Three months had slipped away, leaving Isabelle entangled in a labyrinth of irony and despair. As her laughter escaped her lips, it mingled with the bitter taste of disillusionment, echoing through the depths of her being.
The delicate life growing within her womb served as a constant reminder of the tangled web of deceit and uncertainty that ensnared her. She was left questioning the very essence of her existence, and she was unable to discern the identity of the father who had planted the seed of life within her. The betrayal she had suffered.
The weight of widowhood pressed down upon Isabelle's soul, and it was a relentless burden that she carried with stoic resolve. The once vibrant colors of her world had faded and were replaced by a somber palette of desolation and yearning. Each day was a painful reminder of what had been shattered and what could never be reclaimed.
She yearned for a fresh beginning and a chance to rebuild the fragments of her shattered life and find solace amidst the ruins. However, Daniel’s family, being overly traditional and conservative, has asked her to grieve for Daniel’s death within a period of five years. Lorraine just informed her that a widow in the family must mourn and grieve for the husband’s death within five years. So, within that period, she was not allowed to wear beautiful clothes, make-up, or even go out. Her outing would be limited to church or the mausoleum. For shopping her needs, Lorraine hired a personal shopper for her. Her life just became more miserable than ever!
One morning, as she was taking a walk near the garden, she saw the swimming pool. With the sun casting its golden rays upon the glistening pool water, Isabelle walked toward it. She wanted to swim but the family doctors prohibited her from doing so because of her fragile condition. Each day, she hated the life growing within her!
Isabelle was standing at the edge of the pool while contemplating what to do about her situation. The aquamarine expanse beckoned to her and promised her a fleeting respite from the tangled complexities of her reality. But fate, ever watchful, intervened in her plan to take a leap into the cool depths of the water.
Isabelle sneered at the woman who approached her from behind. Sabrina, Kenneth’s wife looked at her each day as if she was the most pitiful woman in the world, and she hated Sabrina for it.
"Isabelle, what are you doing? You mustn't leap into the pool in your condition," she implored, her words laced with genuine concern for the safety of Isabelle's delicate pregnancy.
The specter of danger loomed, for Isabelle's doctor had cautioned against any activity that could jeopardize her well-being, stressing the importance of bed rest due to her cervical insufficiency. Yet, Isabelle's lips curled into a sly smirk, a veil of mischief falling upon her countenance.
"Then, Sabrina," she retorted, her voice laced with a tantalizing mix of defiance and determination, "stop me if you can." Her words carried a daring challenge, an unspoken invitation to enter a game of deceit and manipulation.
“Isabelle,” Sabrina mumbled.
“I hate you. I hate you so much!” she cussed at Sabrina and the woman looked so shocked because of her words.
As Sabrina outstretched her hand to stop her from jumping into the pool, Isabelle seized the opportunity, her eyes gleaming with calculated cunning. Slowly, she withdrew into herself, allowing a tremor of fragile vulnerability to ripple through her voice.
"Sabrina, I... I can't bear this pain any longer. I am lost, shattered," she confessed, her words a finely crafted tapestry of anguish and despair. "The pool beckons, whispering promises of fleeting respite from the burden that weighs upon my soul."
"Isabelle, don’t think that way. The baby needs you,” Sabrina said.
Isabelle smirked at Sabrina’s naivety. And so, as the fateful moment unfolded, Sabrina found herself entwined in Isabelle's web of manipulation once more, unknowingly becoming a pawn in her intricate game of vengeance. In one swift motion, she jumped into the pool, and dragged Sabrina with her into the water!
As their bodies collided, breaking the surface of the water, Isabelle watched Kenneth’s wife struggle in the water. Sabrina was scared, and at that moment, she discovered that Sabrina couldn’t swim! She regretted her action but just for a moment because she heard a group of people coming to their rescue. She just didn’t expect that one of them was Kenneth.
Isabelle gritted her teeth because she knew that Kenneth would save Sabrina from drowning. Did she have to watch her lover being sweet and a hero to his wife?
Never!
Isabelle's intentions, concealed beneath the surface of their shared plunge, revealed themselves in a chilling realization. Isabelle had recognized the potential to exploit this situation, to turn Kenneth's heart against his devoted wife forever.
The tendrils of her plan coiled around Sabrina, ensnaring her in a dangerous dance of secrets and lies, a dance whose consequences would reverberate far beyond the shimmering waters of the pool.
She was an expert swimmer but at that moment, Isabelle pretended to be struggling as well. For a second, Kenneth was confused, and she was worried he would really save Sabrina instead of her.
“Isabelle!” he called, his voice was filled with worry.
At that moment, Isabelle realized she was winning against Sabrina Hart. It was satisfying to watch Sabrina’s heart sink when Kenneth swam toward her. Isabelle saw the pain in Sabrina’s eyes, but instead of feeling guilty, she was enjoying it.
Helplessly, Sabrina watched as her husband reached out and carried Isabelle to safety, his actions speaking volumes about where his priorities lay at that critical moment. Poor Sabrina! She had to witness her husband’s betrayal while she was struggling in the water.
“What about Sabrina?” Isabelle asked Kenneth as he helped her out of the water.
“The maid is going to save her. Are you alright, Isabelle? What were you thinking? How could you jump into the water? You know it’s dangerous for your situation right now!” he scolded her.
“Sabrina pushed me into the pool, Ken. I have no idea that she hates me so much. Perhaps, it was because of our affair. You said she was aware,” Isabelle.
“Damn!”
Isabelle grinned at the result.