Chapter 10: The Person Behind the Door
Nobody moved after Vanessa spoke.
Someone is inside this house.
The words hung in the air.
My father slowly stood up.
“Why would you say that?””
Vanessa looked terrified.
“Because I saw something.””
“When?””
She looked toward the hallway.
“Last night.””
My father’s expression hardened.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I thought I was imagining it.””
I felt a chill.
“What did you see?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“A shadow.””
Mia immediately grabbed my hand.
“Emily…”
My father picked up his phone.
“We’re leaving.””
Vanessa looked surprised.
“Daniel—”
“No.””
His voice was firm.
“You lied to me. You hid things. But right now, I don’t care about that.””
He looked around the house.
“I care about keeping my daughters safe.””
The word daughters surprised me.
Even after everything, he still included me.
A few minutes later, we were standing outside near the driveway.
Dad called the police.
While we waited, he checked every window and door.
Then he stopped.
The back window.
The lock was broken.
My heart dropped.
“Dad?””
He looked at the damage.
“Someone came in.””
Mia covered her mouth.
“But when?””
Dad didn’t answer.
Because he didn’t know.
The police arrived and searched the house.
Nothing obvious was missing.
No stolen electronics.
No broken furniture.
Only one thing was different.
My bedroom.
The officer walked downstairs holding something.
“Mr. Cross?””
Dad turned.
“What is it?””
The officer held up a small device.
“A hidden camera.””
The room went silent.
My stomach twisted.
“A camera?””
The officer nodded.
“It was placed inside Emily’s room.””
I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Someone had been watching me.
Watching my life.
Watching everything.
Dad’s face became furious.
“Who did this?””
The officer looked serious.
“We’re investigating.””
Then he looked at the device.
“But whoever installed this knew the house.””
My father looked at Vanessa.
She immediately shook her head.
“No.””
Nobody said anything.
Then Mia spoke.
“Mom wouldn’t do that.””
Vanessa looked at her daughter.
For the first time, Mia defended her.
But even she sounded unsure.
The officer took the camera as evidence.
Before leaving, he gave Dad one piece of advice.
“Change your locks tonight.””
Dad nodded.
But I could tell something else was bothering him.
After everyone left, we sat in the living room.
Nobody talked.
Finally, Dad said:
“I owe you an apology.””
I looked at him.
“For what?””
“For not seeing what was happening.””
I shook my head.
“Dad, Vanessa did this.””
“Yes.””
He looked down.
“But I trusted the wrong people.””
I didn’t know what to say.
Because I was angry.
But I also saw how broken he looked.
Then Vanessa stood.
“I need to tell you something.””
Dad looked up.
“What?””
She took a deep breath.
“Mark didn’t just contact me two months ago.””
My father froze.
“When?””
“Six months ago.””
The room became silent.
“Six months?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He said he knew about the family accounts.””
Dad stared at her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because he threatened me.””
I looked at her.
“With what?””
She looked down.
“He had information about my past.””
My father’s expression changed.
“What information?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“I made mistakes before I met you.””
Dad shook his head.
“This isn’t about your mistakes.””
“It is.””
She looked at me.
“And Emily needs to know.””
My heart started beating faster.
“What?””
Vanessa reached into her purse.
She pulled out an old envelope.
“I found this in my car.””
Dad took it.
Inside was a document.
He read the first line.
Then his face changed.
“What is it?””
He handed it to me.
It was a copy of an old banking agreement.
But there was something written at the bottom.
A signature.
Not mine.
Not Vanessa’s.
Someone else’s.
A name I recognized.
May you like
Because I had seen it before.
The signature belonged to my mother.
