Chapter 5 - THE HUNT BEGINS

I ran outside.

The car was already speeding away.

“Stop!”

I didn’t know why I shouted.

Maybe because part of me believed I could still catch the truth if I ran fast enough.

But the car disappeared into the darkness.

I stood there breathing heavily.

Behind me, Perrin called my name.

“Dad.”

I turned.

My son was standing at the door.

Small.

Scared.

But brave.

I walked back and knelt beside him.

“I’m sorry.”

He looked confused.

“For what?”

“For not knowing.”

His eyes filled with tears.

“You came back.”

Those three words hurt more than anything.

Because he wasn’t asking for an explanation.

He was telling me that I was finally there.

I hugged him.

“I’m never leaving you again.”

But I knew something.

Someone had tried very hard to keep us apart.

And they weren’t finished.

That night, I locked every door.

Every window.

Every entrance.

For the first time in my own home…

I felt like a stranger.

Victor stayed.

I didn’t trust him.

But I trusted him more than Rhea.

“Why are you helping me?”

I asked.

He looked at the fireplace.

“Because I failed Elena once.”

I frowned.

“What does that mean?”

Victor didn’t answer.

Instead, he looked at Perrin.

“Your son is the reason Elena survived.”

My heart stopped.

“What?”

“Three years ago, Elena wasn’t supposed to survive the accident.”

“Then how?”

“She found a way out.”

I stepped closer.

“Where is she?”

Victor looked at me.

“James, before you see her, you need to understand something.”

“What?”

“She didn’t disappear because she hated you.”

“Then why?”

His answer came quietly.

“Because she thought you were involved.”

The words cut deeper than any accusation.

“Me?”

“She found evidence connected to your accounts.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

Victor continued.

“She believed someone was using you.”

I looked toward Perrin.

Someone had destroyed my family.

And somehow…

they made my wife believe I was part of it.

Suddenly, the lights went out.

The entire house went dark.

Perrin screamed.

I grabbed him.

“Stay behind me.”

A sound came from upstairs.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Heavy.

Someone was inside.

Rhea whispered:

“No…”

I looked at her.

“You know who that is.”

She didn’t answer.

Then a voice came from the darkness.

“Hello, James.”

My blood turned cold.

Because I recognized it.

Daniel.

My best friend.

The man who betrayed me.

The man who should never have been in my house.

He stepped into the light.

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And smiled.

“Looks like we need to talk.”