Chapter 1
I came home from work and found my seven-year-old son locked inside our dog’s kennel—while my mother stood nearby and told him, “Maybe now you’ll learn to behave.”
My name is Daniel, and my son Noah had been staying with my mother, Diane, after school.
She had always complained that I was “too soft” with him.
That afternoon, I got off work early and drove straight home.
The moment I stepped into the backyard, I heard crying.
“Dad!”
I froze.
The voice was coming from beside the garage.
Then I saw Noah.
He was curled up inside our large dog kennel.
The door was locked from the outside.
I ran toward him.
“Noah!”
His cheeks were wet with tears.
“Dad, please get me out.”
I ripped open the latch and pulled him into my arms.
“What happened?”
Before he could answer, my mother walked onto the patio.
“Oh, good. You’re home.”
I stared at her.
“Why was my son locked in a dog kennel?”
She folded her arms.
“He threw his dinner on the floor.”
Noah shook his head.
“I didn’t, Dad.”
Mom snapped, “Stop lying.”
I stood up.
“You locked a seven-year-old child in a cage?”
“He needed consequences.”
“How long was he in there?”
She didn’t answer.
Noah whispered, “Since lunch.”
My stomach dropped.
It was almost six in the evening.
I turned toward my mother.
“Pack your things.”
Her eyes widened.
“You’re choosing him over your own mother?”
“He is my son.”
She suddenly pointed at Noah.
“You have no idea what that boy has been doing behind your back.”
Noah grabbed my hand.
“Dad, she’s lying.”
Mom rushed inside and returned carrying Noah’s school backpack.
She dumped everything onto the patio.
Crayons, notebooks, and toys scattered across the ground.
Then a small voice recorder fell out.
My mother went completely still.
Noah quickly grabbed it.
“I hid it because Grandma kept saying nobody would believe me.”
I pressed play.
My mother’s voice came through the tiny speaker.
May you like
Then I heard her say something that made me slowly look up at her.
“Your dad isn’t supposed to know what I’ve been putting in his drinks.”
