Lily’s scream still rang in my ears.

“MUM…” The voice came again, then abruptly cut off.

Panic shot through me. My heart slammed so hard it felt like it would tear out of my chest. I sprinted toward the sound, lungs burning, legs pumping faster than ever. Every second felt like an eternity.

I raced outside to the pool area, and my stomach dropped.

Lily was in the water, flailing, struggling to stay afloat. Panic clawed at me. From the corner of my eye, I saw Amelia, frozen, standing at the edge.

There was no time to think.

I tore off my scarf and dove into the icy water. The current pulled Lily under as I kicked fiercely, breaking the surface with each stroke. After three frantic strokes, I grabbed her. I clutched her tiny body, feeling her shiver uncontrollably and violently against me. She coughed, clinging to my neck like a lifeline.

I hauled her out, collapsing onto the edge of the pool, cradling her against me. Amelia still hadn’t moved.

Guests poured onto the terrace, phones held high, filming everything. Chaos erupted around us.

Chloe’s scream cut through the noise. “WHAT IS GOING ON?!” Gregory appeared behind her.

I sank to the floor, water dripping from me, holding Lily close as she trembled and coughed.

“M-Mummy… she pushed me…” Lily whispered, her gaze darting toward Amelia. Every pair of eyes turned toward the little girl instantly.

Amelia’s face went white. “I… I didn’t mean to! She said things I didn’t like. I got angry… I just… stepped too close… and she fell!”

I glared at her, tense silence stretching between us, then down at Lily, sweeping wet strands from her face.

“I… I wasn’t trying to hurt her, Mom. She said you loved her more than me… I just said no because I know that’s not true,” Lily added, her small voice shaking.

I nodded, holding her tighter. Relief tangled with terror. My chest ached. Seeing her flailing in that pool… it was like the floor had been ripped out from under me. Every muscle in my body was still trembling.

And then it hit me. I hadn’t fully accepted Lily yet as my daughter. I treated her like mine, yes, but in the back of my mind, a part of me always whispered: she’s Chloe’s child. My real daughter is Amelia.

Not anymore.

Before I could dwell on it, Chloe’s voice cut through the room.

“Shut your mouth, you liar! My daughter would never do that!”

My head snapped up. She gripped Amelia’s shoulder, face twisted with fury. Rage surged through me. I had tolerated her lies and manipulation for years. And now… Lily could have died, and Chloe still defended Amelia.

“How can you say that?” I hissed before I could stop myself. Her eyes snapped to mine, wide with shock.

“What did you just say?”

I wanted to scream, to tear into her, to spill every ounce of the anger coiled in my chest. But I clenched my teeth. I clenched my fists instead.

“How dare you speak to me that way? Your little brat could have hurt my daughter, the future of the Harrington empire! Who cares about that little thing in your arms?” she shrieked.

Gregory’s hand shot out, wrapping around her torso. “That’s enough, Chloe.” I stood slowly, water dripping from my hair, Lily trembling against me.

“I’m taking her upstairs to warm her up. She’s freezing,” I said quietly, voice low but firm.

Chloe opened her mouth to protest, but Gregory’s grip tightened.

“Let her go, Chloe,” he muttered, glancing nervously at the phones still recording. “We’ll deal with this later.”

I didn’t wait. I walked past them, ignoring the whispering guests, ignoring Amelia’s silent tears and tiny clenched fists. The air buzzed, like the world had tilted on its axis.

Amelia tugged at my soaked sleeve. “Nanny… I didn’t mean it… I didn’t know she couldn’t swim…”

Her eyes brimmed with genuine fear. I wanted to kneel, hold her, tell her it would be okay.

Instead, I forced my face blank and gently freed my sleeve.

“Later, Miss Amelia,” I said softly. “Go to your mother.”

She flinched as if I’d struck her. I kept walking.

Up the stairs. Into the tiny staff room.

I locked the door and laid Lily on the bed, swaddling her in every blanket I could grab. She was still shivering, teeth chattering, little fists curled, trembling from head to toe, soaked and terrified.

I knelt before her, cupping her cold face in my hands.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, brushing wet strands from her cheeks. Tears slid down my own face. Every day I pretended I was fine. Pretended I could watch my husband and his mistress live in my house, spend my money, corrupt my child, and not feel pain.

But tonight, the nightmare had come while I was still awake.

I pressed my forehead to hers. “I’ve got you,” I whispered. “No one will ever hurt you again. I promise.”

Her small arms tightened around my neck.

“I love you, Mummy…”

That word. Chloe’s real daughter, calling me “Mummy.” While my own daughter downstairs called Chloe “Mommy.”

It shattered the last wall around my heart.

I rocked her gently until her breathing slowed, until her body stopped shaking, her tiny fingers finally relaxing, her whole small frame finally calming.

When she finally drifted off, I laid her down carefully, tucking the blankets tightly around her.

Then I sat on the floor beside the bed, eyes never leaving her peaceful face, chest still tight with adrenaline. The cold sweat on my arms reminded me how close we had come to losing her. Every fiber in me ached from fear and fatigue.

I pulled the burner phone from its hiding place and opened the encrypted app. One new message waited.

Ready whenever you say.

I typed back, fingers steady, heart hammering against my ribs:

I AM READY

I sent it, knowing there was no turning back now. Whatever came next… I was all in.