Chapter 2 - The Camera Hidden Behind The Painting
Ethan did not sleep.
Not even for a minute.
Every time he closed his eyes…
He saw Leo falling.
He saw his son’s terrified face.
He saw Victoria standing there without regret.
At six in the morning…
Ethan walked downstairs.
Clara was sitting beside Leo’s bed.
She looked exhausted.
“You stayed with him all night?”
Clara nodded.
“He woke up crying three times.”
Ethan’s heart sank.
“What did he say?”
Clara hesitated.
Then whispered.
“He kept saying…”
“Mommy will be angry.”
Ethan froze.
“Mommy?”
Clara looked away.
“I didn’t want to upset you.”
“Tell me everything.”
Clara took a deep breath.
“Mrs. Victoria has been different when you’re away.”
Ethan’s hands tightened.
“How different?”
“She gets angry easily.”
“She threatens him.”
“She tells him nobody will believe him.”
The room became silent.
Ethan felt something inside him break.
Then Clara said the words that changed everything.
“There are cameras in the house.”
Ethan looked up.
“What?”
“Security cameras.”
Clara lowered her voice.
“But Mrs. Victoria had some removed.”
“Only certain ones.”
Ethan immediately called his security team.
Within an hour…
The footage was recovered.
But when Ethan watched the files…
His blood turned cold.
The cameras showed Victoria yelling at Leo.
Ignoring his cries.
Punishing him for small mistakes.
And then…
A missing section appeared.
Three minutes were deleted.
Ethan stared at the screen.
“Who removed this?”
The security manager looked nervous.
“Sir…”
“What?”
“The deletion came from inside the house.”
Ethan slowly turned.
“Whose account?”
The manager swallowed.
“Mrs. Victoria’s.”
But before Ethan could confront her…
A message appeared on his phone.
From an unknown number.
May you like
It contained one sentence.
“If you think last night was the worst thing she did… you’re not ready for the truth.”
