Chapter 3: The Camera No One Remembered
Jake stood without saying a word.
His mother immediately stepped backward.
"Jake, don't listen to her."
"She's lying."
"She's trying to destroy this family."
Jake walked straight past her.
Not toward the front door.
Toward the bookshelf.
His mother suddenly stopped speaking.
Hidden between two framed wedding photos sat a tiny black security camera.
Months earlier, Jake had installed it after several packages had disappeared from the hallway.
He had completely forgotten about it.
But someone else hadn't.
His mother turned pale.
"Jake..."
"Don't."
He removed the memory card with shaking fingers.
Within minutes, the footage appeared on his laptop.
There she was.
His mother unlocking the apartment with the spare key Jake had trusted her with.
Walking calmly into the bedroom.
Standing over Megan.
The audio was crystal clear.
"You've ruined my son's life."
Thenâ
A violent shove.
Megan crashed into the edge of the coffee table before collapsing onto the floor, clutching her pregnant stomach and crying in pain.
Jake covered his mouth.
The next clips were even worse.
His mother grabbed Megan's legs whenever she tried to stand.
Twisted her ankle.
Forced her back onto the bed.
Threatened her.
"If you tell Jake, I'll make sure he believes you're insane."
Every lie.
Every bruise.
Every tear.
Recorded.
His mother slowly sank into a chair.
"I... I didn't mean..."
May you like
Jake closed the laptop.
"You don't get to explain."
