Chapter 1

The private lake on the Miller estate was still, the water dark and cold under the afternoon sun. It was supposed to be a day of celebration, Ethan' s fifth birthday.

"But I want to see the fish, Daddy," Ethan said, his small voice trembling a little. He clutched his mother Sarah' s hand, his eyes wide with a wish. "The big ones at the aquarium."

David Miller, his father, didn't even look at him. He stood tall and imposing in his military-style jacket, his jaw set. He was checking his watch, his mind clearly somewhere else.

"Don' t be ridiculous, Ethan," David said, his voice sharp and dismissive. "The aquarium is for common people. We have a lake right here. You can see fish here."

"But they' re not the same," Sarah interjected softly, trying to mediate. "He' s been looking forward to the aquarium all week, David. It' s his birthday."

David finally turned, his cold gaze falling on Sarah. "My plans have changed. I have an important engagement. He can play here. It' s a simple disruption, Sarah, don' t make it complicated."

Sarah knew what his 'important engagement' was. It was Lisa Johnson, his mistress. A birthday trip to the city aquarium with his wife and son was an inconvenience that interfered with his affair.

"Please, David," Sarah begged, her voice low. "Just for a few hours. For Ethan."

Ethan, sensing the tension, started to cry softly. "I want to see the sharks."

David' s face hardened into a mask of cruel indifference. He looked down at his crying son, not with sympathy, but with disgust.

"Crying? Over something so trivial?" He scoffed. "You are a Miller. You need to be strong. This is a test."

Before Sarah could react, David moved. He scooped Ethan up in his powerful arms. Ethan' s cries turned from whimpers to shrieks of confusion and fear.

"David, what are you doing?" Sarah screamed, lunging forward.

"I' m teaching him a lesson," David said calmly, striding towards the edge of the lake. "If he can' t even handle a small disappointment, how will he survive in the world? He needs to be tested. To see if he has what it takes."

"No! David, stop! He can' t swim well, he' s only five!" Sarah clawed at his arm, her nails digging into the thick fabric of his jacket.

He shook her off easily, sending her stumbling backward onto the grass. "If he' s my son, he' ll survive. If he can' t, then he' s not worthy of the Miller name."

It was the most insane, twisted logic she had ever heard. It wasn' t a test, it was a punishment for a child' s simple wish.

With a grunt of effort, David tossed Ethan into the lake.

The splash was horribly loud in the quiet afternoon.

Ethan' s small body disappeared under the dark surface for a moment, then reappeared, his arms flailing wildly, his mouth open in a silent scream as he gasped for air.

"Ethan!" Sarah screamed, scrambling to her feet and running toward the water.

David stood motionless, his arms crossed, watching his son struggle with an unnerving calm, as if observing a training exercise.

"See? He' s fighting," David said, a note of approval in his voice. "Let' s see how long he lasts."

"He' s drowning! For God' s sake, David, help him!" Sarah was hysterical, trying to get into the water herself, but the muddy bank was slick and she slipped.

Ethan' s struggles grew weaker. His head bobbed, his small hands slapping at the water with less and less force. His eyes, wide with terror, were locked on his mother.

He didn't look at his father. He looked at her, his gaze a desperate, silent plea.

Sarah finally managed to get her footing and was about to plunge in when David grabbed her arm in a steel grip.

"Stay put," he ordered. "This is his trial."

"He' s your son!" she shrieked, fighting against his hold, her eyes never leaving the lake.

Ethan' s head went under.

It didn't come back up.

The ripples on the surface slowly spread outwards, and then the lake was still again. Horribly, unnaturally still.

David finally let go of her arm. He stared at the spot where his son had disappeared, his expression unreadable. For a moment, a flicker of something-doubt, maybe-crossed his face. But it was gone as quickly as it came.

He turned away. "He failed."

The words hit Sarah with the force of a physical blow. She collapsed onto the damp ground, a raw, animalistic sound of pure agony tearing from her throat. She stared at the water, at the empty, silent water that had swallowed her child whole, and knew her life was over.