CHAPTER 1 — The Birthday That Turned Into a Nightmare
The laughter stopped.
It didn't fade gradually.
It simply died.
Every pair of eyes remained fixed on the calm blue surface of the swimming pool.
Five seconds...
Ten...
Fifteen...
No bubbles.
No movement.
No desperate hand reaching toward the surface.
Only silence.
The guests who had been recording the "funny prank" slowly lowered their phones.
One woman whispered nervously,
"She really can't swim..."
Another guest took a frightened step backward.
"Oh my God..."
The birthday girl rolled her eyes.
"Relax. She's pretending."
Nobody laughed.
The expression on her best friend's face had already changed from amusement to panic.
"I... I don't think she's joking."
Suddenly an elderly waiter threw his tray onto the marble floor.
The crystal glasses exploded into pieces as he sprinted toward the edge of the pool.
"Call an ambulance!" he shouted.
Without waiting another second, the old man dove into the water.
Everyone watched in horror.
He disappeared beneath the surface.
A few endless seconds later, he emerged carrying Eleonora's unconscious body.
Her skin was frighteningly pale.
Her lips had already turned blue.
Her eyes remained closed.
The entire rooftop froze.
The birthday girl's smile vanished.
"No..."
The elderly waiter immediately began CPR.
"Someone call emergency services!"
"I already did!"
"Move back! Give her air!"
The expensive party had transformed into complete chaos.
Champagne glasses lay shattered.
Designer shoes slipped across the wet marble.
Guests who had been laughing only moments earlier now stood trembling.
One young influencer quietly deleted the video she had recorded.
Another guest couldn't stop crying.
The waiter continued pressing on Eleonora's chest.
"Come on... breathe..."
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
Thirty compressions.
Two rescue breaths.
Still nothing.
The silence became unbearable.
Even the birthday girl had begun shaking.
"I... I didn't mean..."
Before she could finish, Eleonora suddenly coughed violently.
Water burst from her lungs.
She gasped for air.
The rooftop erupted with relieved cries.
"She's alive!"
"Thank God!"
Several maids rushed over, wrapping blankets around Eleonora while she struggled to breathe.
Her entire body trembled uncontrollably.
She looked terrified.
Not angry.
Not hateful.
Just terrified.
The elderly waiter placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"You're safe now."
Eleonora nodded weakly.
Then she looked directly at the birthday girl.
Their eyes met.
Instead of hatred...
There was sadness.
A sadness so deep that even some guests lowered their heads in shame.
The birthday girl couldn't understand why.
Why wasn't the maid screaming?
Why wasn't she demanding revenge?
Why did she simply whisper...
"I'm sorry..."
Then lose consciousness again.
Minutes later, the ambulance arrived.
As paramedics loaded Eleonora inside, one of them quietly asked,
"Does she have any family we should contact?"
The house manager hesitated.
"We... actually don't know."
The paramedic frowned.
"Everyone has someone."
Just then...
The elderly waiter slowly reached into Eleonora's soaked apron pocket.
"I think..."
He pulled out an old leather wallet.
Inside was no cash.
No photos.
Only one carefully protected business card.
The moment the house manager saw the name printed on it...
His face instantly turned white.
"No..."
His hands began shaking.
"This can't be possible..."
The birthday girl frowned.
"What is it?"
The manager stared at the card as though he'd seen a ghost.
Then whispered words that made his entire body tremble.
"You have no idea..."
May you like
"...whose daughter you just tried to kill."
To Be Continued...
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