Chapter 3: The Secret Behind Daniel’s Silence
I read the message five times.
Then ten.
My fingers hovered over the screen.
Who sent this?
How did they know?
And why did they say Daniel knew?
I immediately called the number.
No answer.
I called again.
Still nothing.
Then another message appeared.
“Don’t ask Daniel yet.””
My breathing stopped.
I looked toward the bedroom door.
Daniel was downstairs with Patricia.
The two people I trusted most.
The two people who were hiding something from me.
I quietly walked down the stairs.
Their voices came from the kitchen.
I stopped before they could see me.
“You promised me she wouldn’t find out,” Patricia said.
My heart jumped.
Daniel sounded frustrated.
“I didn’t think she would check the system.””
“The camera should have stayed off.””
“I know.””
My entire body went numb.
I covered my mouth.
The camera.
They knew.
Daniel knew.
I stepped backward.
The floor creaked.
The conversation stopped.
A few seconds later, Daniel appeared.
“Emma?””
I forced myself to breathe.
“What were you talking about?””
His face changed.
“Nothing.””
I looked past him.
Patricia was standing in the kitchen doorway.
Watching me.
Smiling.
“What did you hear?”” she asked.
Her question confirmed everything.
Not denial.
Not confusion.
Fear.
I looked at Daniel.
“You turned off the camera.””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“Why?””
His jaw tightened.
“Emma…”
“No.””
My voice shook.
“Tell me why.””
Patricia walked closer.
“Because maybe he was protecting himself from you.””
I turned toward her.
“You are unbelievable.””
She folded her arms.
“You have always been dramatic.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Is that what you think?””
He looked exhausted.
“I didn’t want a recording of a family argument.””
“A family argument?””
I pointed at my leg.
“Your mother attacked me.””
Patricia gasped.
“There she goes again.””
Daniel stepped between us.
“Stop.””
I stared at him.
“Who are you protecting?””
Nobody answered.
The silence was unbearable.
Then Patricia slowly sat down.
Her expression changed.
A performance.
A familiar one.
“I knew this would happen.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Mom…”
“She’s going to destroy this family.””
I almost laughed.
“The woman who hurt me is saying I’m destroying the family?””
Daniel looked between us.
Then his phone rang.
He checked the screen.
His face changed immediately.
“What?””
I watched him listen.
Then his expression became pale.
“Are you sure?””
A pause.
“No. Don’t send anything yet.””
He ended the call.
I stared at him.
“Who was that?””
He looked at me.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
“It was my friend Mark.””
“And?””
Daniel swallowed.
“He said he found something.””
Patricia suddenly stood.
“Daniel, don’t.””
That was the first time I saw her lose control.
Daniel looked at her.
“Mom…”
“No.””
Her voice became sharp.
“You promised.””
My heart stopped.
Promised what?
Daniel closed his eyes.
And when he opened them again, he looked like someone who had been carrying a secret for too long.
“Emma…”
He reached into his pocket.
“I need to show you something.””
Patricia stepped forward.
“Daniel, if you show her that, everything will fall apart.””
I looked at both of them.
“What will fall apart?””
Daniel slowly unlocked his phone.
Then he turned the screen toward me.
There was a video file.
Recorded three days before the attack.
And the name of the file made my blood run cold.
“Mom’s First Warning.””
Daniel whispered.
“I should have shown you this before.””
I stared at the screen.
“Why didn’t you?””
He looked away.
“Because I was scared of what I would find.””
I pressed play.
And the first sound I heard was Patricia’s voice.
But she wasn’t crying.
She wasn’t scared.
May you like
She was laughing.
And then she said my name.
