Chapter 4: The Things Hidden Behind Closed Doors
I drove home faster than I ever had in my life.
The entire way, one thought repeated in my mind.
What kind of pictures?
I found Rosa standing near the stairs.
She looked terrified.
“Where are they?””
She pointed toward Elise’s office.
“She keeps a locked drawer.””
I walked inside.
The room smelled like Elise’s perfume.
Everything about it looked perfect.
Organized.
Beautiful.
Fake.
Rosa handed me a small key.
“I found it while cleaning.””
I looked at her.
“Why didn’t you tell me before?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because Mrs. Elise threatened me.””
“With what?””
“She said she would make sure I lost my job.””
I unlocked the drawer.
Inside were envelopes.
Documents.
Photographs.
The first picture made my hands freeze.
It was Lily sitting alone at the dining table.
No food.
No toys.
Just sitting there.
The second picture showed her standing in a corner.
The third showed her crying.
My stomach turned.
“Why would she keep these?””
Rosa whispered:
“She said she needed proof that Lily was difficult.””
I looked at her.
“Proof?””
Rosa nodded.
“Mrs. Elise wanted to show people Lily was unstable.””
My heart stopped.
“Why?””
Rosa looked away.
“Because she wanted full control.””
I opened another envelope.
Inside was a custody agreement draft.
My name was written at the top.
Elise had been preparing to take Lily away.
She wasn’t documenting bad behavior.
She was building a case.
Against her own daughter.
I heard footsteps behind me.
Elise.
She stood in the doorway.
For once, she wasn’t pretending.
She looked angry.
“You had no right.””
I turned.
“No right?””
She walked inside.
“That drawer was private.””
I held up the custody papers.
“You were planning to take my daughter.””
Her expression changed.
“You weren’t supposed to find that.””
The words came out before she could stop them.
Not “I wasn’t.””
Not “You misunderstood.””
You weren’t supposed to find that.
I felt something break inside me.
“How long?””
She crossed her arms.
“How long what?””
“How long have you been planning this?””
She looked away.
“Since you started traveling.””
I stared at her.
“So this was your plan?””
“You were never home.””
“I was working.””
“You were gone.””
“And you decided to punish Lily?””
Her voice rose.
“Don’t make me the villain!””
I almost laughed.
“Then explain.””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because there was no explanation.
Only excuses.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
And froze.
I noticed.
“Who is it?””
She ignored me.
The phone rang again.
I stepped forward.
“Answer it.””
She looked at me.
“No.””
That answer confirmed everything.
I reached for the phone.
She pulled it away.
“Mark, stop.””
“Who is Daniel?””
Her face changed.
Not fear this time.
Anger.
“You went through my things.””
“You destroyed my family.””
The phone rang again.
This time, I saw the name.
Daniel.
Before she could hide it.
I stared at the screen.
Then at my wife.
“Answer.””
She didn’t.
So I did.
I pressed the button.
A man’s voice came through.
“Hey, sweetheart. Are you alone?””
Elise closed her eyes.
The room went silent.
The man continued.
“I was worried after yesterday. You said once Mark came back, everything would be handled.””
I looked at Elise.
My voice was barely a whisper.
“Handled?””
Daniel continued.
“Did you talk to the lawyer about taking Lily?””
My entire body went cold.
Because that meant this wasn’t just betrayal.
This was planned.
I ended the call.
Elise stared at me.
And then she said something I would never forget.
“You don’t understand what I had to do.””
I looked at my wife.
The woman I had loved for ten years.
And realized I no longer knew her.
Then Lily appeared at the doorway.
Holding her stuffed rabbit.
She looked at Elise.
And whispered:
“Mommy…”
Everyone froze.
Because Lily was crying.
And she was holding something in her hand.
May you like
A letter.
With my name on it.