Chapter 36 CHAPTER 36
The Shattered Afternoon
“Mommy, I’m hungry…”
Pretty’s small voice broke the silence of the vast Langford living room. She stood at the edge of the Persian rug, twisting her little fingers together, her dark curls falling into her eyes. Her sister, Beauty, sat on the floor, watching with wide eyes but saying nothing.
Across the room, Chloe sat on the cream sofa, her legs crossed elegantly, a glass of wine balanced in her hand though it was barely noon. She didn’t even glance up from her phone.
“You ate breakfast, didn’t you?” she said flatly.
“But that was hours ago,” Jamal piped up from the corner, his voice small but brave. He and Kamal had been trying to build a tower out of Legos, but both looked pale and hesitant. “We just want a sandwich. Please, Mommy.”
Chloe’s head snapped up, her eyes sharp and cold. “Sandwich? Do I look like a maid to you?” Her lips curled. “Ask the staff—oh wait, you can’t. I sent most of them away. Too many mouths running around this house already.”
The children fell silent, exchanging nervous glances. At seven, they were old enough to sense hostility, but too young to understand why their mother seemed to despise them.
Beauty finally spoke, her voice trembling. “We’ll make it ourselves. Can we go in the kitchen?”
Chloe rose abruptly, heels clicking against the marble floor as she strode toward them. The children flinched as her shadow fell over them.
“No. You’ll make a mess and then I’ll have to clean it up. And God forbid anyone says I can’t manage this house properly.” Her voice dripped with venom. She crouched, setting her wine glass aside, and grabbed Pretty’s chin harshly, forcing the girl to meet her eyes. “You think just because your father dotes on you, you can whine and demand like little princesses? Newsflash, darling, you’re not special. None of you are.”
Pretty whimpered, her lower lip trembling.
Kamal stepped forward, fists clenched at his side. “Don’t touch her!”
Chloe turned her glare on him and let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “Oh, so the little men want to be heroes now? Just like your so called father, always puffing your chest but clueless in the head.” She shoved Pretty back roughly, causing the little girl to stumble into Beauty’s arms.
“Go outside,” Chloe snapped. “Play in the garden. Maybe the sun will burn some sense into you.”
The children hesitated, but one look at her eyes sent them scurrying toward the back doors, clutching each other for comfort.
Outside, the estate’s sprawling garden stretched endlessly, manicured hedges lining the edges, fountains gurgling in the distance. At the center shimmered the Olympic-sized swimming pool, its blue waters glittering under the midday sun.
The children shuffled toward the poolside, their footsteps uncertain.
“I hate her,” Jamal whispered fiercely once they were out of earshot. “She doesn’t love us. She never did.”
Kamal nodded, jaw tight like Ares often did when angry. “We’ll tell Daddy. He’ll protect us.”
Beauty clutched Pretty’s hand tightly. “But what if Daddy doesn’t believe us? What if he thinks we’re lying?”
Pretty shook her head, tears already forming. “I’m scared…”
They sat together under a parasol, the afternoon heat wrapping around them. Their stomachs growled, but no one dared to go back inside.
Minutes later, Chloe appeared on the terrace with another glass of wine in hand. She leaned on the railing, sunglasses perched on her nose, looking every inch the glamorous socialite while venom simmered beneath.
“Well? Don’t just sit there sulking like beggars,” she called. “Do something! Jump in the pool, play. Make yourselves useful and look happy for once. God knows your father only loves you when you look perfect.”
Pretty shook her head quickly. “I don’t want to swim, Mommy…”
Chloe tilted her head, her smile cruel. “Did I ask what you wanted? Into the pool. Now.”
The quadruplets exchanged anxious glances.
Beauty whispered, “But we didn’t bring our floaties…”
“Floaties?!” Chloe scoffed. “You’re seven years old, not babies. Get in.”
Kamal tried to reason, his voice trembling but steady. “It’s too deep, Mommy. Please.”
Chloe’s jaw tightened. She set her glass down with a sharp clink and marched toward them, grabbing Pretty by the arm. The little girl yelped, struggling.
“I said, get. In.” Chloe shoved her toward the edge. Pretty stumbled, teetering dangerously close to the water before Jamal yanked her back.
“Stop it!” Jamal cried. “She’s scared!”
Chloe froze, her face twisting with fury at being defied. Her hand shot out and smacked Jamal across the cheek, hard enough to leave his skin red. The boy staggered back, tears springing to his eyes, but he stood tall, glaring up at her with a defiance that mirrored his father’s.
“You ungrateful brats…” Chloe hissed. “Do you know the sacrifices I made to bring you into this world? And this is how you repay me? By whining? By making me look bad?”
Her words blurred into a drunken rant as she drained the rest of her wine and waved dismissively at them. “Fine. Stay there. Rot for all I care. I’m going to lie down.”
She turned and stalked back toward the patio, leaving the children trembling in her wake.
The garden was quiet again, save for the soft splashing of the pool fountain. Pretty rubbed her arm where Chloe had grabbed her.
“I don’t feel safe,” she whispered.
Kamal hugged her gently. “We’ll keep watch, okay? Daddy will come home soon.”
But as the minutes stretched into an hour, fatigue settled in. The sun blazed hotter, and the shimmering water looked more inviting.
“I just want to dip my feet,” Pretty murmured, edging toward the pool.
“Be careful,” Beauty pleaded. “Don’t go close.”
Pretty slid off her sandals and dipped her toes, giggling as the coolness washed over her burning skin.
“It feels nice…” she said, smiling weakly for the first time all day.
But then she leaned forward too far. Her small hands slipped against the wet tiles.
There was a splash.
“PRETTY!” Beauty shrieked as her twin vanished beneath the water.
Kamal and Jamal bolted to the edge, peering into the depths where Pretty’s body flailed, bubbles rising in frantic bursts.
“She can’t swim! Help her!” Jamal screamed, panic choking his voice.
Beauty sobbed, “I can’t! I can’t!”
The children screamed louder, their cries carrying into the mansion.
Inside, Ares had just returned from a meeting, loosening his tie as he stepped into the foyer. The moment he heard his children’s terrified cries, his heart seized. He dropped his briefcase and sprinted through the hall, bursting through the glass doors to the garden.
His eyes landed on the pool. Pretty’s small body was sinking, arms flailing weakly.
“NO!” Ares roared.
Without hesitation, he tore off his jacket and dove into the pool. The cold hit him like ice, but adrenaline drove him deeper, reaching for his daughter’s limp form. He caught her just as her body went still.
Kicking hard, he surged back to the surface, pulling Pretty into his arms. “Stay with me, baby! Stay with me!” He laid her gently on the poolside tiles, water spilling from her lips, her face pale.
The other children sobbed uncontrollably, clutching each other as Ares performed chest compressions.
“Breathe, Pretty! Come on!” His voice cracked, raw with desperation. He pressed against her chest again and again, then breathed air into her tiny lungs.
Finally, a weak cough rattled out of her. Water gushed from her mouth as she gasped weakly, eyelids fluttering.
Ares gathered her into his arms, trembling. Relief warred with terror. “I’ve got you. Daddy’s here.”
He looked up, fury blazing in his eyes as he realized Chloe was nowhere to be found.
“Kamal, Jamal, Beauty—get in the car. NOW!” he barked. His voice left no room for questions.
Within moments, he carried Pretty, still coughing weakly, toward the driveway. The chauffeur scrambled to open the doors, but Ares shoved past, sliding into the back seat himself with Pretty in his lap.
“To the hospital. Fast!” he ordered, his voice hoarse with fear.
As the car sped away, Ares cradled Pretty against his chest, whispering brokenly, “Don’t leave me, sweetheart. Please don’t leave me.”
The estate gates closed behind them, leaving behind the echo of children’s sobs and the gaping, glittering pool where tragedy had nearly claimed its prize.