Chapter 2 - BENEATH THE BLUE LIGHTThe water hit Elena like a wall of ice.
For one second, she couldn't see anything.
Her soaked maid uniform wrapped around her legs.
Her shoes dragged her downward.
Then the pool lights came into focus.
And Elena saw the stroller.
It was sinking.
Fast.
“No…”
The word escaped as bubbles.
She kicked downward.
Leo was still strapped inside.
His tiny arms moved weakly.
His white onesie glowed beneath the underwater lights.
Elena's lungs tightened.
She swam harder.
Eight feet.
Nine.
Ten.
Her fingers finally reached the stroller.
She grabbed Leo.
The harness wouldn't release.
Elena pulled.
Nothing.
Her lungs screamed.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
Panic exploded through her.
Above her, the surface seemed impossibly far away.
Leo stopped moving.
No.
No.
No.
Elena yanked at the buckle.
It opened.
She pulled Leo free.
But something caught around his ankle.
A blanket strap.
Elena tugged.
The stroller shifted.
Her foot became trapped beneath one wheel.
For one horrifying second, Elena realized she might not reach the surface either.
Her chest convulsed.
She needed air.
Now.
She kicked violently.
Her shoe slipped off.
Her foot came free.
Elena tore the blanket away from Leo's ankle and pressed him against her chest.
Then she looked upward.
The surface shimmered above them.
Too far.
Her vision began narrowing.
Still she kicked.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Her lungs spasmed.
She could feel herself weakening.
Then she thought of Leo's mother.
Isabella Vance had died only months after giving birth.
Elena had been there during the final weeks.
She remembered Isabella holding her hand.
Remembered the whispered request.
“Promise me someone will love him when I'm gone.”
Elena had promised.
And Elena Ramirez did not break promises.
She kicked again.
The surface came closer.
Her vision blurred.
One final kick.
Elena exploded through the water.
She gasped.
Air tore into her lungs.
She lifted Leo above the surface.
“Come on!”
The baby didn't cry.
Elena's heart stopped.
“Leo!”
She paddled desperately toward the edge.
Victoria stood several yards away.
Watching.
“Help me!” Elena screamed.
Victoria didn't move.
“HELP ME!”
Still nothing.
Elena reached the edge herself.
Her fingers slipped against the wet limestone.
Once.
Twice.
Finally, she caught the coping.
She pushed Leo onto the terrace.
Then dragged herself out.
Her knees struck the stone.
She immediately turned the infant carefully.
“Come on, sweetheart.”
Nothing.
“Please.”
Elena's hands trembled.
Then—
Leo coughed.
Water spilled from his mouth.
A weak cry followed.
Elena almost collapsed.
“Oh, thank God.”
She pulled him against her chest.
Leo cried louder.
Life.
Beautiful, furious life.
Elena buried her face against his wet hair.
“I've got you.”
Behind her, Victoria looked toward the French doors.
Footsteps were approaching.
Fast.
A man's voice called from inside.
“Leo?”
Victoria's face changed.
The panic vanished.
Tears appeared.
Her shoulders began trembling.
Elena didn't see the transformation.
But Victoria was already building the lie.
The French doors burst open.
Marcus Vance appeared.
He saw his soaked son.
He saw Elena holding him.
Then he saw Victoria crying.
“What happened?”
Elena opened her mouth.
Victoria screamed first.
“She pushed him!”
Elena slowly turned.
“What?”
Victoria pointed directly at her.
May you like
“She tried to kill your son!”
And Marcus's face changed.
Related Stories
