensation that sent a cascade of ice-cold shivers racing up his spine. The bumpy, armored texture of the beast’s skin was a stark reminder of the danger lurking just behind him.

Evan swam with reckless abandon, abandoning all sense of composure. His blood raced, his muscles screamed, and every nerve in his body echoed the same urgent command: “Swim faster.” The Saltwater Croc was a behemoth, the largest living reptile on Earth, with males reaching lengths of twenty-one feet. Just its presence alone, lying there with its jaws wide open, radiated an aura of sheer intimidation.

Its long, powerful tail lashed out like a steel cable, crashing into the pool and sending waves of water splashing over the stunned spectators. Gasps of shock filled the air as the onlookers froze, their faces drained of color. This was not just any creature; this was a true man-eater, a terrifying giant that commanded respect and fear.

The standard pools used for the World Aquatics Championships and the Olympics measure an impressive 164 feet in length. Competitors were required to swim the full distance and return. Yet, the massive Saltwater Croc was too formidable to be contained in the water or to offer any kind of measured guidance.

On land, it was a creature of explosive speed, capable of covering 164 feet in a mere fifteen seconds—faster than Evan could ever swim. As he paddled frantically toward the far end of the pool, he could see Nina guiding Big Chomp, the crocodile, to crawl along the pool deck from one end to the other.

Finally, when Evan reached the far side, convinced he had escaped the jaws of doom, he looked up only to find Nina standing there, a sly smile playing on her lips as she awaited him with Big Chomp at the opposite end of the pool.

With a snap of her fingers, she teased, “Looks like you’ve lost to the crocodile coach.”

Big Chomp obediently opened its massive, blood-red jaws, its teeth shimmering in the sunlight like polished steel, as if to declare, “I won. Praise me, or I might just eat you.”

Evan’s heart dropped, his face losing all color. As soon as his hands met the wall, he flipped and kicked off, launching himself back into the water with a sense of urgency that bordered on panic.

There was no room for relaxation; the adrenaline that had begun to fade surged back with a vengeance. His heart raced, pounding against his ribcage, reaching a staggering 180 beats per minute. In that instant, he was no longer swimming; he was engaged in a desperate fight for survival.

He swam with a speed that seemed almost superhuman.

At last, Evan reached the finish line, utterly exhausted, collapsing at the edge of the pool, his face contorted in despair. He felt as if he were on the brink of death, yet not a single teammate came to his aid.

Instead, everyone remained frozen, wide-eyed and entranced by the coach’s stopwatch, as if time itself had come to a standstill.

Nina, feeling a pang of empathy, reached out toward him.

Evan recoiled, instinctively backing away in the water. “Don’t come near me!” he shouted, his voice tinged with fear.

Nina awkwardly withdrew her hand, her mind racing with thoughts. ‘Am I really that terrifying?’

“Don’t worry,” she reassured him, her voice gentle. “I’ve taken Big Chomp back.”

Evan glanced around, a wave of relief washing over him when he realized the crocodile was gone. Only then did he muster the strength to climb out of the pool.

As he emerged, he noticed the coach and his teammates staring at him, still wide-eyed and visibly shaken.

Feeling self-conscious, he asked, “What’s wrong? Did I swim too slowly? Not fast enough?”

It wasn’t a matter of bravado; that under-a-minute swim had felt like an eternity. Time had crawled, especially in those harrowing moments when Big Chomp had nearly grazed him.

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