Looking at her ugly face, the image of Lester struggling in the water haunted me. I felt a burning desire to let her drown in the pool.
Just as I was about to lunge at her, I heard my child’s voice from yesterday’s swimming pool echoing in my mind:
"Dad, Mom is the best swimming champion. I want to be a champion like her."
"Also, don’t be sad, Dad. Mom promised me that when I win the championship, she’ll help me with something. Then, I’ll let her spend every day with you to make you happy."
I bit my lip, trying to suppress the furious building inside me. I turned to leave, but Kendra grabbed my arm.
"What’s this now? Can’t even apologize for your mistakes? You’re angry with me? If you hadn’t conspired with my dad to push Russell away, how would the title of Glover’s son-in-law have fallen on you? An orphan like you, looking to get rich overnight by marrying into a family!"
"You’ve got your eyes on another richer woman, right? Trying to use your sob story to gain sympathy? It’s embarrassing for Lester to have a father like you!"
I stayed silent, resisting the urge to respond. But before I could, Kendra’s anger boiled over. She grabbed my wrist and forcefully threw me toward the edge of the pool.
With a splash, I hit the water.
"Just training the child. If you don’t accept it, I’ll train you too. Stop acting so noble!"
"My dad drank your potion and can’t see who you really are. Only I know you’re a gold-digging ‘Phoenix man.’ If you hadn’t stolen Russell’s credit and lied about the miracle doctor treating me because of you, I would never have married you!"
"I made him wait for me for five years. I won’t let him and his child wait any longer. Lester inherited your inferior genes and isn’t worthy of being my heir!"
I struggled in the water, my mind racing. The fear of being pulled under by the floodwaters from my childhood came rushing back. The more I fought, the weaker I became, until I almost gave up entirely.
"Lester, don’t be afraid, Dad is here for you," I whispered to myself, even as I felt myself sinking deeper.
The moment before I hit the bottom of the pool, Kendra finally jumped in and pulled me out. Her anger is was still evident, but there was worry in her eyes now.
"Joseph, stop pretending. Wake up," she said, her voice sharp.
I slowly opened my eyes under her gentle slaps, and for the first time, I couldn’t hold it in. I slapped her hard across the face.
"Joseph, you’re sick! How dare you hit me? This is how you treat your wife?"
I sneered, cold fury in my voice.
"Have you forgotten that I can’t swim at all?"
"And didn’t you want Lester to apologize to Russell? Fine, let him go down to the underground to find him."
"Lester is dead!"
At these words, Kendra’s face froze for a moment, her expression turning to disgust and contempt. She yanked her hand away and let me fall to the ground.
Standing over me, she looked down with a sneer.
"Joseph, you’re more cruel than I thought. You cursed your own child to die."
"You’re just afraid that if Russell’s child is born, I won’t train Lester anymore, and it’ll mess with your interests. So, you hid him with my father."
"I won’t let you succeed."
With that, she wiped her hands on her clothes, as though touching me had been a disgusting act.
"If it weren’t for you, my child with Russell would be five years old by now. Joseph, you stole his credit and his place. Now I’m just letting things return to their proper state, and that’s already being polite to you."
