CHAPTER 4 — THE EVIDENCE
The next morning, Sarah made a decision.
She was done asking questions.
Now she wanted answers.
She searched the house.
Not because she wanted revenge.
Because she needed proof.
Victoria followed her.
"What are you doing?"
Sarah didn't answer.
"You can't just go through my things."
Sarah stopped.
"Your things?"
She turned around.
"This is my house."
Victoria smiled.
"For now."
That sentence made Sarah pause.
"For now?"
Victoria said nothing.
Sarah noticed something.
A folder sitting on the kitchen counter.
She reached for it.
Victoria moved quickly.
"Don't touch that."
Sarah looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because it's private."
Sarah grabbed the folder.
Inside were documents.
Legal documents.
Her heart started beating faster.
There were notes about Ethan.
Reports.
Statements.
And one paper that made her blood run cold.
A custody evaluation request.
Sarah looked up.
"What is this?"
Victoria stayed silent.
"You were trying to get custody?"
Victoria crossed her arms.
"I was trying to protect him."
"From me?"
"From your unstable lifestyle."
Sarah laughed bitterly.
"You locked him outside and you're calling me unstable?"
Victoria stepped closer.
"You work all day. You travel. You’re never around."
Sarah stared at her.
"You planned this."
"No."
"You wanted to make me look like a bad mother."
Victoria didn't answer.
And that silence was enough.
Sarah grabbed her phone.
She started taking pictures of every document.
Victoria’s expression changed.
"Give me that phone."
"No."
"Sarah."
"No."
For the first time, Victoria looked nervous.
That told Sarah everything.
Then Ethan walked into the room.
"Mommy?"
Sarah turned.
"I'm here."
The boy looked at Victoria.
Then quietly said:
"She has a box."
Sarah frowned.
"What box?"
Ethan pointed upstairs.
"The box she told me never to touch."
Victoria’s face went pale.
"Enough."
Sarah looked at her.
"What’s in the box?"
Victoria didn’t answer.
Sarah walked upstairs.
Victoria followed.
"Sarah, stop."
But Sarah kept going.
She opened the closet.
Behind a pile of clothes was a locked box.
And inside...
Were pictures.
Pictures of Ethan crying.
Pictures of him sitting alone.
Notes describing his behavior.
And dozens of written pages.
Sarah picked one up.
The handwriting was Victoria’s.
The first sentence made her stomach turn.
"Step one: Make him afraid of his mother."
Sarah stopped breathing.
Because this wasn't about punishment.
This was a plan.
A carefully designed plan.
Victoria wasn't just cruel.
She was trying to destroy the bond between a mother and her child.
Then suddenly...
The bedroom door slammed shut.
Sarah turned around.
Victoria was standing there.
Holding the key.
"You really should have left things alone."
Sarah looked at her.
"What are you going to do?"
Victoria smiled.
And this time...
May you like
Sarah saw something terrifying in her eyes.
"I’m going to make sure nobody believes you."
