Chapter 1

Noah Quinlan, my father-in-law, and I had planned to stay low-key, so we opted not to reveal our identities during check-in. We hadn't anticipated running into something like this, so in an instant, our pleasant mood was entirely spoiled.

Having been a businessman for decades, Noah wasn't intimidated by the fool before him. He retorted dismissively, "Who do you think you are to order us around? You're the one who should get out of here! Your utter lack of manners is truly repulsive!"

He then ignored the man fuming with rage and turned toward me, saying, "Let's keep swimming and forget about him, Connor. I'll accompany you to inquire with Zara regarding the nature of this matter once we return home."

Freddie Lester turned beet red, incensed by our lack of response. He suddenly flashed a malicious grin, saying, "If that's what you want, so be it, then! You can just stay in the swimming pool since you like it so much in there! You'd better not even think about coming out today!"

He then took out his phone and called over a burly man, who arrived with a fawning expression. "How may I assist you, Freddie? Do you require swimming lessons?"

Freddie pointed at Noah and me and said with a wicked grin, "Go teach these two arrogant nobodies a lesson they won't forget, Wyatt."

Wyatt instantly caught on and nodded subserviently. "You can rest assured that I, as a swimming instructor, know exactly how to give people a hard time in the swimming pool, Freddie!"

He then jumped into the swimming pool and, before Noah and I could react, grabbed Noah's head and forcibly submerged him.

Noah, being older, was no match for Wyatt's strength. He started choking on the water immediately, flailing his arms in a desperate attempt to break free.

I was horrified and lunged forward to pull Wyatt away, but he was incredibly nimble. He shoved me down and held me under, making me choke on several mouthfuls. I seized an opening and kicked him squarely between the legs, which broke his grip.

I then scrambled to grab Noah, whose eyes had already rolled back from choking. Noah coughed so violently that it looked like he would lose his lungs before he finally caught his breath.

Noah was a man of immense pride who had dominated the business sector, turning a single inn into a nationwide hotel empire. He was used to being treated with nothing but deference. He had never faced such an indignity.

He was so enraged that his chest heaved as he barked, "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? You could have killed someone! How could you be so lawless? I'll have my lawyers bring the full weight of the law down on you!"

Freddie smiled indifferently. "Who cares if you died? You ought to know that my wife owns hundreds of hotels nationwide! She makes enough in a single day to buy every one of your pathetic lives!

"You should have checked who I was before you crossed me. You want to call lawyers on me, huh? You probably can't even afford them!"

I recalled that the hotel that we were staying at was actually one of many that Noah had given my wife, Zara Quinlan, to run. I was utterly baffled seeing Freddie act like he owned the place. I wondered if Zara had a second husband I didn't know about.

I patted Noah on the back to steady his breathing and asked grimly, "Is your wife's name Zara Quinlan?"

Freddie replied arrogantly, "That's right! You've at least heard of her! If you drop to your knees, beg for my forgiveness, and clean this entire swimming pool, I'll consider showing some mercy; otherwise, you'll be in serious trouble when she shows up!"

I felt my heart sinking right at that juncture. I couldn't help but wonder if Zara, despite our sacred vows and her pledge of lifelong fidelity, had actually been unfaithful to me.