Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN IN THE HOUSE
Daniel came home at 11:47 p.m.
He expected the front door to open.
It didn't.
He tried his key again.
Nothing.
He frowned.
Then he knocked.
A security camera above the porch blinked red.
Daniel looked directly into it.
“Claire?”
No answer.
He knocked harder.
“Claire, open the door.”
A voice came from behind him.
“She's not here.”
Daniel turned.
My father stood at the bottom of the steps.
Daniel's face changed.
“Charles?”
“You're trespassing.”
Daniel laughed.
It wasn't a nervous laugh.
It was the laugh of a man who still believed he was in control.
“This is my home.”
“No.”
Daniel pointed at the door.
“I live here.”
“You lived here.”
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“What are you talking about?”
Dad held up a folder.
“Your belongings have been packed.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You can't do this.”
“I already did.”
“Claire wouldn't allow it.”
“Claire is in the hospital because you abandoned her on a highway.”
Daniel went silent.
Dad stepped closer.
“She is eight months pregnant.”
“I didn't know it was serious.”
“You knew she was pregnant.”
“She was exaggerating.”
Dad's jaw tightened.
“Say that again.”
Daniel swallowed.
“I said she was exaggerating.”
Dad nodded slowly.
“Good.”
He held up his phone.
“Because I recorded you saying it.”
Daniel's face went pale.
“What?”
“The security camera captured audio.”
For the first time, Daniel looked genuinely afraid.
Dad opened the folder.
“Your name isn't on the deed.”
“I contributed to the household.”
“Show me the receipts.”
Daniel said nothing.
“Mortgage payments?”
Nothing.
“Property taxes?”
Nothing.
“Major renovations?”
Nothing.
Dad closed the folder.
“You contributed groceries.”
Daniel's face reddened.
“This is insane.”
“No.”
Dad looked directly into his eyes.
“What's insane is abandoning your pregnant wife and then coming home expecting dinner to be waiting.”
Daniel stepped toward him.
“You don't get to interfere in my marriage.”
Dad didn't move.
“You stopped being a husband when you left her beside that highway.”
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“Where is she?”
“You don't need to know.”
“I have a right to know where my wife is.”
Dad smiled coldly.
“You should have thought about that before driving away.”
Then he stepped aside.
Two movers carried a box past Daniel.
Daniel stared.
“What the hell is that?”
“Your clothes.”
“You're throwing me out?”
“I'm removing you from my daughter's property.”
Daniel reached for his phone.
“I'm calling the police.”
“Go ahead.”
Dad handed him a card.
“Call them.”
Daniel looked at the card.
It wasn't a business card.
It was a lawyer's.
Daniel stared at the name.
Eleanor Price — Family Law and Estate Litigation.
His expression changed.
“Why did you hire a lawyer?”
Dad's voice was quiet.
“Because this isn't about tonight.”
Daniel looked up.
“What does that mean?”
Dad said nothing.
Daniel's phone rang.
Patricia.
He answered.
“Mom?”
Her voice came through loudly enough that Dad could hear it.
“Are you inside?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Charles changed the locks.”
Silence.
Then Patricia whispered:
“He wouldn't dare.”
Dad smiled.
“He did.”
Daniel looked at him.
“What do you mean, this isn't about tonight?”
Dad turned toward the house.
“Ask your mother.”
Patricia's voice suddenly became frantic.
“Daniel, come to my house.”
“Why?”
“Now.”
“Mom—”
“Don't ask questions. Just come.”
The call ended.
Daniel stood frozen.
Dad walked back toward the door.
Then he stopped.
“Daniel.”
“What?”
“You made one mistake tonight.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You thought Claire was alone.”
The door closed.
Daniel stood outside in the darkness.
May you like
And for the first time, he realized he had no idea what my father knew.
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