Chapter 7: The Person Standing Beside Brenda
I stared at the photograph on Olivia’s wall.
For a moment, I couldn’t understand what I was seeing.
The picture was old.
The colors had faded.
But the faces were clear.
Brenda was standing in the center.
Olivia was beside her.
And next to them…
was my wife’s father.
My own father-in-law.
I looked at Olivia.
“Why is he in this picture?””
She didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she walked toward the wall and carefully removed the photograph.
“Because before Brenda married into my family, she knew your wife’s family too.””
I felt a chill.
“What are you saying?””
Olivia placed the picture on the table.
“I’m saying Brenda didn’t enter your life by accident.””
The room suddenly felt smaller.
I thought about every conversation.
Every family gathering.
Every time Brenda acted like she was simply trying to help.
“Then why?””
Olivia sat down.
“Because Brenda has always wanted to be needed.””
I listened.
“She finds families with wounds. Families where someone is missing. Families where people are looking for support.””
My stomach tightened.
“My wife lost her mother when she was young.””
Olivia nodded.
“And Brenda saw that.””
The realization hit me.
She wasn’t just trying to become part of our family.
She was trying to replace someone.
Again.
“Tell me what happened with you.””
Olivia looked down.
“For years, I thought I was the problem.””
Her voice became quieter.
“She made me believe I was selfish. Ungrateful. Difficult.””
I remembered Nia saying the same words.
“I tried harder.””
Olivia smiled sadly.
“I became quieter. I stopped asking for things. I stopped telling people when I was hurt.””
My hands tightened.
“Just like Nia.””
Olivia looked at me.
“Yes.””
Silence filled the room.
Then she opened a drawer.
Inside were old papers.
“I started keeping records when I realized nobody believed me.””
She handed me a folder.
I opened it carefully.
Notes.
Dates.
Memories.
Not dramatic accusations.
Just small moments.
Times Brenda changed stories.
Times she made Olivia apologize for things she didn’t do.
Times she convinced others that Olivia was unstable.
“She made everyone choose her side,” Olivia said.
“And when I finally left, she told everyone I abandoned the family.””
I looked up.
“That’s what she’s trying to do with Nia.””
Olivia nodded.
“But this time, you saw it early.””
I thought about that.
No.
I didn’t see it early.
Ava did.
A child saw what adults ignored.
I looked back at the photograph.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?””
“I did.””
Olivia’s voice became heavy.
“No one wanted to believe it.””
She looked at me.
“Brenda is charming when she needs to be.””
I knew exactly what she meant.
The version of Brenda other people saw was always different.
The smiling woman.
The helpful woman.
The woman who claimed she was protecting children.
But behind closed doors…
she controlled them.
My phone suddenly rang.
I looked down.
It was Nia’s school.
My heart jumped.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?””
The counselor’s voice came through.
“Mr. Carter, I’m calling because something happened today.””
My body tensed.
“What happened?””
“Nia had an emotional reaction during class.””
I stood.
“Is she okay?””
“She’s physically fine. But she became upset during a discussion about family.””
I closed my eyes.
“Can I speak with her?””
There was a pause.
Then I heard my daughter’s voice.
“Dad?””
“I’m here.””
She was trying not to cry.
“What happened?””
“I saw Brenda outside.””
My blood ran cold.
“What?””
“She came to school.””
I gripped the phone.
“Did she talk to you?””
A long silence.
Then Nia whispered:
“She said she was sorry.””
For a second, I felt relief.
Until Nia continued.
“But she said you were forcing me to lie about her.””
My anger returned.
“She said that?””
“Yes.””
I looked at Olivia.
She was already watching my expression.
“She told me everyone would believe her eventually.””
My hand tightened around the phone.
Then Nia said something that made my heart stop.
“Dad… she also said she knows who helped Ava record the videos.””
I froze.
“What?””
May you like
Nia’s voice dropped.
“She said Ava didn’t do it alone.””
