Margaret slowly backed up. Her voice trembled, just loud enough for the guests and crew to hear. “Why do you hate me so much, Harmony? I’ve done everything to stay out of your way. I—I try to be kind. I smile, I stay quiet. I gave you that. And still…”
She kept walking backward, step by step, toward the edge of the deck. Tears began to fall. Right on cue.
“I just wanted to be happy for you. For both of you…”
Another step back.
“Margaret,” Hakeem warned. “Don’t.”
“I’m sorry I survived,” she cried. “I’m sorry I came back. Maybe I should’ve stayed dead.”
Then—she took one last step. And let herself fall. Her body disappeared beneath the black water with a splash that silenced everything.
Gasps cut through the night like glass. Guests froze. Forks clinked against plates. A violinist stopped mid-bow.
“She jumped…”
“Oh my god…”
“What did Harmony do to her?”
“I heard she’s been tormenting that poor woman for months…”
“She’s unstable. Always was.”
“Margaret!” Hakeem’s voice cracked, ragged and raw. He didn’t even look at me. He bolted forward and jumped without hesitation, crashing into the waves after her like the world would end if she didn’t resurface.