Chapter 8 - THE HOUSE OF LIES
Graham packed a bag for Maisie.
Not because they were leaving.
Because he wanted her to feel safe.
“You and me are going on a trip.”
Maisie looked excited for the first time in days.
“Where?”
“Anywhere you want.”
She thought for a moment.
“Can we see the ocean?”
Graham smiled.
“Yes.”
That night, he moved important documents out of the house.
He changed passwords.
He called security.
Because now he wasn’t dealing with a misunderstanding.
He was dealing with someone who had planned everything.
The next morning, Sloane showed up.
She looked angry.
“You’re keeping my things?”
Graham looked at her.
“You’re not living here anymore.”
Her face changed.
“You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
“You’re throwing away everything because of a child’s story?”
Graham’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t ever call my daughter a story.”
Sloane stepped closer.
“You think you know what happened?”
“I know enough.”
“No, you don’t.”
She reached into her purse.
“I have proof.”
Graham didn’t move.
“What proof?”
“Messages.”
She handed him her phone.
Screenshots.
Texts from Maisie.
But something was wrong.
Graham studied them.
“These aren’t from her.”
Sloane froze.
“What?”
“Maisie doesn’t write like this.”
Graham pointed.
“She spells certain words wrong.”
Sloane’s face changed.
Only for a second.
But Graham saw it.
“You created these.”
“No.”
“You created fake messages from my five-year-old daughter.”
“That’s insane.”
“Is it?”
He stepped back.
“I’m starting to think I don’t know you at all.”
Sloane’s voice became cold.
“You’ll regret this.”
Graham looked at her.
“Is that a threat?”
“No.”
But her expression said otherwise.
After she left, Graham received another call.
This time from the police.
“Mr. Grant, we need you to come down.”
“Why?”
“There’s been a complaint filed against you.”
His heart dropped.
“By who?”
A pause.
Then:
“Sloane Whitmore.”
May you like
Graham closed his eyes.
“What did she accuse me of?”
