Chapter 1 I was on vacation with my mother - in - law , Katherine . After checking into the hotel , we went for a swim in the pool . That's when a woman , dressed to the nines even in her poolside attire , pinched her nose in disgust . " This is a luxury resort . What is with the class of people they're letting in these days ? I bet they just snuck in to use the pool . " Her voice dripped with contempt . " Sharing the same water with you people ... I'm afraid I'll catch something . " The mood was instantly ruined . " This is a public pool for hotel guests , " I said , my voice cold . " If you can't handle that , build one in your own backyard ." 4 Her eyebrows shot up . " How dare you speak to me like that ? Do you have any idea who I am ? My husband owns this hotel . The pen- thouse suite is mine , year - round . " She jabbed a finger at us . " I'm ordering you to get out . Now . The stench of your cheapness is fouling the water . It's disgusting . " Katherine and I exchanged a look . I saw the same icy fury in her eyes that I felt in my own heart . This hotel was one of dozens owned by Terence McMurray . Since when was he someone else's husband ? We'd wanted to keep a low profile on this trip , checking in without revealing our connection to the McMurray hotel empire . So much for that . Our relaxing getaway had just turned sour . Katherine , a titan of industry her entire life , wasn't about to be intimidated . She scoffed . " And who are you to order us around ? You ' re the one who should get out . It's the stench of your bad manners that's truly disgusting . " Ignoring the woman , who was now sputtering with rage , Katherine turned to me . " Amelia , let's just swim . Pay her no mind . When we get back , you and I will have a little chat with Terence and find out what in the world is going on . " Being ignored sent the woman into a full - blown tantrum . A vicious smile twisted her lips . " Fine . If you love the water so much , you can stay in it all day . " She made a call . A moment later , a young , athletic - looking man appeared , fawning over her . " Rose , what can I do for you ? Ready for that swimming lesson ? " She pointed at us with a perfectly manicured nail . " Marco , teach these two ignorant women a lesson for me . " Marco understood immediately . " You got it , Rose , " he said with a greasy smile . " I'm a swim coach . I know all the tricks for handling people in the water . " He dove in . Before we could react , he grabbed Katherine by the head and shoved her under the water with all his strength . She was no match for him ; she started choking instantly , thrashing wildly . " Stop it ! " I lunged at him , but he was agile , twisting away and pushing my head under , forcing a lungful of chlorinated water down my throat . I came up sputtering and , in a blind panic , I sank my teeth into his arm . Hard . He yelled and let go . I immediately pulled Katherine to the side of the pool . Her eyes had rolled back , and she was coughing so hard it sounded like she was trying to hack up a lung . She was a woman who had commanded boardrooms and built an empire that spanned the country . She was treated with reverence everywhere she went . When had she ever been subjected to such humil- lation ? Her voice , when she could finally speak , was steel . " Do you realize you could have killed me ? This is criminal ! " she raged at Rose , " I ' Il have my legal team sue you into oblivion ! " Rose just laughed . " So what if you died ? My husband owns hundreds of hotels . He makes enough in one day to buy your pathetic Jives a thousand times over . You should have found out who you were messing with before you started something . Lawyers ? Plea Chapter 1 12:37 se . You can't even afford the filing fee . " This hotel was just one of many Katherine had entrusted to Terence's management . This woman's possessive , arrogant attitude made no sense . Did Terence have a second wife ? I rubbed Katherine's back , trying to soothe her . " Is your husband's name Terence McMurray ? " I asked , my voice dangerously calm . Rose preened . " That's right . At least you're not completely clueless . Now , if you kneel and apologize , then scrub this entire pool clean , I might consider letting you go . Otherwise , when he gets here , you're in for a world of hurt . " Ice flooded my veins . Terence . The man who had sworn his undying love and loyalty to me ... was he really cheating ? Then , my eyes locked on the tattoo just above her collar single , perfect rose . I had seen the exact same tattoo on his chiseled abs . He'd told me he got it because I loved roses . I was so touched at the time . What a fool I'd been . It was a couples ' tattoo . If we hadn ' t run into her today , I never would have known he keeping a mistress in a gilded cage . The angrier I got , the calmer I became . " As far as I know, " I said , my words sharp enough to cut glass , " Terence McMurray's wife is named Amelia . And she looks nothing like you . You're the mistress , yet you have the audacity to be this arrogant ? You have no shame . " I raised my chin . " Go on . Call him . I'd love to see how he plans to make us hurt . " The word " mistress " struck a nerve . Her face contorted with hatred . " In love , there's no first or second . The one who isn't loved is the other woman , " she spat . " My husband is on his way over right now . You just wait ." She dialed number , and her voice instantly transformed into a sickly sweet , baby - talk purr . " Jules , darling , when will you be here ? There are these two old hags bullying me at the pool . I'm so scared . You have to come and stick up for me . " She giggled . " And you should reserve the pool just for me from now on . I've learned a few new tricks in the water ... and I can't wait for you to enjoy them . " Hanging up , her face was a mask of smug triumph . " He'll be here in thirty minutes . You're dead . He has a million ways to deal with people like you . " The thought of Terence , acting the part of the doting husband with me while carrying on with this woman , made me want to throw up . Katherine saw the look on my face and understood everything . She gritted her teeth . " Terence . That bastard . He's just like his fath- er . " Her voice was laced with a lifetime of pain . " Everything I gave him , I can take away ." Katherine despised infidelity . She had divorced Terence's father years ago after he'd had an affair with a young model , and she'd raised Terence on her own while building her business empire . To think her own son would betray her in the same way ... it was a knife to the heart . Katherine Kingsley was the true power behind the McMurray hotel chain . And I , Amelia Davenport , came from a family whose standing was every bit the equal of his . Terence McMurray , I thought . Let's see you explain this . Just then , I saw Katherine's face go pale . I quickly tried to help her out of the pool to get changed . But Rose waved a hand . Marco leaped onto the pool deck and , as Katherine was climbing the ladder , he kicked her squarely in the back . She tumbled back into the water . I scrambled to get to her . On the deck , Rose was laughing hysterically " You look like a pair of drowning ducks ! You love the water so much ? Then stay in it ! " She turned to Marco . " Don't let them out until my husband gets here . " Chapter 1 12.37 " You got it , Rose , " the lapdog said . " Just put in a good word for me with Mr. McMurray when he arrives . " Every time we tried to climb out, he would kick us back in . Our strength was fading fast . Katherine was clutching her chest , struggl- ing to breathe . I held her up , trying to keep her head above water . " Are you trying to kill her ? " I screamed at the deck . " My mother has a heart cond- ition ! Let us out, now ! You will regret this when Terence gets here ! " Marco hesitated , a flicker of fear in his eyes . But Rose just scoffed . " Nice try . Old women like you are full of tricks . Faking a heart attack ? You were swimming just fine a minute ago. " She turned to Marco with a wicked grin . " Go turn off the pool heater . Let's see how long she can keep up the act . " " I'm telling you , if she dies , the police will be here , and you'll both go to jail ! " I yelled , my voice raw with fury . Rose simply picked up a glass of red wine and took a leisurely sip . " Stop the drama . If you want out , beg me . Weren't you so tough a minute ago ? What , you're scared now that my husband is coming ? " Katherine did have a heart condition . The stress , the shock , and the near - drowning had taken their toll . She was in real trouble . I bit my lip . I had to get her out of there . I would swallow my pride , do anything to keep her safe . But as I was about to speak , Katherine gripped my arm . Her voice was a ragged whisper . " I have never bowed my head to anyone in my life . And I will not start by begging a classless creature like her . Amelia , I can hold on . When Terence gets here ... I will never forgive him . Don't you worry . A man ruined my life once . I will always be on your side . " Seeing our defiance , a cruel glint appeared in Rose's eyes . " Marco , go to the kitchen . Bring back two buckets of ice . Let's cool them down a little more . " The ice cubes plunged into the water , and the temperature dropped immediately . I was already shivering uncontrollably . Katherine ' s lips were turning blue , and her eyes were becoming unfocused . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!