Chapter 1 - THE PUSH
“DON’T TOUCH ME!”
Emily Carter’s scream cut across the backyard one second before both of Vivian Cross’s hands slammed into her shoulders.
Emily stumbled backward.
Her heel caught the wet stone.
Her eight-month-pregnant body tilted over the edge of the infinity pool.
For one frozen heartbeat, she stared straight into Vivian’s face.
There was no shock there.
No regret.
Only satisfaction.
Then Emily fell.
The water swallowed her with a violent splash.
“Mommy!”
Seven-year-old Noah Carter dropped the toy airplane in his hand and ran toward the pool.
Emily’s cream-colored dress ballooned around her beneath the blue water. She kicked, but her legs felt heavy. Her belly pulled her forward. Chlorinated water burned her nose and throat.
She reached for the surface.
Missed.
Her lungs screamed.
Above the water, Vivian stood perfectly still in a white designer suit.
Noah saw her.
He saw everything.
“You pushed her!” he screamed. “You pushed my mommy!”
Vivian’s face changed.
“No, sweetheart. She slipped.”
“You’re lying!”
Noah ran to the edge.
“Mommy! Grab my hand!”
Emily could barely see him through the rippling surface.
She forced one arm upward.
Too far.
Her vision started going dark.
Then a deep male voice exploded from the villa.
“EMILY!”
Daniel Carter came running through the open glass doors.
He took in the scene in less than a second.
His pregnant wife underwater.
His son screaming.
Vivian standing beside the pool.
Daniel didn’t even remove his shoes.
He dove in wearing his black suit.
He reached Emily near the bottom, wrapped one arm beneath her chest, and kicked toward the surface.
When they broke through, Emily didn’t breathe.
“Emily!”
Daniel dragged her onto the stone deck.
Noah dropped beside her, sobbing.
“Mommy, wake up! Please wake up!”
Daniel pressed his ear near her mouth.
Nothing.
His hands shook.
“Come on, Em. Come on.”
He began CPR.
Vivian stepped forward.
“Daniel, I can explain—”
“Back up.”
His voice was quiet.
Terrifyingly quiet.
“Daniel—”
“I said back up.”
Emily suddenly coughed.
Water spilled from her mouth.
She gasped violently, curling both arms around her stomach.
“My baby…”
Daniel grabbed her hand.
“I’ve got you.”
Her eyes opened.
They found Noah.
Then Vivian.
Emily’s expression changed from confusion to terror.
“She pushed me.”
Vivian went pale.
Daniel slowly looked up.
For years, people in business meetings had feared Daniel Carter’s temper.
But this wasn’t anger.
It was colder than anger.
He stood, dripping water across the expensive limestone, and faced Vivian.
“Enjoy this villa today.”
Vivian blinked.
“What?”
“Look at the pool. Look at the view. Touch the marble counters. Sleep in that bedroom if you want.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Because tomorrow, you’ll be out on the street with nothing.”
Vivian’s mouth opened.
Then she smiled.
A strange, confident smile.
“You might want to check whose name is actually on this house before you threaten me.”
Daniel stopped.
Emily saw it.
For the first time that afternoon, her husband looked afraid.
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And suddenly, she understood that the woman who had pushed her into the pool was not the biggest secret in her marriage.
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