Chapter 11: The Person Inside My Home
I stared at the security footage.
The image was grainy.
But clear enough.
A person walking through my front door.
Not breaking in.
Not forcing their way inside.
Using a key.
My stomach twisted.
Because only a few people had keys to my house.
Ryan.
Me.
And one other person.
I whispered the name before I wanted to.
“Mom.””
Everyone looked at me.
Ryan frowned.
“Your mother?””
I nodded slowly.
“My mother has a spare key.””
Vanessa looked at the screen.
“Is that her?””
I couldn’t answer.
The person in the video wore a long coat.
Their face was hidden.
But the way they moved.
The way they held their bag.
I knew that walk.
I had known it my entire life.
“No.””
I shook my head.
“That’s impossible.””
Ryan came closer.
“Emily.””
I stepped away.
“My mother loved my father.””
Vanessa looked at me carefully.
“People can love someone and still hide things.””
That sentence again.
Everyone kept saying it.
And every time, it hurt more.
My phone rang.
This time, it wasn’t an unknown number.
It was my mother.
I stared at the screen.
Ryan whispered:
“Don’t answer.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because she might know we found out.””
I pressed answer.
“Mom?””
Silence.
Then her voice.
Soft.
Calm.
“Emily.””
My entire body froze.
Because she didn’t sound surprised.
She sounded like she was waiting.
“Where are you?””
“At home.””
Another pause.
Then:
“You opened the box.””
My heart dropped.
I looked at Ryan.
He mouthed:
“Hang up.””
But I didn’t.
“How do you know about the box?””
My mother sighed.
“Because your father told me everything.””
The room went silent.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
My voice cracked.
“You knew my father was investigating someone?””
“Yes.””
“And you said nothing?””
She didn’t answer immediately.
That was the worst answer.
“Mom.””
Her voice became emotional.
“Emily, I was trying to protect you.””
I closed my eyes.
Not again.
Everyone used those words.
“I’m tired of being protected.””
“Listen to me.””
“No.””
My voice rose.
“I spent years grieving a man who everyone around me was lying about.””
“Emily—”
“Did you know Ryan before I met him?””
Silence.
I looked at Ryan.
His face changed.
My mother whispered:
“Yes.””
The truth kept destroying pieces of my life.
“How?””
“He worked with your father.””
“Everyone knew him except me.””
“Your father wanted it that way.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Of course he did.””
My mother’s voice softened.
“He loved you.””
“Then why didn’t he trust me?””
She went quiet.
Because she didn’t have an answer.
Then she whispered:
“Because he knew what was coming.””
My blood ran cold.
“What was coming?””
My mother didn’t answer.
Instead, she said:
“Leave the house.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Right now.””
“Why?””
A long pause.
Then she said:
“Because the person who has been searching for that box knows you found it.””
I looked around the room.
“What are you talking about?””
My mother whispered:
“They’re already there.””
The call ended.
Everyone froze.
Ryan immediately looked toward the hallway.
Vanessa grabbed my arm.
“What does she mean?””
Then we heard it.
A sound from upstairs.
A floorboard.
Someone moving.
My house.
My bedroom.
Someone was inside.
Ryan grabbed the nearest object.
I looked at him.
“Who could it be?””
He didn’t answer.
Because he already knew.
The bedroom door slowly opened.
May you like
And standing there…
Was my mother.
