Chapter 4: The Lie Hidden In The Envelope
I stared at Daniel’s face, waiting for him to tell me that Margaret was lying.
Waiting for him to laugh and say this was another cruel game his mother was playing.
But he didn’t.
He just stood there holding the document, looking like a stranger.
“Daniel,” I whispered.
“What is she talking about?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
That hurt more than anything.
Because silence from someone you love can feel louder than an accusation.
Margaret noticed it too.
She stepped closer to him.
“Tell her.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Mom, stop.””
“No. She needs to stop pretending.””
I pushed myself up against the wall, ignoring the pain in my stomach.
“Daniel, look at me.””
His eyes finally met mine.
“I don’t know what she’s talking about.””
He looked down at the paper again.
“Three months ago, you told me you went to your sister’s house after an argument.””
I frowned.
“Yes.””
“You said you needed time alone.””
“I did.””
“You were gone almost four hours.””
I remembered that night.
The argument.
The tears.
The way I sat in my car outside a coffee shop because I didn’t want to cry in front of anyone.
“I told you where I was.””
“You said you were at your sister’s.””
“I stopped there first.””
Daniel’s expression tightened.
“But you didn’t stay there.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I went to the hospital.””
Margaret’s eyes widened.
“Hospital?””
I looked at her.
“Yes.””
Daniel stared.
“What?””
I swallowed.
“I never told you because I didn’t want to worry you.””
The room became silent.
“Why were you at the hospital?””
I looked down.
“Because I thought I was losing the baby.””
Daniel froze.
For a moment, the anger disappeared from his face.
“You thought…”
I nodded.
“I had cramps. I was scared. I sat in that emergency room alone for two hours.””
His face changed.
Not anger.
Guilt.
But Margaret interrupted.
“Convenient.””
I turned toward her.
“What?””
She folded her arms.
“You expect us to believe that?””
Daniel looked at his mother.
“Mom.””
“No, Daniel. Think about it.””
She pointed at the paper.
“She disappeared. She refused to tell you where she was. Now she says there was some secret emergency.””
My hands started shaking.
“Because I was afraid.””
Margaret smiled.
“Or because she was hiding something.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Do you believe her?””
He didn’t answer.
That silence hurt worse than the fall.
Then he walked toward the kitchen counter.
He grabbed his phone.
“I’m calling the hospital.””
Margaret’s face changed.
“What?””
“I want records.””
She stepped forward.
“You’re investigating your own wife?””
“No.””
Daniel looked at her.
“I’m finding the truth.””
For the first time, Margaret looked nervous.
Not angry.
Nervous.
Daniel dialed.
While he waited, I noticed something on the floor near Margaret’s purse.
A small black object.
A USB drive.
I stared at it.
“Where did you get that?””
Everyone looked at me.
Margaret quickly moved her purse.
“What?””
I pointed.
“That.””
She picked it up immediately.
“It’s nothing.””
Daniel noticed.
“Why are you hiding another thing?””
“I’m not.””
He held out his hand.
“Give it to me.””
Margaret laughed nervously.
“You don’t trust me anymore?””
Daniel didn’t move.
“Mom.””
She slowly placed the USB drive in his palm.
He looked at it.
Then at her.
“What’s on this?””
Margaret’s lips pressed together.
“Proof.””
My stomach tightened.
“Proof of what?””
She looked directly at me.
“That you’ve been lying to my son.””
Daniel walked toward the computer.
I felt a strange fear growing inside me.
Because Margaret wasn’t scared of the security footage.
She wasn’t scared of the police.
She was scared of one thing.
The truth coming out.
Daniel inserted the USB drive.
A folder appeared on the screen.
One video file.
Created yesterday.
He clicked it.
The screen went black.
Then a familiar voice filled the room.
My voice.
But the words coming from the speakers made my blood run cold.
“I need Daniel to believe me…”
Daniel looked at me.
May you like
And Margaret whispered:
“Now you’ll see who she really is.””
