Chapter 1: Daddy, Mommy Is Under the Pool
“Daddy, Mommy is under the pool.””
The little girl's scream shattered what was supposed to be the happiest moment of Marcus Bennett's life.
He was kneeling beside the infinity pool of his luxurious Beverly Hills mansion, holding an open red velvet ring box in one hand. Sunlight danced across the blue water. White roses decorated the marble terrace, champagne chilled beside two crystal glasses, and soft music played from hidden speakers.
Everything had been arranged perfectly.
Marcus wore an expensive navy-blue suit. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his expression carried the nervous excitement of a man about to begin a new chapter.
Standing before him was Vanessa Cole, the woman he had loved for nearly three years.
She wore an elegant cream-colored dress that hugged her figure. Her blonde hair fell over one shoulder, and a diamond bracelet sparkled around her wrist.
“Vanessa,” Marcus began, his voice trembling slightly, “you came into my life when I thought I had lost everything. You helped me raise Lily. You made this house feel like a home again.””
Vanessa pressed a hand against her chest.
“Marcus, you're going to make me cry.””
He smiled and lifted the ring box.
“I know we've both been through difficult things. But I don't want to spend another day wondering what my future looks like without you.””
He took a breath.
“Will you marry me?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Of course, yes!””
But before Marcus could slide the ring onto her finger, a small figure came running across the terrace.
“DADDY!””
It was Lily.
The five-year-old wore a pink princess dress and had one small white shoe untied. Her cheeks were wet, her breathing uneven, and her little hands were shaking.
Marcus immediately turned.
“Lily? Sweetheart, what's wrong?””
The girl didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she pointed directly at the swimming pool.
“Daddy, Mommy is under the pool!””
The smile disappeared from Marcus's face.
Vanessa's expression changed even faster.
“What?”” she said, forcing a nervous laugh.
“Lily, honey, what are you talking about?””
Lily stepped closer to her father.
“She's under there! She's in the dark!””
Marcus placed the ring box on the marble ledge.
“Baby, slow down. Tell Daddy what you saw.””
Lily shook her head violently.
“Mommy! I saw Mommy!””
Vanessa grabbed the little girl's shoulders.
“Lily, stop this nonsense. You know your mother is gone.””
But Lily pulled away.
“No! She's not gone!””
Her voice broke.
“She's alive. I saw her down there.””
For a moment, nobody moved.
The only sound was the gentle splash of water against the pool's edge.
Marcus slowly stood up.
His daughter had been through enough. Her biological mother, Evelyn, had disappeared nearly two years earlier. The police had searched for months. Her car had been found near a river, and personal belongings had been recovered nearby.
Eventually, the authorities had declared her presumed dead.
There had been no funeral with a body.
Just a memorial service, a framed photograph, and a little girl who still sometimes asked when her mother was coming home.
Marcus had tried everything to help Lily accept the loss.
But now she was pointing at the pool with absolute certainty.
“Lily,” he said gently, “where exactly did you see her?””
The girl pointed toward the far end, where a decorative stone waterfall poured into the water.
“Down there. Behind the big black circle.””
Marcus followed her finger.
At the bottom of the pool, he could make out a dark circular shape beneath the shimmering surface. It looked like an ordinary drain cover.
Vanessa stepped between him and the water.
“Marcus, please. She's having one of her episodes again. You know how she gets when she remembers Evelyn.””
Marcus looked at her.
“An episode?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“She has an imaginary friend. Sometimes she thinks it's her mother. The therapist said this could happen.””
Lily began crying harder.
“I'm not making it up!””
Vanessa crouched in front of her.
“Sweetheart, remember what we talked about? We don't make up stories to get attention.””
“I'M NOT LYING!””
The scream echoed across the terrace.
Marcus had never heard his daughter sound so terrified.
He turned toward Vanessa.
“Why are you so upset?””
“Because this is supposed to be a happy day!”” she snapped before quickly lowering her voice.
“Marcus, think about what you're doing. You're letting a five-year-old ruin something important.””
His eyes narrowed.
“She isn't ruining anything. She's frightened.””
Vanessa reached for his hand.
“I'm trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Marcus looked back at Lily.
“Sweetheart, look at Daddy.””
The girl lifted her tearful eyes.
“Did you actually see Mommy?””
Lily nodded.
“Yes.””
“Was she moving?””
Another nod.
“She put her hand on the glass.””
Marcus felt something cold move through his stomach.
“Glass?””
Lily pointed toward the dark circle again.
“There's a room under the water. Mommy was behind a window.””
Vanessa suddenly stood.
“Enough!””
Her voice was so sharp that Lily flinched.
Vanessa immediately tried to recover.
“I'm sorry, baby. I just don't want you frightening your father.””
Marcus stared at her.
Then he asked the question that would change everything.
“What are you hiding from me?””
Vanessa's face went pale.
“Nothing. Marcus, please. Don't turn this into something it isn't.””
But he was no longer listening.
He looked at the pool.
Then at his daughter.
Then at the woman who was supposed to become his wife.
Without another word, Marcus began unbuttoning his jacket.
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“Marcus, what are you doing?””
He dropped the jacket onto a nearby chair.
“I'm checking.””
“Don't be ridiculous!””
He pulled off his shoes.
Vanessa grabbed his wrist.
“Marcus, don't go down there.””
He looked at her hand gripping his arm.
“Why not?””
“Because it's dangerous!””
“Then call emergency services.””
She hesitated.
Only for a second.
But Marcus noticed.
He pulled his arm free, ran toward the edge, and jumped.
The water swallowed him.
Above the surface, Lily screamed.
“Daddy! Find Mommy!””
And Vanessa stood frozen beside the red velvet ring box.
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For the first time that afternoon, she looked less like a bride-to-be.
She looked like someone whose secret had just begun to surface.
