Third Person's POV
Just then, Hazel’s phone buzzed. It was a message from Caroline, probably another one of her arrogant little videos showing off the latest gift Dominic had bought her.
But Hazel didn’t want to see it. She was about to close the message when another text popped up, one that made her scalp prickle and her stomach drop.
[Bitch. Since you refused to bark like a dog for me, I’ll let your mother do it instead.]
Hazel froze. Her hand trembled as she tapped the video open.
One glance and her world collapsed.
Caroline had tied her sick mother to the back of a car and was dragging her through the streets of the city.
Her mother’s cries echoed through the wind, but the car sped faster and faster.
Moments later, all that was left of her mother was a mangled, bloody mess on the road.
Watching that, Hazel broke down. She called the police and rushed to the scene as fast as she could.
But by the time she arrived, Caroline was gone. Only her mother lay there on the cold asphalt, barely breathing.
Hazel didn’t stop to think. She carried her mother to the nearest hospital, but when she handed over her mother’s ID, the doctor shook his head.
“Sorry. We can’t admit her. Miss Summers has given strict orders.”
Because of that, she tried another hospital, a total of five, but every single one turned her away.
Hopelessness clawed at her chest. With nowhere else to go, she went to the only person who could help, Dominic.
But at that very moment, Dominic was hosting Caroline’s lavish birthday party.
He’d ordered a custom cake worth over a hundred grand and filled the entire villa with gifts for her. Influential guests, celebrities, and business elites were all there to wish Caroline a happy birthday.
Hazel stumbled through the doors, her clothes torn and covered in dust. She made it to Dominic’s side, but her legs gave out, and she collapsed right at his feet.
“Dominic, please, save my mom! Caroline told the hospitals not to treat her. She’s dying!”
Dominic frowned slightly, caught off guard by her desperation. Just as he was about to speak, Caroline clung to his neck, tears brimming in her eyes.
“Darling, did you forget what she and her mother did to us?” she whimpered. “You might not remember it now, but they’re the reason we were torn apart. If it weren’t for my love for you, for fighting my way back through all that pain, I’d never be standing here today.”
As she spoke, she deliberately lifted her sleeve, revealing the scar on her arm, the one left from when Dominic had once broken it himself.
“Look at this, it still hurts to this day,” she said softly, voice trembling for sympathy.
In that instant, whatever trace of compassion Dominic had in his eyes turned cold, then he gave a chilling order to his men, “Get her out of here. Don’t let her ruin Caroline’s birthday.”
The guards quickly moved toward Hazel, but she broke free and threw herself in front of him, tears streaming down her face. “Dominic, please! I’m begging you, for my mother’s sake. She raised you when you had no one. Please save her! If she dies, I won’t live either.”
Something flickered briefly in Dominic’s eyes, but his tone remained emotionless. He tilted his chin toward the swimming pool nearby. “See that pool?”
Hazel blinked, confused.
“Jump in,” he said flatly. “Hold your breath for ten minutes, and I’ll save your mother.”
Her face went pale. For a second, she couldn’t even breathe.
He knew she was terrified of water.
When she was eight, she’d been kidnapped by one of her father’s business rivals and thrown into a well. She’d nearly drowned that night. If her father hadn’t found her in time, she wouldn’t have survived.
Since then, she could barely handle being near water. Baths were the only exception. Even so, the memory of seaweed wrapping around her ankles, dragging her down while she struggled for air, still haunted her to this day.
She swallowed hard, voice trembling. “You know I’m terrified of water, Dominic. If I stay under, I’ll die.”
But he only sneered. “Then you’d better start preparing for your mother’s funeral.”
She stared at him, searching for a hint of mercy, but found nothing. The last of her love for him disintegrated right then and there.
Slowly, she stood up. Her expression was numb, her voice quiet. “Fine. I’ll do it. But you have to keep your promise. If I last ten minutes, you’ll save her.”
Without waiting for an answer, Hazel took a deep breath and dove headfirst into the pool.
