But the truth was something I could never risk exposing—not to them.
A sharp scent of expensive perfume cut through the salty air. I looked up.
My mother, Evelyn, stood before us, her expression carved from cold judgment. She didn’t greet Ellie. Didn’t even acknowledge her presence.
“Honestly, Claire,” she muttered, scanning me from head to toe. “You couldn’t even bother to present yourself properly tonight? You look like you belong with the cleaning crew.”
I exhaled slowly, steadying myself. “I had to take care of Ellie.”
“Lillian is marrying a man of influence tonight,” she continued, her voice tightening with pride. “And you? You’re nothing but a burden—a reminder of poor decisions. Stay down here. Stay quiet. And keep that child out of sight.”
She turned and walked away before I could respond.
I reached into my purse, pulling out my phone. My fingers trembled slightly as I opened a secure messaging app.
To: Adrian
How much longer? I don’t know how much more of this I can endure.
The message sent instantly.
I just needed to hold on.
But then everything changed.
Ellie stood up suddenly, spotting a dropped spoon near the stairs. Ever helpful, she rushed to pick it up—just as my sister’s fiancé, Daniel, descended the steps, proudly showing off an expensive watch to his investors.
Ellie bumped into him.
The watch slipped.
Time seemed to freeze as it tumbled, hit the deck once… and vanished through the railing into the dark water below.
Silence.
Then—
“My watch!” Daniel shouted, his voice cracking with rage.
He spun toward Ellie, fury twisting his face. “You little idiot! That was worth hundreds of thousands!”
I rushed forward, pulling Ellie behind me. “I’m so sorry—she didn’t mean—”
“Get them out of here!” Lillian snapped, storming down the stairs, her eyes blazing. “I knew this would happen! You ruin everything, Claire!”
The crowd gathered, watching like spectators at a show.
Then came my father.
His footsteps were heavy, deliberate. His anger unmistakable.
“You can’t control your own child?” he roared. “You embarrass us wherever you go!”
“It was an accident,” I said firmly. “I’ll take responsibility—”
“With what?” he scoffed. “You have nothing.”
And before I could react—he shoved me.
Hard.
I lost my footing instantly, clutching Ellie as we fell backward into the freezing harbor.
The cold was suffocating. It stole the air from my lungs as we plunged beneath the surface. I held Ellie tightly, fighting my way back up through the murky water.
When I broke through, gasping, I looked up.
No one reached for us.
Instead, they laughed.
Applause echoed from above as if this were entertainment.
I dragged Ellie to the dock, her tiny body trembling violently in my arms. My dress clung to me, soaked in filthy water, but I didn’t feel the cold anymore.
Only rage.
I pulled out my phone again.
“Now.”
That was all I sent.
