Chapter 2: The Secret Videos
I watched the screen without blinking.
My mother.
My own mother, Linda.
The woman who had held Noah after his first nightmare.
The woman who told me she would do anything to protect my son after his mother died.
She was standing in my kitchen.
Standing beside Vanessa.
And they were talking about Noah like he wasn’t a child.
Like he was a problem they needed to solve.
The video shook slightly because Mason’s hands had been trembling while recording.
Vanessa stood near the counter.
My mother sat at the table.
“I’m telling you,” Vanessa said, “he’s too attached to Daniel. He needs to understand he’s not the center of everything.””
My mother nodded.
“He was spoiled after his mother died.””
I felt Noah grab my shirt.
His fingers tightened.
“Daddy…”
I immediately turned the phone away from him.
“Noah, go sit on the couch with me.””
But he didn’t move.
He looked at Mason.
Not me.
“You knew?””
Mason wiped his eyes.
“I tried to tell you.””
Noah looked down.
“You’re not my brother.””
Mason flinched.
“I know.””
That broke something inside me.
Because my son wasn’t just hurt by Vanessa.
He had started believing nobody would choose him.
I walked Noah to the couch and sat beside him.
Then I turned back.
“Play the rest.””
Vanessa’s face went pale.
“Daniel, you don’t understand.””
“No.””
My voice was calm.
“I understand perfectly.””
My mother stepped forward.
“Daniel, listen to me.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
She stopped.
“Because this isn’t what it looks like.””
I almost laughed.
“What exactly does it look like, Mom?””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Mason pressed play again.
The video continued.
Vanessa was speaking.
“He needs discipline.””
My mother answered.
“I agree. Daniel is too soft with him.””
Too soft.
Those two words hurt more than the anger.
Because they weren’t talking about a stranger.
They were talking about my son.
My son who cried himself to sleep after losing his mother.
My son who kept her picture beside his bed.
My son who still asked if heaven had a phone number.
I looked at Vanessa.
“How long?””
She crossed her arms.
“How long what?””
“How long have you treated him like this?””
She looked away.
That was the answer.
I walked into the kitchen and opened the cabinet.
Inside were snacks.
Cookies.
Crackers.
Things Noah loved.
I noticed something.
The shelf where his favorite food usually was had been moved higher.
Out of reach.
I turned around slowly.
“You were hiding food from him?””
Vanessa sighed.
“Daniel, you’re making this bigger than it is.””
“No.””
I pointed toward the stairs.
“My son was eating dog food.””
She looked annoyed.
“Because he refused to behave.””
Mason stepped forward.
“He didn’t do anything.””
Vanessa snapped.
“Enough!””
Mason jumped.
I saw it again.
That fear.
I had been so focused on Noah that I hadn’t noticed Mason was also living under her control.
I crouched in front of him.
“Mason, what else is on those videos?””
He looked at his mother.
Then at me.
“There are more.””
Vanessa immediately moved toward him.
“Don’t.””
The single word was quiet.
But Mason froze.
I stood between them.
“Stay away from him.””
For the first time, Vanessa looked at me like she didn’t recognize me.
“You’re choosing him over me?””
I shook my head.
“I’m choosing my children.””
She laughed bitterly.
“Your children?””
“Yes.””
“Mason isn’t yours.””
Mason looked like those words physically hurt him.
I stared at Vanessa.
“That’s exactly the problem.””
The room became silent.
My mother suddenly grabbed her purse.
“I think I should leave.””
“No.””
She stopped.
“You’re staying.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Daniel.””
“I want to know why you helped her.””
My mother looked uncomfortable.
Then she said something I never expected.
“Because Vanessa promised she could fix your family.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
My mother looked toward the stairs.
Toward Noah.
“She told me if Noah became less important, you would finally move on.””
My heart dropped.
Move on?
From what?
From my dead wife?
From my son?
Before I could ask another question, Mason’s phone buzzed.
A new message appeared.
Mason looked at the screen.
Then his face changed.
“What?””
He slowly turned the phone toward me.
The message was from an unknown number.
May you like
It contained one sentence.
“Delete the videos before your father finds out what really happened to Noah’s mother.””
