Chapter 3

My temples throbbed with rage.

"I'm telling you, if someone dies, the police will be involved, and none of you will get away with it!"

She casually took a sip from a glass of red wine, her tone arrogant.

"Stop faking it. If you want out, just beg me."

"Weren't you so tough a minute ago? What, now that you know my husband is coming, you're scared?"

Eleanor already had a heart condition. Not only had she been infuriated today, but she’d also choked on water several times and was exhausted. She was in severe distress.

I bit my lip. I couldn't let her be in danger.

I had to endure it for now, ensure her safety.

Just as I was about to open my mouth and beg her, Eleanor grabbed my arm.

She spoke with a trembling voice:

"I've never bowed my head to anyone in my life, much less begged a despicable thing like her."

"Elara, I can still hold on. When Julian Hayes gets here, he definitely won't forgive her."

"Don't worry, I've been hurt by men my whole life. I'll stand by you."

Seeing that we still wouldn't beg, Tiffany’s eyes glinted slyly. She turned and instructed Mikey:

"Go grab two buckets of ice from the kitchen. Let's cool them down even more."

Ice cubes were dumped into the water, and the temperature quickly plummeted. I was shivering uncontrollably.

Eleanor's lips were already turning blue, and her consciousness was fading.

I slapped her face, but she barely reacted.

Holding my breath, I quickly swam with her towards the edge, but Mikey pushed us away again and again with a pole.

I was frantic, my eyes red, screaming hoarsely:

"My mother is dying! Let her out now! If someone dies, your hotel won't be able to escape responsibility!"

"Julian Hayes will never let you off the hook!"

Mikey, being a swimming instructor, noticed Eleanor’s pale face and realized the situation was genuinely bad. He quickly turned to Tiffany.

"Tiffany, the older woman looks really bad. Maybe we should let her out? It’ll be such a hassle if she dies in the pool, and it'll gross you out every time you use it."

"Besides, Mr. Hayes probably doesn't want you to actually kill someone. If he gets angry, I might lose my job."

Tiffany thought for a moment, then scoffed.

"Oh, so you're worried about your job? I didn't actually intend to kill anyone, but some people are just too stubborn for their own good."

"I said if they begged me, I'd consider letting them out. They're still not at death's door. I want to see how long they can last!"

Mikey, emboldened by Tiffany's presence, glared at me.

"Let me tell you, Tiffany Blackwood is Mr. Hayes's woman. This hotel exists to serve her; everything has to make way for her."

"You shouldn't have been let in today. If you want to live, apologize to her right now, and beg her properly."

"If you're not smart about this, no one can help you!"

I bit my lip hard, seeing Eleanor in such a critical state. I couldn’t care less about my pride or dignity anymore. I struggled to speak:

"I beg you, please let my mother out first. She has a heart condition; she'll really die."

Tiffany’s lips curved into a smug smile. She deliberately sneered, her voice dripping with mock sweetness:

"Didn't you just call me a shameless third party? I want you to say it again. Say that Elara Shaw is the bitchy third party, and *I* am Julian Hayes's wife."

Tiffany hated being called a third party, and she was fiercely jealous of the Elara Shaw she'd never met.

She didn't know *I* was Elara Shaw, and yet, she unwittingly delivered the greatest insult.

My fists clenched, nails digging deep into my palms. I swallowed the humiliation, repeating each word slowly:

"Elara Shaw is the bitchy third party, you are Julian Hayes's wife!"

"Is that enough? Now let my mother out!"

She smiled, satisfied, a cunning glint in her eyes.

"I said I'd *consider* it. Now that I've considered it, I've decided I don't want you to come out."