Chapter 3

My temples pounded from how bold she was. "If someone dies, the cops won't let any of you walk away from this. You think this is a game?"

She took a slow sip of her red wine, smug as ever. "Quit the act. If you wanna get out, beg me.

"Weren't you all tough a minute ago? What now—shaking 'cause my husband's on his way?"

Georgina was already weak from her heart condition. After all the choking and rage, she looked totally wiped—barely holding on.

I bit down hard on my lip. No way was I letting Georgina be in danger.

As long as I could keep her safe, I would endure it for now.

I was about to speak when Georgina gripped my arm.

Her voice shook. "I've never bowed to anyone in my life, and I'm not starting with trash like her. I can still hang on. When Derrick gets here, he's dead to me. Don't worry—I've been burned by men before. I'm with you."

Rosalie's smile vanished when we still wouldn't beg. Her eyes went cold.

She snapped at Dmitry. "Go grab two buckets of ice from the kitchen. Let's cool them off."

He dumped them in minutes later. The water turned freezing, and I was already shaking like crazy.

Georgina's lips were turning purple. She was slipping fast.

I slapped her face—nothing. Barely a twitch. Holding my breath, I dragged her toward the edge, but Dmitry kept shoving us back with a pole, over and over.

I lost it. My throat burned as I screamed, eyes stinging. "She's about to die! Let her out! If anything happens, this hotel's going down with you! When Derrick shows up, he won't let this slide!"

Dmitry finally froze. Swim coach or not, he saw the danger in her face.

He rushed to Rosalie, panicked. "Rosalie, she seriously doesn't look okay. Maybe let her out. If she dies in the pool—ugh, that's a whole mess. And Mr. Hart probably doesn't want a body on his hands. If he flips, I'm out of a job."

Rosalie paused, then scoffed. "So now you're scared about your job. I never MEANT to kill anyone—some people are just too stubborn. I said I'd think about it if they begged. They're not dying yet. I want to see how long they can last."

Dmitry puffed up beside her, feeding off her power. "Let me introduce her properly. This is Rosalie Tucker—Mr. Hart's woman.

"This whole hotel? Exists to serve her. Everything bends to her. You shouldn't have been let in today at all.

"If you wanna live, you'd better start begging. Do it right. Otherwise, no one's saving you."

I bit down so hard on my lip I tasted blood. Georgina looked barely conscious.

I let my pride burn out and dropped my dignity.

"Please. Let my mother-in-law out first. She has a heart condition. She's really going to die."

Rosalie smirked, loving every second. "Didn't you just call me a shameless side chick? Say it again. Say VERA WINDSOR is the side chick, and I'm Derrick's wife. Then maybe I'll consider."

She was clearly obsessed with that title—jealous of a woman she'd never even met.

Too bad for her... I was Vera.

She had no clue she was forcing that name into the dirt right in front of me.

I clenched my fists, nails digging in. Swallowed hard.

Then I said it, slow and bitter: "Vera Windsor is the side chick. You're Derrick's wife. Is that enough? Let my mother-in-law out now!"

She gave me a sly little smile. "I said I'd CONSIDER it. And guess what? I have. I changed my mind. You're staying right where you are."