Chapter 1 - THE FIRST WORDS
The scissors snapped shut.
Alex screamed without making a sound.
Lucinda held the green ribbon between two fingers, smiling as if she had just won something.
“There,” she said. “Now maybe you’ll stop hiding behind that ridiculous toy.”
The stuffed rabbit fell from her hand and hit the hardwood floor.
Alex stared at it.
For nearly six months, that rabbit had never left his arms.
Not at breakfast.
Not in the car.
Not even while he slept.
Elizabeth rushed forward.
“Mrs. Carter, please.”
Lucinda turned on her.
“Stay out of this.”
“He’s terrified.”
“He’s spoiled.”
Alex backed away until his shoulders hit Elizabeth’s dress.
Then he grabbed her waist and buried his face against her.
Elizabeth felt his entire body shaking.
Lucinda lifted the sewing scissors.
The blades flashed under the chandelier.
“You keep babying him,” she said. “That’s why he won’t speak.”
Elizabeth’s jaw tightened.
“He stopped speaking after his mother died.”
“And maybe fear will finally teach him to start again.”
A door opened behind them.
Nobody had heard it.
Andrew Carter stepped out of his private office.
He stopped.
His gaze went first to Lucinda.
Then to Elizabeth.
Then to his son.
Finally, he noticed the ribbon lying on the floor.
Green silk.
Freshly cut.
Andrew’s face changed.
“What happened?”
Lucinda lowered the scissors.
“Nothing.”
Elizabeth said, “She took Alex’s rabbit.”
Lucinda shot her a cold look.
Andrew crossed the room.
“Alex?”
The little boy raised his head.
His eyes were huge.
His lips were trembling.
Andrew crouched.
“Buddy, look at me.”
Alex stared at his father.
Six months.
Not one word.
Doctors had called it trauma.
Grief.
Selective mutism.
Andrew had spent nights sitting beside his son’s bed, begging for one sound.
Now Alex’s eyes moved from his father to Lucinda.
Then back again.
His mouth opened.
“Daddy…”
Andrew froze.
Elizabeth covered her mouth.
Lucinda went pale.
Andrew whispered, “What did you say?”
Alex swallowed hard.
His voice came out weak and broken.
“Daddy…”
Tears filled Andrew’s eyes.
“Yes. I’m here.”
Alex pointed at Lucinda.
“She…”
Lucinda took one step back.
Alex’s breathing turned sharp.
Then the words came faster.
“She is the one who killed Mom.”
Nobody moved.
The house became silent.
Andrew slowly stood.
Lucinda laughed once.
It sounded wrong.
“That’s insane.”
Andrew bent down.
He picked up the severed ribbon.
Alex stared at it.
Then he whispered something else.
“She wore it that night.”
Lucinda’s eyes locked on the ribbon.
And for the first time, Andrew saw fear in her face.
Then Lucinda raised the scissors and pointed them directly at Elizabeth.
“The maid taught him that lie.”
Andrew looked at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth looked at Alex.
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And Alex whispered one final sentence.
“She knows where Mom’s phone is.”
