CHAPTER 3 — THE SECRET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Sarah refused to leave Ethan’s side.
Not for one second.
She wrapped him in blankets, held him close, and called a doctor.
The entire time, Victoria stood in the hallway pretending to be the victim.
"I can't believe this is happening," Victoria said.
Sarah looked at her.
"Neither can I."
The doctor examined Ethan carefully.
"His temperature dropped dangerously low," the doctor explained.
Sarah closed her eyes.
Hearing those words almost broke her.
"But he’s lucky," the doctor continued.
"He was found in time."
Sarah looked at Ethan sleeping on the couch.
Lucky.
That was the word everyone kept using.
But Sarah didn’t feel lucky.
She felt furious.
After the doctor left, Sarah sat beside Ethan.
His small hand held onto her finger even while sleeping.
He was afraid she would disappear.
That broke her heart.
Later that night, Sarah walked into the kitchen.
Victoria was there.
Drinking coffee.
Like nothing happened.
"You need to explain."
Victoria looked up.
"I already did."
"No. You gave me excuses."
Sarah placed her phone on the table.
"I want the truth."
Victoria smiled.
"You always were emotional."
"And you always were good at pretending."
The room went silent.
Victoria leaned forward.
"Be careful."
Sarah stared at her.
"Are you threatening me?"
"No."
Victoria smiled.
"I'm warning you."
Sarah felt anger rising.
"About what?"
Victoria slowly stood.
"About your son."
Sarah’s face changed.
"Don't you dare talk about him."
"You think Ethan is innocent?"
"He is four years old."
"And he lies."
Sarah froze.
"What?"
Victoria walked closer.
"He tells people stories. He cries until he gets attention. He knows exactly how to make people feel sorry for him."
Sarah shook her head.
"That’s not true."
"You don't know him anymore."
Those words hurt.
Because they touched Sarah’s biggest fear.
She had been working longer hours.
She had missed school events.
She had trusted Victoria to help.
And Victoria knew it.
"You left him with me," Victoria whispered.
"You chose your job."
Sarah’s eyes filled with anger.
"No."
She pointed toward Ethan’s room.
"I chose to provide for him."
Victoria smiled.
"Same thing."
Sarah wanted to scream.
But then...
A sound came from the hallway.
A tiny voice.
"Mommy..."
They both turned.
Ethan was standing there.
Holding a small stuffed animal.
His eyes were full of fear.
Sarah immediately ran to him.
"What happened, baby?"
Ethan looked at Victoria.
Then whispered:
"Mommy..."
"She did something else."
Sarah looked at Victoria.
"What?"
Ethan hugged his stuffed animal tighter.
"She told me if I told you..."
He stopped.
Sarah knelt down.
"If you told me what?"
The little boy started crying.
"She said you would leave me too."
Sarah felt like someone had punched her.
She looked at Victoria.
And for the first time...
She saw the truth.
This wasn't a mistake.
This wasn't bad parenting.
Victoria had been trying to break her son.
May you like
And maybe...
She had been planning it for a long time.
