Chapter 1

My wedding to William Coleman was set for two weeks later. I promised to head back early for preparations.

The moment the call ended, Florence Cooper showed up. The second I saw her, I knew nothing good could come of it. I turned to leave, but it was already too late.

"Please, Liz. I'm begging you, just leave me alone! I didn't know your parents would use me as your stand-in after you went missing. I never meant to steal your future—" Her scream came a split second after the splash.

The pool was right beside us, and Florence jumped straight in.

In the past three years, she had pulled this exact stunt more times than I could count.

At first, I didn't even bother reacting. Now, I just tried to stay out of her way, exhausted by it all.

I rushed to call someone to pull her out. I needed this ridiculous scene to end before Frederick Kirby or Lennon Downey showed up. If they saw this, I wouldn't be able to clear my name no matter what I said.

Naturally, Florence had timed it perfectly. Barely a second after she hit the water, Frederick came running.

"How did you get so viscous?" He looked at me with disappointment. Without waiting for me to speak, he jumped in to save her.

Frederick and I had dated for seven years. He was the person I had loved most in this world. How could he not know the kind of person I was? Why did he believe her every time?

This wasn't even the first time he misunderstood me. Still, it stung every single time. I swallowed my frustration and knelt by the pool, ready to help get her out.

Just then, Lennon heard the commotion and stormed over. He saw the scene and kicked me straight into the pool. "If something happens to Florrie, don't even think about walking away from it unscathed!" His eyes were bloodshot with rage. It was as if he wanted me dead.

I didn't even have time to feel hurt before the water swallowed me whole. My limbs went numb, and my heart pounded. My mind went completely blank. There was no room for thought, only fear.

"Help! Help! I… I'm going to drown!" I thrashed and cried.

Lennon just stood there, watching me from the edge with disgust. He snarled, "No one's buying your act." He didn't reach out to help.

Frederick swam right past me, holding Florence in his arms, deliberately avoiding me. Together, they rushed her to the hospital. Neither of them spared me a second glance.

I swallowed the pool water. Eventually, my strength gave out, and I sank to the bottom.

At that moment, I hated them.

I hated how blind they were, dancing like puppets to Florence's every move. I also hated how cruel they were. One was my boyfriend, and the other had always claimed to be like a brother to me. Yet, they both stood by and watched me die.

Most of all, I hated myself.

I hated that it took three years of betrayal before I finally decided to leave. I hated that I had let it get to this point. God knew how heartbroken my parents would be when they found out.

A million thoughts raced through my head as I sank deeper. I really thought I was going to die.

Then, by sheer luck, one of the housekeepers found me and pulled me out of the pool.

I coughed up mouthfuls of water, gasping for air, too weak to move.

By the time the paramedics arrived, I was burning up with a 105-degree fever. Falling into icy water in the dead of winter had given me pneumonia.