In the banquet hall, Emily kept scanning the room, looking for a chance to approach Larry.
Unfortunately, there were too many people. She couldn't get through.
Meanwhile, she was also searching for Raymond and Melinda.
When she saw them together, the jealousy in her heart flared up even more.
She was certain that Melinda would take this opportunity to seduce Raymond into doing something disgraceful.
And she was right.
Emily grabbed a waiter and whispered a few words in his ear.
After that, she turned and left the banquet hall, heading to the fountain outside.
Just in time to see Larry being helped out of the hall by Roy. A smug smile appeared on her lips.
The opportunity had arrived!
It was ten o'clock at night, and the evening was deep.
Melinda was about to leave with Sam, but she couldn't find him anywhere. Worried, she searched around, and just then, her phone rang.
She looked at the caller ID—it was William.
William told her that he was having a great time with Sam at the golf course.
Melinda finally relaxed and let out a deep breath.
"Ms. Sharp, Mr. Thomas would like to see you by the pool," a waiter approached Melinda and whispered.
Melinda was slightly taken aback and quickly scanned the surroundings.
Larry wasn't there. She nodded, "Thank you."
Melinda fell for it. Emily stood by the pool, witnessing the moment. A sinister smile curled on her lips.
By the pool, Melinda looked around in confusion, wondering why Larry would choose such a place to talk.
Suddenly, she saw Emily sitting nearby. Emily stood up and sneered at her. "You came," Emily said with a hint of triumph in her voice.
Melinda instantly realized she had been tricked. She looked at Emily warily, "What do you want?"
Emily taunted her maliciously, "Melinda, what were you and Raymond doing just now? At Grandpa's birthday party, you two are shameless. Do you need me to spread the word?"
Melinda's cheeks flushed. Could Emily have seen them? Impossible, they were in the bamboo grove, where no one could see.
A malicious glint flashed in Emily's eyes as she continued, "If I let everyone know you're Raymond's mistress, his substitute, do you think Raymond will still want you?"
Melinda tried to stay calm, pretending not to care, "As far as I know, he wasn't sober that day."
Emily spat, "Who cares if he was sober or not? He slept with me! I didn't force him. Now he wants to deny it."
"Enough! Stop talking!" Melinda clenched her fists, anger boiling inside her.
But Emily wouldn't stop, continuing to spew those unbearable details.
Melinda almost couldn't stand, barely holding onto a pillar by the pool, her heart bleeding.
She couldn't help but imagine Raymond and Emily being intimate, a sharp pain piercing her heart.
Emily walked closer, her smile sinister and venomous, "I told him your son isn't his. The father is a nightclub gigolo. Melinda, your son is so fragile, you should check if he has any inherited diseases. What will he do if you die?"
Melinda trembled all over, clenching her fists, glaring at Emily.
She knew Emily was trying to provoke her, but her words hit home.
Insult her all you want, but not Sam!
Emily's eyes were full of provocation. "What if I don't shut up? I'll keep insulting! I'll make sure everyone knows you're Raymond's mistress, and your son is born of a wild man!"
"I want him to be ashamed!"
Melinda's eyes turned icy, and she gritted her teeth. "Try saying that again."
Emily grabbed her wrist tightly, making her feel disgusted.
Melinda jerked away, pushing Emily.
However, Emily's lips curled into a smug smile, and she suddenly lost her balance, falling backward into the pool with a scream.
Melinda was stunned. Before she could react, a waiter screamed behind her, "Ah! Someone fell into the water, help!"
Then another woman's voice joined in, "Help, someone!"
Melinda turned around to see two middle-aged women standing by the pool, looking at Emily struggling in the water with horror. "Help... help, I can't swim..."
"Miss, how could you push someone into the water?" One of the women glared at Melinda accusingly. "Get in there and save her!"
Melinda's heart sank. She realized this was all Emily's plot, and she had foolishly walked right into it.
Emily had already found two witnesses, and she was now the villain who pushed someone into the water.
The pool was nine feet deep, and Emily was flailing, almost sinking several times. The two women couldn't swim and were panicking.
Even though Melinda hated Emily, she didn't want a death on Larry's birthday party.
She took off her shoes, took a deep breath, and dived into the water.
She swam towards Emily, trying to pull her to the surface.
Just as her hand was about to touch Emily, Emily suddenly grabbed her wrist and pushed her down—
Melinda was forced underwater, water flooding her mouth and nose, filling her lungs.
A murderous glint flashed in Emily's eyes. If Melinda drowned in the pool, it would be her own fault for not being a good swimmer. Who told her to come and save someone?
Emily had prepared for this. She had been taking swimming lessons with a private coach and was an excellent swimmer.
But Melinda wasn't so lucky.
Sinking in the water, the suffocating feeling overwhelmed her.
Emily, the person who had harmed her five years ago, was trying to kill her again.
Melinda watched Emily treading water effortlessly, feeling even more desperate. She realized she had been tricked again.
Emily had learned to swim, and she was going to drown.
"Help! Someone help!" The two women by the pool kept shouting.
They couldn't see what was happening underwater, only that Melinda was struggling, thinking she couldn't swim.
Emily, seemingly panicked, drank several mouthfuls of water, but in reality, she was pressing Melinda's back, preventing her from surfacing.
At the critical moment, a tall figure rushed out.