Chapter 1: The Ring That Should Never Have Existed
“Daddy! MOMMY IS DOWN THERE!””
The little girl’s scream shattered the romantic afternoon.
Marcus Hale froze on one knee beside the swimming pool, a small red velvet ring box open in his trembling hand. Across from him, Victoria stood in an elegant cream-colored dress, one hand covering her mouth, tears glistening in her eyes.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Marcus turned toward his six-year-old daughter.
“Lily, sweetheart, what did you just say?””
Lily came running across the marble patio, her pink dress fluttering behind her. Her cheeks were wet, and she was pointing desperately toward the deep end of the pool.
“Mommy! I saw Mommy!””
Marcus's smile disappeared.
Victoria immediately stepped forward.
“Marcus, Elina has been dead for fourteen months.””
Her voice was gentle, but something about the way she said it made Marcus look at her.
“I know what the doctors told us,” he replied.
“Then why are you listening to a frightened child?””
“Because she said she saw her mother.””
Victoria grabbed his arm.
“Marcus, please. Don't do this today.””
But he was already staring at the bottom of the swimming pool.
There, beneath the shimmering blue water, was a circular metal drain cover.
Something white seemed to be caught beneath its edge.
Marcus slowly stood.
“Daddy, she's wearing her wedding ring,” Lily whispered.
His stomach tightened.
“What did you say?””
“The shiny ring. Mommy's ring. I saw it on her hand.””
Marcus looked down at the open velvet box.
Inside was a diamond ring.
The exact design of the wedding ring he had given Elina five years earlier.
Except that ring had supposedly disappeared when she died.
“Victoria,” he said quietly, “what exactly did you tell the police about Elina's belongings?””
Victoria's expression changed.
“Marcus, this isn't the time.””
“Answer me.””
“She was cremated. Her things were handled months ago.””
Marcus looked back at the drain.
Then, without another word, he removed his blue suit jacket, pulled off his shoes, and jumped into the pool.
“Marcus!”” Victoria screamed.
He plunged beneath the surface.
The water was cold enough to make his chest tighten. He kicked toward the deep end, following the direction Lily had pointed.
The circular drain cover was surrounded by dark green algae.
He reached for it.
It wouldn't move.
He pulled harder, gripping the metal edges with both hands. His fingers slipped against the slimy surface.
Above him, Victoria stood motionless.
Marcus kicked upward, took a breath, and dove again.
This time, he found a small metal lever wedged beneath the cover.
He pulled.
A terrible scraping sound vibrated through the water.
The cover shifted.
Then something moved beneath it.
Marcus stopped breathing.
A pale hand slowly emerged from the darkness.
There was a gold wedding band on its ring finger.
And beside it, a small diamond-shaped scar.
Marcus knew that scar.
He had kissed it hundreds of times.
It belonged to Elina.
His dead wife.
He stared at the hand, unable to move, as bubbles escaped his mouth.
Then the fingers curled.
Not from the movement of the water.
They curled around his wrist.
Marcus's eyes widened.
Someone was alive beneath his swimming pool.
He kicked violently toward the surface.
When he finally broke through, he gasped for air.
“CALL 911!”” he shouted.
Victoria stumbled backward.
“Marcus, get out of the water!””
“THERE'S SOMEONE DOWN THERE!””
He pointed toward the drain.
Victoria looked at the opening.
For one brief second, her face lost every trace of color.
Then she screamed.
“Close the pool! Now!””
Marcus turned toward her.
“Why would you say that?””
Victoria pressed a hand against her mouth.
“I—I mean, get away from the drain. It's dangerous!””
But Marcus had heard something else.
Under the water, just before he surfaced, a woman's voice had whispered something against his ear.
Three words.
Don't trust Victoria.
And when Marcus looked back toward the patio, he realized his fiancée was no longer looking at him.
She was looking at Lily.
May you like
With an expression he had never seen before.
Pure hatred.
