Chapter 1: The Push
“Someone help me—I can’t swim!””
Maya barely got the words out before her back struck the pool.
One second, she was standing beneath the warm glow of sunset, champagne-colored dress sparkling beneath the mansion lights. The next, Vanessa’s hands were planted against her shoulders, and the world flipped into blue.
*SPLASH.*
Water swallowed Maya whole.
Her dress dragged heavily against her legs. She kicked wildly, but her feet found nothing. Her hands slapped the surface, searching for something—anything—to grab.
“I can’t swim!”” Maya screamed again, choking on water.
Around the pool, the celebration froze.
Black American guests in elegant suits and dresses turned toward the commotion. A glass slipped from someone’s hand and shattered against the stone patio.
Vanessa remained exactly where she was.
Her fitted white dress was perfectly dry.
Her sleek blonde bob hadn’t moved.
She simply stared down into the pool.
“Get her out!”” someone shouted.
Two male guests sprinted toward the shallow edge. One dropped to his knees and reached for Maya’s arm.
“I’ve got you!””
“Grab her other hand!””
They hauled her toward the steps as Maya coughed violently, her soaked hair plastered across her face.
Marcus came running from the other side of the patio.
“Maya!””
He dropped beside her the moment she was pulled onto the stone.
Maya gasped, trembling so hard her teeth clicked together.
Marcus grabbed her shoulders.
“Look at me. Maya, breathe.””
“I—I couldn’t—”
“I know.””
He pulled off his tuxedo jacket and wrapped it around her.
Then he looked up.
Vanessa was still standing there.
Marcus’s face hardened.
“You knew she couldn’t swim!””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“It was just a joke.””
Maya slowly lifted her head.
“A joke?””
Vanessa shrugged.
“You're fine.””
Maya stared at her sister as water dripped from the hem of her ruined dress.
“You pushed me into a pool.””
Vanessa's expression barely changed.
“And you're sitting here alive.””
Marcus stood.
“That's not an answer.””
Several guests exchanged uncomfortable looks.
Vanessa finally glanced around, as if only now realizing how many people had witnessed what happened.
“Everyone needs to calm down.””
Maya’s breathing grew shakier.
She looked at Vanessa.
And suddenly, one tiny detail from that morning came rushing back.
Vanessa had asked her a strange question.
Maya swallowed.
“She asked me this morning if I still couldn’t swim.””
Marcus stopped moving.
His eyes shifted slowly toward Vanessa.
Vanessa’s face changed.
Only for a second.
But Maya saw it.
So did Marcus.
And then Marcus noticed Vanessa’s phone lying on the nearby table.
The screen was still glowing.
Marcus walked toward it.
Vanessa’s voice sharpened.
“Marcus, don't.””
He picked it up.
The phone was unlocked.
May you like
His eyes dropped to the screen.
And his entire expression changed.
