They chained a pregnant woman to the bottom of the swimming pool, but when Daniel tried to save her, his mother closed the lid, causing both of them to drown.

The July sun beat down on the sprawling Valdés estate, casting glittering reflections across the surface of the Olympic-sized swimming pool. It was a picture-perfect summer afternoon, specifically chosen to celebrate the patriarch's seventieth birthday. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume, grilled seafood, and the bright, rhythmic melodies of a live Cuban band.

Guests in tailored linen suits and flowing silk dresses mingled on the manicured lawns, raising crystal flutes of champagne in cheerful toasts. Laughter floated over the gentle splashing of the pool’s fountains. To an outsider, it was a flawless portrait of high-society bliss. But beneath the polished surface, the Valdés family was rotting from the inside out.

Valeria stood near the shallow end of the pool, feeling completely detached from the celebration. She was eight months pregnant, her body aching with the heavy, beautiful burden of new life. She wore a simple, flowing white sundress that caught the gentle breeze. Seeking a momentary escape from the suffocating crowd and the endless, fake pleasantries, she had wandered away from the main patio to catch her breath.

She placed one hand protectively over her swollen belly, feeling a strong, sudden kick against her palm. She smiled, looking down.

"You're restless today, little one," Valeria murmured softly, rubbing the taut skin. "Don't worry. We'll leave soon."

The music from the band masked the soft, deliberate sound of footsteps approaching from behind on the wet terracotta tiles. Valeria closed her eyes, letting the cool mist from the fountains spray against her face. She was entirely unaware that the most dangerous predator in the estate was standing less than three feet away.

"You seem tired, Valeria."

Valeria jumped, her eyes flying open. She turned awkwardly, her heavy center of gravity slowing her down.

Standing there was Teresa, her mother-in-law. Teresa wore an immaculate crimson dress, her silver hair perfectly coiffed, her expression as cold and hard as carved marble.

"Teresa. You startled me," Valeria said, trying to force a polite smile. "I just needed some air. The heat is a bit much."

Teresa didn't smile back. She took a slow step forward, closing the distance between them. Her dark eyes dropped to Valeria's stomach, filled with an unmistakable, venomous hatred.

"I warned my son," Teresa said, her voice dropping to a terrifying, serpentine hiss. "I told him you were nothing but a commoner trying to anchor yourself to our wealth."

"Teresa, please," Valeria sighed, taking a step backward. Her heel teetered dangerously close to the edge of the deep end. "Not today. Not at the party."