I took Mr. Vance on a trip. After checking into the hotel, we went to the hotel pool for a swim. But a man, dressed to the nines, looked at us like we were trash, literally wrinkling his nose in disgust: “This is a high-end hotel. How can paupers like these get in? Did you sneak in to freeload off the pool?” “Sharing a pool with you, I’m genuinely worried about catching some infectious disease!” Mr. Vance and I instantly lost our good mood. I said coldly: “The hotel pool is public. Any guest staying here can use it. If you can’t handle it, build your own at home.” The man frowned in anger, yelling: “How dare you talk to me like that? Do you even know my wife owns this hotel? The most luxurious suite here is permanently reserved for me.” “I order you two to get out, now! Reeking of cheapness, you’ve polluted the water. It’s disgusting!” Mr. Vance and I exchanged a look, both seeing a cold resolve in the other’s eyes. This hotel was under Vivian’s name. When did she become someone else’s wife?!
Mr. Vance and I had wanted to keep a low profile. We didn’t show our hand when we checked in, but we never expected to run into such a scene. Our happy mood just evaporated. Mr. Vance, a veteran entrepreneur, didn’t even bat an eye at this clown. He shot back casually: “Who do you think you are to order us around? You’re the one who needs to get out.” “The real stench here is your lack of class, which is truly disgusting.” Ignoring the man fuming with rage, Mr. Vance turned to me and said: “Julian, let’s keep swimming. Don’t mind him. When we get back, I’ll go with you to ask Vivian what exactly is going on.” The man’s face turned beet red from being ignored, and suddenly a malicious grin spread across his face: “Fine! Since you love swimming so much, you can stay in the water all day!” He called over a burly man, who approached with a fawning look and said: “Leo, you called? Do you want me to teach you how to swim?” Leo pointed at Mr. Vance and me, smirking: “Mike, go give these arrogant nobodies a good lesson.” Mike immediately understood, nodding eagerly: “Don’t worry, Leo, I’m a swim instructor! I know exactly how to make someone suffer in the water!” He jumped into the water. Before Mr. Vance and I noticed, he grabbed Mr. Vance’s head and pushed him down hard. Mr. Vance was older; how could he match Mike’s strength? He immediately choked on water, struggling desperately. Alarmed, I quickly went to push Mike away. But Mike was agile. He pinned me underwater too, force-feeding me several gulps of water. Finally, I took the opportunity to kick him hard where it counts, making him release his grip. I quickly pulled Mr. Vance out. He was gasping for air, his eyes rolled back, coughing as if to throw up a lung before he finally recovered. He was a man who had always been fiercely strong-willed, with a reputation for ruthless tactics. He’d grown a modest motel into a nationwide hotel chain, treated with respect wherever he went. When had he ever suffered such humiliation? His chest heaved with rage as he yelled at Leo: “Do you know this could kill someone? You have no regard for the law!” “I’m going to have my legal team sue you!” Leo smirked indifferently: “So what if someone dies? My wife owns hundreds of hotels nationwide; she makes enough in a day to buy out your pathetic lives.” “You should have done your homework before messing with me! Lawyers? Can you even afford one?!” But this hotel was one of many Mr. Vance had entrusted to my wife. Leo’s air of being the rightful owner left me incredibly confused. Did Vivian have a second husband? I patted Mr. Vance’s back to help him calm down, then asked in a low voice: “Is your wife named Vivian?” He gloated, arrogant as ever: “That’s right. At least you’re not completely clueless.” “If you get on your knees, apologize, and clean this pool, I *might* consider letting you off the hook.” “Otherwise, when she gets here, you’ll be in for a world of pain!” A chill ran down my spine. Had Vivian, the woman who swore eternal loyalty to me on our wedding day, really cheated? The next moment, my gaze fell on the tattoo on his collarbone: a maple leaf design. I’d seen the exact same tattoo on Vivian’s lower abdomen. She told me she’d gotten it to commemorate the day we met, which was when the maple leaves were turning red. How ridiculous that I actually felt so touched back then, but it turns out it was a matching tattoo with another man. If I hadn’t stumbled upon this today, I wouldn’t have known she’d been keeping a secret lover. The angrier I got, the calmer I became. I decided to strip away his facade: “But as far as I know, Vivian’s husband is named Julian. And he certainly doesn’t look like you. You’re just a kept man, yet you have the audacity to be so arrogant? You’re absolutely shameless!” “Call Vivian right now! I want to see how she’s going to make us regret this!”
The word ‘kept man’ clearly struck a nerve. He said spitefully: “Don’t even mention that loser Julian. In love, there’s no such thing as ‘first dibs.’ The one who isn’t truly loved is the outsider.” “My wife is coming over to see me today. I’ll call her now. You just wait for it!” He picked up his phone, his voice instantly shifting to a sickeningly sweet, affected tone: “Vivian, when will you be here? These two old geezers were bullying me at the hotel pool, calling me a kept man. Hurry up and come get justice for me.” “From now on, only let me use the pool. I’ve learned a few new ‘tricks’ in the water, just waiting for you to enjoy them.” After he hung up, vanity and smugness oozed from him: “She’ll be here in half an hour. You’re dead men. She has plenty of ways to deal with you!” I was trembling with rage. The thought of Vivian pretending deep affection while sleeping with another man made me sick to my stomach. Mr. Vance understood from my reaction, gritting his teeth in fury: “Vivian, that animal! Just like her mother!” “What I can give her, I can just as easily take back!” Mr. Vance hated infidelity with a passion. Years ago, my mother-in-law cheated on him with a younger man, stripping him of everything before their divorce. He single-handedly raised Vivian while juggling his career. After all his efforts raising her, he never expected his own daughter to have inherited her mother’s fickle nature and turn out just like her. Mr. Vance owned over a hundred hotels nationwide. Although he’d entrusted a portion of them to Vivian to manage in recent years, he remained the true power behind them. I, Julian, wasn’t marrying Vivian just for show; my family background was just as prominent as hers. But I was more interested in art, so outsiders often assumed I was living off Vivian’s wealth. They had no idea I was the sole heir of the Vance family. Vivian, I’m waiting to see how you’re going to explain this to us! Just then, I noticed Mr. Vance’s face had gone pale. Worried, I quickly helped him, wanting him to get out and change. But Leo sneered and subtly raised his chin, and Mike instantly knew what he meant. Mike hoisted himself out of the water and kicked Mr. Vance square in the chest as he was climbing the ladder. Mr. Vance splashed back into the water. I quickly went to pull him out again. Leo watched from the side, roaring with laughter: “Ha! Look at you two pathetic creatures, flailing around like drowning rats. You love the water so much? Then stay in it!” “Mike, don’t let them out until my wife gets here.” Mike replied, eager to please: “Don’t worry, Leo, mission accomplished.” “When Ms. Vivian gets here, just put in a good word for me.” No matter how many times Mr. Vance and I tried to climb out, Mike would kick us back down. Our strength gradually gave out. Mr. Vance clutched his chest, struggling to breathe, unable to speak. I urged him to lean on me, then yelled frantically at the shore: “Are you trying to kill him? My dad’s heart condition is flaring up, let us out, now!” “Otherwise, when Vivian gets here, you’ll regret it!” Mike’s face paled, and he glanced nervously at Leo, but Leo just chuckled dismissively: “You old men are all the same, always playing games! Faking a heart attack? You were just having a grand time swimming a minute ago, weren’t you?” “Mike, go shut off the pool’s heater. Let’s see how long he can keep up the act then!” My veins throbbed with fury at his audacity: “I’m telling you, if someone dies, when the police get here, none of you will escape!”
He casually sipped from a glass of red wine, his arrogance dripping from every word: “Stop the act. If you want to get out, just beg me.” “Weren’t you so tough a minute ago? What, scared now that my wife’s on her way?” Mr. Vance already had a heart condition. Today, he wasn’t just fuming with anger, but he’d also choked on water multiple times and was completely drained. He was in serious pain. I bit my lip. No matter what, I couldn’t let him be in danger. I’d just swallow my pride for now to ensure his safety. I was about to open my mouth and beg when Mr. Vance gripped my arm. His voice trembling, he said: “I’ve never bowed my head to anyone in my life, much less begged someone as utterly worthless as him.” “Julian, I can hold on. When Vivian gets here, I’ll never forgive her.” “Don’t worry. I’ve been hurt by a woman’s betrayal my entire life. I’ll stand by you.” Seeing we still wouldn’t beg, Leo’s eyes narrowed maliciously, and he turned to Mike: “Go get two buckets of ice from the kitchen and cool them down even more.” The ice was dumped into the water, and the temperature quickly plummeted. I was shivering uncontrollably. Mr. Vance’s lips were already turning blue, and his consciousness was fading. I slapped his face, but he barely reacted. Gritting my teeth, I quickly swam him towards the edge, but Mike repeatedly shoved us away with a stick. Frantic, I yelled hoarsely, my eyes burning: “My dad’s dying! Let him out, now! If he dies, your hotel won’t get away with it!” “When Vivian gets here, she’ll never forgive you!” Mike, as a swim instructor, saw Mr. Vance’s face and realized the situation was genuinely bad. He quickly turned to Leo: “Leo, the older guy looks like he’s really fading. Maybe we should let him out? If he dies in your pool, wouldn’t that just be… unsettling for you to use later?” “And Ms. Vivian probably doesn’t want you causing a death, either. If she gets mad, I’ll probably lose my job.” Leo thought for a moment, then scoffed: “So you’re worried about your job, huh? I didn’t *intend* to kill anyone, but some people are just too stubborn for their own good.” “I said if they begged me, I’d *consider* letting them out.” “It’s not like they’re actually dying yet. I want to see how long they can hold out.” Mike, emboldened by Leo’s presence, looked at me smugly: “Let me introduce you. Leo is Ms. Vivian’s favorite man. This entire hotel is at his service. Everything has to make way for him.” “You shouldn’t have been let in today. If you want to live, apologize to him now. Beg him nicely.” “If you don’t wise up, no one can help you!” I bit my lip hard, seeing Mr. Vance in such a critical state. I couldn’t care less about my pride or dignity anymore. I forced the words out: “I’m begging you, let my dad out first. He has a heart condition; he’ll really die!” Leo’s lips curled into a triumphant smirk, and he drawled sarcastically: “Didn’t you just call me a shameless kept man? I want you to say it again. Say that Julian, that loser, is the kept man, and *I* am Vivian’s husband.” Leo deeply resented being called a kept man. He was especially jealous of this Julian, whom he’d never even met, a supposed loser who lived off women. How could he possibly be better than him? He didn’t realize *I* was Julian, and in doing so, he inflicted the greatest humiliation on me. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, suppressing the burning humiliation. Word by agonizing word, I repeated: “Julian, that *scumbag*, is the kept man. *You* are Vivian’s husband!” “Happy now? Now let my dad out!”
He smiled a satisfied, cunning smile: “Haha, I said I’d *consider* it. Well, I’ve considered, and I’ve decided I don’t want you getting out.” My rage boiled over; I wanted to tear him apart with my bare hands. I had no choice but to reveal Mr. Vance’s identity. “You’ve gone too far! He’s Vivian’s father! If anything happens to him, when Vivian gets here, she’ll never forgive you!” Leo burst out laughing, completely dismissive: “You pathetic losers, you’ll make up any lie, won’t you? I just heard you call him ‘Dad.’ How did he suddenly become Vivian’s dad? That’s quite a quick identity change.” “You’ve ruined my swim today, and I’m going to make sure you learn a lesson. Next time, remember to open your eyes before you step out!” Mr. Vance was trembling in my arms, his breathing growing shallower. His heart condition had fully flared up. If he didn’t get his fast-acting heart medication soon, he would truly die. My eyes burning, I screamed hoarsely: “Help! Somebody help us! Someone’s going to die!” But the entire pool area was empty; there was no one else around. Seeing this, Mike also panicked. He said worriedly: “Leo, what if…” But Leo cut him off, completely unconcerned about a human life, saying casually: “It’s fine. Old guys like him are tougher than young people; some even go winter swimming. I bet he’s faking it.” “My wife will be here any minute. We can let them out when she arrives. A few more minutes won’t hurt; if something was going to happen, it would have already.” But a few more minutes could mean Mr. Vance’s life if we missed the critical window for intervention. Despair instantly flooded my heart. Just then, the hotel manager, Mr. Jenkins, rushed over. I yelled at him, my voice hoarse: “Help! Someone help! My dad’s having a heart attack! Get him out, call an ambulance!” Mr. Jenkins had met Mr. Vance years ago but didn’t recognize him now. He saw Mr. Vance’s condition and a flicker of fear crossed his face. He’d heard there was trouble and had come over hoping to curry favor with Leo. But with someone on the verge of death, he quickly weighed upsetting Leo against losing his job for a death on his watch. Then, he turned to Leo, a forced smile on his face, and said: “Mr. Leo, maybe we should let them out first. If something serious happens, you won’t be able to use this pool ever again.” Leo glanced at him, thought for a moment, then said haughtily: “Fine, for your sake, let them out.” Mr. Jenkins quickly had Mike pull Mr. Vance and me out of the water. Mr. Vance lay motionless on the ground. Ignoring my ragged breathing, I bolted towards the changing rooms, retrieving my bag as fast as I could. Fumbling frantically, I poured out the fast-acting heart medication, ready to force it into his mouth. But Leo suddenly kicked, sending the bottle and its contents flying into the pool. He looked at my furious face and laughed sardonically: “Alright, stop the act. You’re out. Now get lost. Next time you see me, cross the street. I’m feeling generous today, so I’ll let you two off.” My fury exploded. I lunged forward, landing a brutal punch on Leo’s face, my eyes blazing as I snarled: “If anything happens to my dad, I swear, I will make both you and Vivian pay!” He hadn’t expected me to hit him. He shrieked: “You lunatic! I shouldn’t have gone soft! I should have just let you both drown!”
I lunged to hit him again, but Mike and Mr. Jenkins grabbed my shoulders. Leo landed at least a dozen slaps across my face. The stinging pain on my face snapped me back to reality. Every second we wasted meant Mr. Vance was closer to death. I fought desperately, ripped free from their grasp, and pulled out my phone, dialing Vivian. “Vivian, Dad’s having a heart attack! We’re at the Bayview Hotel pool. Get the nearest medical team here, now!” “Any later, and Dad will be gone!” But Vivian’s voice was sharp with impatience: “Your dad has a heart condition, doesn’t he? Doesn’t he know how to take care of himself?” “I’m in a meeting. Call an ambulance yourself.” And with that, she coldly hung up. I was shaking with rage. Did she even have *any* idea whose father was having a heart attack? The next moment, Leo gasped with delight, looking towards the entrance: “Vivian, you’re finally here!” He hugged her tightly, his voice laced with affection: “Vivian, what took you so long? Those two men just bullied me so badly.” He pointed to his reddened, bruised face, whimpering: “Look, my face is all swollen from that jerk.” “You have to get even for me this time, and then spend a few extra days comforting me.” Vivian looked at his face with a pang of sympathy, her voice tightening with anger: “Who had the audacity to lay a hand on you? I’ll make sure they pay!” “Don’t worry, I cleared my schedule for a whole week just for you. I’ll make sure to spoil you.” This was the woman who had just hung up on me, the same woman who, just last night, had been clinging to me, complaining about a week-long business trip, swearing she’d miss me terribly. It was all a lie, a performance. Love vows? Utter bullshit! Leo wrapped an arm around Vivian’s waist, proudly and triumphantly leading her over to me, pointing: “This is the man who hit me. The one lying on the ground is his dad.” “Tell someone to teach them a lesson!” I looked up, my gaze locking onto Vivian. I spoke coldly: “Vivian, how exactly are you going to ‘teach *me* a lesson’?” She instantly froze, her surprise making her stammer: “Julian, you… what are you doing here?” I gritted my teeth, my voice seething with anger: “If I weren’t here, when would I ever have found out you were hiding another man?!” “Vivian, it must have been *so hard* for you, pretending to be a loving wife to me for all these years!” Panic was practically dripping from her face as she babbled incoherently: “Julian, please listen, it’s not what you think.” “Anyway, never mind that, how’s your dad?” I cut her off sharply, pointing to Mr. Vance, who was still unconscious on the floor: “Vivian, look! Whose father is this?!” Vivian’s soul nearly left her body. She gasped, her voice a terrified whisper: “Dad! Dad, what happened to you?!” Everyone froze in shock. Leo stared, disbelieving: “Vivian, is he really your dad? Then who is *this* man? Is he… Julian?!” Mr. Jenkins was terrified, and Mike, recalling everything he’d done to us, felt his legs turn to jelly. Vivian ignored him, frantically calling for the nearest medical team to save her father. Only after they’d rushed Mr. Vance to the hospital and I heard he was out of immediate danger did I finally breathe a sigh of relief. The doctor frowned, speaking gravely: “Good thing he was brought in when he was. One more minute, and we wouldn’t have been able to save him.” Vivian had learned the full truth and was absolutely furious with Leo. He tried to talk to her several times, but she completely ignored him.
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