Chapter 2: The Name
Nobody moved.
The pool water continued to ripple behind us.
That tiny movement suddenly felt louder than the music ever had.
Vanessa stared at Marcus.
Then at me.
Then at her phone.
“I don't know what you're talking about,” she said.
Marcus held up the screen.
“Then explain this.””
Vanessa's eyes darted toward the guests.
Several people were already pulling out their phones.
One woman whispered, “Oh my God.””
Another guest stepped closer.
“Is that a text?””
Vanessa's voice sharpened.
“Everyone needs to calm down.””
Marcus laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“Calm down?””
He held the phone higher.
“You just tried to drown your sister.””
“I did not try to drown her!””
“You pushed her into a pool knowing she couldn't swim.””
“It was a joke!””
“A joke doesn't come with a text saying to make it look like an accident.””
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
She reached for the phone.
“Give that back.””
Marcus moved it away.
“No.””
“That's my property.””
“And this,” Marcus said, pointing at the screen, “is evidence.””
My heart hammered.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Who were you texting?””
She didn't answer.
“Vanessa.””
Nothing.
I pushed myself upright.
Marcus immediately turned toward me.
“Don't stand.””
“I need to know.””
“You almost drowned.””
“I know.””
My voice cracked.
“I know exactly what almost happened.””
I looked directly at my sister.
“Who is it?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You're misunderstanding everything.””
“Then explain it.””
She swallowed.
“I was talking to someone.””
“Who?””
She glanced toward the mansion.
That was when I noticed something strange.
The guests weren't looking at Vanessa anymore.
They were looking at the phone.
At the message.
At me.
For years, Vanessa had been the person everyone believed.
The charming sister.
The successful one.
The woman who remembered birthdays, organized parties, brought expensive gifts, and always knew exactly what to say.
And I had been the difficult one.
The sensitive one.
The sister who supposedly overreacted.
Vanessa had built that version of me so carefully that sometimes I had wondered if I was the one who was wrong.
Marcus looked at me.
“Maya, did Vanessa know you couldn't swim?””
“Yes.””
“Since when?””
“Since we were kids.””
Vanessa scoffed.
“That doesn't mean anything.””
I stared at her.
“You watched me nearly drown when we were twelve.””
Her face tightened.
“That was years ago.””
“You pulled me out yourself.””
“I was a child.””
“You remembered.””
Vanessa said nothing.
Marcus looked down at the phone again.
“There are more messages.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Marcus.””
He scrolled.
His expression changed.
“What?”” I asked.
He didn't respond immediately.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
“Why did you ask Maya this morning if she still couldn't swim?””
Vanessa's lips parted.
“I was curious.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Curious?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“I don't owe you an explanation.””
“You owe her one.””
Vanessa looked at me.
For a moment, I saw something underneath the anger.
Fear.
Real fear.
Then she covered it with a smile.
“You're making this into something it isn't.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
My voice was steadier now.
“You're the one who made it something.””
A gust of evening wind moved across the pool.
My soaked dress chilled against my skin.
A woman from the party hurried over with a white towel.
“Maya, here.””
“Thank you.””
I wrapped it around myself.
Marcus remained beside me.
Vanessa suddenly pointed toward the phone.
“Read the contact.””
Marcus looked down.
The number wasn't saved under a name.
Just a string of digits.
He tapped the conversation.
Another message appeared.
*Tonight. No mistakes.*
Then another.
*She trusts you. Use that.*
My stomach twisted.
I looked at Vanessa.
“You told someone I trusted you.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“You did.””
“No, Maya.””
Her voice became strangely soft.
“You don't understand.””
“Then help me understand.””
She stared at me.
“You think this was about you.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa glanced around the pool.
Then toward the mansion.
Her eyes landed briefly on the large glass doors.
I followed her gaze.
There was no one standing there.
But something about her reaction made the hairs rise on my arms.
Marcus noticed too.
“Who else is inside?””
Vanessa immediately looked at him.
“Nobody.””
“That wasn't my question.””
She stepped closer.
“Give me the phone.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Not until you tell us who sent that.””
Vanessa's breathing became faster.
“Maya,” she whispered.
“What?””
“There are things you don't know.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“Like what?””
Vanessa looked at me.
Her lips trembled.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“Your father never wanted you to have that house.””
I stared at her.
“What house?””
Vanessa froze.
Marcus slowly turned toward me.
Vanessa had made a mistake.
A very big one.
Because I had never told Marcus about the house.
And there was only one person who knew why my father had left it to me.
Vanessa.
I whispered, “How do you know about my father's will?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Then her phone—still in Marcus's hand—buzzed.
May you like
A new message appeared.
*Why is Marcus still alive?*
