Chapter 1: The Smile That Didn’t Reach Her Eyes
Arthur had learned to read people for a living.
It was a skill sharpened in boardrooms and billion-dollar negotiations—but tonight, standing in the quiet glow of his glass-walled home, that instinct whispered something unsettling.
Victoria was laughing.
From the patio.
Her voice carried lightly through the open sliding doors, blending with the soft ripple of the infinity pool. It was a perfect sound—measured, elegant, effortless.
Too perfect.
Arthur glanced toward the hallway. Lily had been playing with her stuffed rabbit just minutes ago. Now, the house felt... off. Too quiet.
He stepped outside.
Victoria stood near the edge of the pool, her silhouette framed against the dazzling Los Angeles skyline. One hand rested casually on her hip. The other held a glass of wine.
“Have you seen Lily?” Arthur asked.
Victoria turned slowly, her smile immediate. Flawless.
“I thought she was with you.”
Arthur’s chest tightened.
Before he could respond, a faint sound broke through the stillness—
A splash.
Not the gentle ripple of water.
Something heavier.
Desperate.
Arthur didn’t think. He ran.
The pool lights flickered across the surface as he reached the edge—and his heart stopped.
May you like
A small white shape beneath the water.
Lily.
