" Katherine ? " I patted her cheek , but she barely responded . I gathered what little strength I had and tried to swim for the edge , but each time , Marco used a pool skimmer to push us back . I was frantic , my eyes burning with tears . " My mother is dying ! " I screamed . " Let her out! If she dies , this hotel is liable ! Terence will never let you get away with this ! " Marco , as a swim coach , could see Katherine's condition was deteriorating rapidly . " Rose , " he said nervously , " that older one ... she doesn't look so good . Maybe we should let her out . I mean , if she dies in the pool , it's not like you'll want to use it anymore . And I don't think Mr. McMurray would be happy if you actually killed someone . I could lose my job . " Rose thought for a moment , then sneered . " Worried about your job , are you ? I'm not trying to kill anyone . But some people are just stubborn . I told them , if they beg , I'll consider it . Clearly , they're not at death's door yet . Let's just see how long they can last . " ཡོ དེ Marco puffed out his chest , emboldened by her . " Let me make this clear , " he said , looking down at me . " Rose is Mr. McMurray's woman . This whole hotel is basically hers . Everything revolves around her . You shouldn't have even been allowed in here today . If you want to live , you'll apologize and beg her . If not , nobody can help you . " I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood . Looking at Katherine , so fragile and fading , I knew I had no choice . Pride was a luxury I couldn't afford . " Please , " I choked out , the words tearing at my throat . " I'm begging you . Let my mother go . She has a heart condition . She's going to die . " A triumphant smirk spread across Rose's face . " Didn't you call me a shameless mistress earlier ? " she purred . " I want you to say it again , but differently . I want you to say , ' That bitch Amelia is the mistress , and you are Terence McMurray's wife . " " She had no idea that I was Amelia , but in a stroke of cruel irony , she had found the one thing that would humiliate me the most . 12:37 Chapter 1 My fists clenched , my nails digging into my palms . I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and forced the words out , one by one . " - That bitch Amelia ... is the mistress . You are Terence McMurray's wife . " " There . Are you satisfied ? Now let my mother out ! " Rose laughed , a delighted , wicked sound . " I said I'd consider it . And I have . I've decided ... no . " Pure rage surged through me . I wanted to tear her apart with my bare hands . I had one card left to play . " You've gone too far ! She is Terence McMurray's mother ! If anything happens to her , he will destroy you ! " But Rose just howled with laughter . " You pathetic liars will say anything ! A minute ago , you called her ' Mom . ' Now she's Terence's mother ? You ruined my swim today , and I'm going to make sure you learn your lesson . Next time , watch who you cross ! " In my arms , Katherine began to tremble violently . Her breathing grew her nitroglycerin pills , she would die . shallow . It was a full - blown cardiac episode . If she didn't get " Help ! " I screamed , my voice cracking with desperation . " Somebody help us ! It's an emergency ! " But the pool area w d.ed. Even Marco was starting to panic . " Rose , what if ... " " It's fine , " she cut him off , utterly unconcerned . " Old ladies like her are tougher than they look . She's faking it . My husband will be here any minute . We'll let them out then . A few more minutes won't make a difference . " A few minutes was all it would take to lose her . Despair washed over me , cold and absolute . Suddenly , the hotel manager came running over . " Help ! " I shrieked . " My mother is having a heart attack ! Get her out of the water ! Call an ambulance ! " The manager had met Katherine once , years ago , but he didn't recognize the pale , shivering woman in my arms . He had heard there was trouble and had come to kiss up to Rose . Now , seeing the reality of the situation , he quickly weighed his options : piss off Rose , or have someone die on his watch and lose his job . He chose his job . " Miss Rose , " he said with a practiced smile , " perhaps it would be best to let them out . If something ... te ... were to happen , this pool would be unusable for you in the future . " Rose glanced at him , then shrugged haughtily . " Fine . For your sake , I'll let them out ." unfortuna- The manager and Marco quickly pulled us from the water . Katherine was limp , unresponsive . I didn't even stop to catch my breath . I scrambled to the locker room , grabbed my bag , and fumbled with the vial of emergency heart pills . Just as I was about to put one under her tongue , a designer heel flashed out and kicked the vial from my hand . The pills scattered across the wet tiles and into the pool . Rose looked at my face , twisted in anguish , and laughed . "Alright , the show's over . We let you out . Now get lost , and if you know what's good for you , you'll stay out of my way from now on , I'm feeling generous today . " Something inside me snapped . I lunged forward and slapped her across the face with all my might . " If anything happens to my mother ," I seethed , my eyes blazing , " I will make you and Terence McMurray pay ! " She shrieked , stunned that I would dare touch her , " You psycho ! I should have just let you both drown ! " I tried to go for her again , but Marco and the manager grabbed my arms . Rose , freed , slapped me again and again , more than a dozen times , until my face was numb and burning . The stinging pain cleared my head . Katherine was running out of time . I wrenched myself free , found my phone , and dialed Terence's number . Chapter 1 1237 " Terence , it's Mom . She's having a heart attack . We're at the pool at the resort in the Hamptons . Get the nearest medical team here now ! " My voice was shaking . " If you're late , she's not going to make it ! " His reply was impatient . " Your mother has a heart condition . Doesn't she know how to take care of herself ? I'm in a meeting . Call an ambulance yourself . " He hung up . I trembled with a rage so profound it left me breathless . My mother ? Did he really not know whose mother had the heart condition ? Just then , Rose's face lit up . " Terence , darling ! You're finally here ! " She flew into the arms of the man who had just walked in , melting against him . " Jules , what took you so long ? Those two women were horrible to me . " She tilted her head , showing him the red mark on her cheek . " Look , that bitch even hit me . You have to make them pay . And then you have to stay and comfort me for a few days . " G The man stroked her cheek , his hardening with anger . " Who had the audacity to lay a hand on you ? Don't worry . I'll make them regret it . " He smiled down at her . This was then who had just " And Course I'll stay . I cleared my miss me during his week - long " t It was all a lie . The vows , the promises whole week for you . " me . The man who , just last night , had been complaining about how much he would they were worth less than dirt . Rose wrapped her arm around Terence's waist and led him toward me like a trophy . " That's the one who hit me , " she said , pointing . " And that's her mother on the ground . Teach them a lesson they'll never forget . " I slowly raised my head and stared directly into his eyes . " Terence , " I said , my voice like ice . " How , exactly , are you going to teach me a lesson ? " 1 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!