Chapter 3

The crowd started hurling accusations at me the moment they heard what I said.

A person said, "Oh my god, can a mother really talk like that? How can she act like she doesn't care at all?"

Another said, "I know, right? She's eerily calm—no mom would just sit there and watch her kid die without losing it."

Someone else said, "Honestly, I'm starting to doubt if she's even the girl's real mom."

I clenched my phone even harder and told them, "Halle's my daughter. It's just that I tend to keep a cool head about things.

"If there's no hope for her survival, why drown myself in pointless sadness? Might as well hurry up and have another baby—who knows, maybe that'll bring her back to me."

Atwater slapped me hard across the face.

He said, "Of all times, you're still obsessed with sex? Bailey, just you wait. I swear, you're gonna regret this."

'Whatever. Let him try. I'm curious to see what kind of trouble he'll stir up,' I thought.

Beatrice called the cops, blaming me and claiming Halle's death was totally on me.

The officer listened to her bawl her eyes out for a good while before asking, "Are you the child's mother?"

She froze for a second, clearly flustered. "No, I'm her friend."

The officer studied her closely, then finally turned to me. "So, tell me what really happened here."

I told them, "I was right here taking photos, and then, Halle disappeared.

"I heard her screaming for me to save her, but my eyesight's terrible. I looked everywhere and still couldn't see where she was. I just couldn't help her."

Beatrice started screaming like she'd lost her mind.

She said, "You couldn't see her, so why didn't you yell for help? Why didn't you call the cops? You just stood there snapping photos, acting like nothing mattered.

"Bailey, you're a murderer. This is all on you!"

Someone in the crowd piped up, "Why does she seem more like the real mom? The way she's acting is exactly what you'd expect from a heartbroken mother."

Another person said, "Yeah, this is just so weird!"

I found it pretty weird as well. I stared straight into Beatrice's eyes.

I asked, "I've already told you, Halle is my daughter. So why are you losing it over here? You are just my husband's secretary.

"Beatrice, I can fire you right now."

Beatrice yelled, "You wouldn't dare.

"I've been Atwater's friend since we were little. Our bond goes way back. He'd never fire me."

I shot Atwater a look. "Do you think I have the right to fire her?"

His gaze shifted nervously for a while before he finally replied, "Now's not the time for this. Finding Halle is what matters."

I said coldly, "There is no need to search.

"She's gone—maybe a fish has already swallowed her up. There's no point looking anymore. Let's just go home."

I turned to go, but Beatrice lunged at me, clutching my arm and trying to shove me toward the water.

She shrieked, "You think you killed Halle and can just walk away like nothing happened? Over my dead body!

"You don't know how to swim, do you? Good. I'll make sure you stay down here with Halle forever."

She tried to shove me underwater with all her strength. I spluttered and choked on the salty seawater before finally yelling at Atwater, "If I die here today, you know all my shares in the company go straight to my brother, right?

"Atwater, maybe you should check if I've written a will already."

"Stop it!" Atwater yelled.

He lashed out with a kick at Beatrice, shoving her away, then grabbed me and dragged me up out of the water.

"You actually wrote a will? Bailey, that's my company—what gives you the right to hand it all over to your family?" Atwater snapped.

I waved my phone at him. "Well, didn't you write a will, too? You left everything to Halle."

He shot back, "Of course I did. She's my kid. Who else should I leave it to? That's just common sense!"

"Oh, really?" I jabbed my finger hard against his chest. "She's your kid, not mine. Why should I care?"

"You!" Atwater's face twisted with anger, his voice trembling.

Atwater and Beatrice both looked like they'd just been slapped. Their expressions changed in an instant.

"What the hell are you talking about? My daughter is your daughter, too. Bailey, we're married," Atwater snapped.

I said, "Yeah, we're married, but looks like I'm not your only wife. Halle's not the only daughter you've got either, right?"