Chapter 3: The Locked Cellar Door
Claire didn’t answer.
That frightened me more than if she had screamed.
My father stood in the middle of the living room, holding the phone like it was something dangerous.
“Claire.””
His voice was different.
I had never heard him speak that way.
Not angry.
Not loud.
Just broken.
“How long?””
She looked at him.
“Thomas, I can explain.””
“You said that about the kiss.””
“Because I can.””
“And now you’ll say it about the money?””
Claire’s eyes moved toward me.
That tiny movement told me everything.
She wasn’t thinking about Dad.
She was thinking about me.
She was blaming me.
I stepped behind my father.
Dad noticed.
His expression hardened.
“What did you do to him?””
Claire shook her head.
“I didn’t do anything.””
My father looked at my wrist.
The red marks from her fingers were still visible.
His face changed.
“Did you grab him?””
“No.””
I stared at her.
“Yes, you did.””
She immediately snapped.
“You’re lying.””
My father stepped between us.
“Enough.””
The room went silent.
Then Dad walked to the office.
Claire followed.
“Thomas, please.””
He opened the drawer.
Empty.
The folder where he kept financial records was gone.
The envelope with cash was gone.
The emergency money he saved for years was gone.
He stood there silently.
I watched him run a hand over his face.
“How much?””
Claire said nothing.
“How much did you take?””
Finally, she whispered:
“It wasn’t like that.””
Dad laughed once.
A painful laugh.
“Then tell me what it was like.””
She looked down.
“I borrowed it.””
“Without telling me?””
“I knew you would say no.””
“So you stole it.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
But I noticed something.
They weren’t tears of regret.
They were tears because she had been caught.
The front door suddenly opened.
I jumped.
The man from the video stood outside.
My father turned.
The stranger looked shocked.
Then angry.
“What’s going on?””
Dad stared at him.
“You tell me.””
The man looked at Claire.
“You said everything was handled.””
My stomach dropped.
Everything.
Handled.
That meant this was bigger than cheating.
Claire whispered:
“Leave.””
The man ignored her.
“You promised we would have enough money to disappear.””
My father’s eyes widened.
“Disappear?””
The man realized his mistake too late.
Dad walked toward him.
“Who are you?””
The man didn’t answer.
He turned and tried to leave.
Dad grabbed the door before he could escape.
“Not so fast.””
The stranger pushed away.
My father stumbled back.
I shouted:
“Dad!””
Dad caught himself.
Then he looked at me.
“Go upstairs.””
“No.””
“Now.””
But before I could move, Claire grabbed my arm again.
Not gently.
Never gently.
“Don’t.””
Dad saw.
His voice became dangerous.
“Let him go.””
Claire froze.
The stranger looked nervous.
My father stepped forward.
“You have five seconds to explain why my wife and you were planning to run away with my money.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Claire did something I never expected.
She smiled.
A small, cold smile.
“Fine.””
She looked at my father.
“You want the truth?””
Dad stared at her.
“Yes.””
She looked at me.
Then back at him.
“Your son knows more than you think.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“What are you talking about?””
Claire walked closer.
“You really think I’m the only one hiding things?””
Dad looked confused.
“Claire.””
But she kept going.
“There’s something you never told him, Thomas.””
My father went still.
“What?””
She pointed at him.
“Ask him why he never told his son what happened the night his mother died.””
The room froze.
I looked at my father.
“Dad?””
His face lost all color.
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And for the first time in my life…
I saw fear in my father’s eyes.