Chapter 6: The Stranger at the Door
The handle moved once.
Then stopped.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody breathed.
Rebecca looked at me.
Her face told me everything.
She knew exactly who was outside.
I moved toward the door.
“Stay back.””
“Adam, wait.””
I ignored her.
Every instinct in my body told me to protect my family.
Even from my own wife.
The door opened before I reached it.
A man stood on the porch.
Tall.
Dark jacket.
Cold eyes.
And a thin scar running along his cheek.
Daniel.
Lily’s description was right.
The moment I saw him, I understood why my daughter was afraid.
He didn’t look like someone who belonged in our neighborhood.
He looked like someone who had spent years hiding from consequences.
He smiled slightly.
“Hello, Adam.””
I stared.
“You know my name.””
He stepped inside without being invited.
“I know a lot about you.””
I blocked his path.
“You’re not coming any closer.””
Daniel looked past me.
“Where’s Rebecca?””
“She’s not your concern.””
He laughed softly.
“Actually, she’s the only reason I’m here.””
Rebecca appeared behind me.
“Daniel.””
His smile disappeared.
“You look older.””
Her face hardened.
“What do you want?””
Daniel looked around the house.
“The same thing I wanted eight months ago.””
My stomach tightened.
“Explain.””
He looked at me.
“I think you already know.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You’re going to tell me.””
Daniel studied me for a moment.
Then he said:
“You really believe Rebecca was the villain?””
I didn’t answer.
He smiled.
“Interesting.””
Rebecca shook her head.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You’re still protecting him?””
“You don’t get to talk about protection.””
His expression changed.
Anger.
Real anger.
“You think you’re innocent?””
The room became silent.
I looked between them.
“What happened eight months ago?””
Neither answered.
“Tell me.””
Daniel looked at Rebecca.
Then back at me.
“Your wife made a deal.””
Rebecca whispered:
“Stop.””
“With who?””
Daniel smiled.
“With me.””
My hands curled into fists.
“What kind of deal?””
Rebecca shook her head.
“Adam, please.””
I turned toward her.
“No.””
My voice broke.
“I spent eight months believing my daughter’s accident was just bad luck.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Then I find out there was more.””
I looked at Rebecca.
“And now I find out both of you are hiding something.””
Daniel walked farther into the room.
“Your wife wanted something.””
“What?””
“She wanted Lily gone.””
The words hit harder than any punch.
Rebecca screamed.
“That’s not true!””
Daniel looked at her.
“You wanted your old life back.””
“No!””
“You told me yourself.””
I looked at Rebecca.
My voice was barely audible.
“Is that true?””
She shook her head violently.
“No.””
Daniel reached into his pocket.
He pulled out his phone.
“I recorded everything.””
Rebecca froze.
He pressed a button.
A voice filled the room.
Rebecca’s voice.
Eight months earlier.
“I can’t keep doing this. Adam only sees Lily. He doesn’t see me anymore.””
My blood went cold.
Then her voice continued.
“I just want things to go back to how they were.””
The recording stopped.
Rebecca looked at me.
“Adam, it’s not what it sounds like.””
I couldn’t speak.
Daniel watched me carefully.
Then he leaned closer.
“Ask her what happened after that recording.””
I looked at Rebecca.
“Tell me.””
She didn’t answer.
“Rebecca.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
Then my phone rang.
I looked down.
A message appeared.
From the same unknown number.
May you like
Only four words.
*“She wasn’t the only one.””*
