Chapter 2 - The Little DoorThe glass rolled beneath the kitchen island.
It did not break.
No one moved.
Ethan crouched beside Sophie.
“What do you mean Mommy comes here?”
Sophie glanced at Vanessa before answering.
That glance told Ethan everything.
Someone had taught his daughter to be afraid of speaking.
“Mommy comes through the little door.”
“What little door?”
“The one behind the flowers.”
Vanessa stepped forward.
“She’s confused.”
Ethan stood.
“You don't answer for her again.”
“She’s four, Ethan. Children imagine things.”
Sophie shook her head.
“She brings me strawberry candy.”
Ethan froze.
Olivia had always carried strawberry candies.
Even on their wedding day, she had hidden two inside her bouquet.
Sophie had been eleven months old when Olivia supposedly died.
She couldn't possibly remember that.
“When did you see her?”
“Yesterday.”
“Where?”
“My room.”
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“You were in San Francisco yesterday. Sophie probably dreamed about Olivia.”
Then Vanessa made the mistake that changed everything.
“She misses having a real mother.”
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
“A real mother?”
“That isn't what I meant.”
He reached for his phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“The police.”
Vanessa lunged.
Ethan caught her wrist.
Sophie screamed.
He released Vanessa immediately.
The softness returned to Vanessa's face.
The same smile she used at charity dinners.
“Ethan, you're upset.”
Then Sophie whispered:
“Yes, you did.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“Sophie.”
The little girl instantly stopped crying.
Ethan's blood turned cold.
He dialed 911.
Vanessa ran upstairs.
Rosa, the housekeeper, appeared from the laundry room.
Ethan looked at her.
“What did you see?”
Rosa began to cry.
“She locked Miss Sophie in the pantry.”
“How many times?”
“Twice. Maybe more.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“She threatened my son.”
Vanessa disappeared into Ethan's office.
The door slammed.
Ethan followed.
Inside, Vanessa was burning documents.
He knocked the wastebasket over.
One surviving page contained the name:
ANNA REED.
Emergency contact:
Vanessa Cross.
Date:
Three days after Olivia's reported death.
“What did you do to Olivia?”
Vanessa's eyes hardened.
“I saved her.”
“From what?”
“From you.”
Before Ethan could answer, sirens screamed outside.
Then Sophie cried out.
“Mommy!”
Ethan ran downstairs.
A woman stood in the foyer.
Thinner.
Scarred.
Terrified.
But unmistakable.
Olivia.
His dead wife.
Alive.
She dropped to her knees.
Sophie ran into her arms.
“My baby.”
Ethan could barely breathe.
Olivia looked up.
“No.”
She stepped between him and Sophie.
“Stay away from us.”
Behind Ethan, Vanessa whispered:
“She’s dangerous.”
Olivia looked at her.
“You said he wouldn't be here.”
Ethan turned.
“You knew she was coming.”
May you like
Vanessa ran.
And the truth finally entered the house.
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