Chapter 1
Victoria dragged four-year-old Maya across the living room floor by her hair.
Maya screamed and reached for anything she could grab.
Eight-year-old Ethan ran from the hallway and threw himself between them.
“Don’t touch my sister!”
Victoria released Maya and spun toward him.
“You stay out of this.”
“She didn’t do anything!”
Victoria slapped Ethan so hard he stumbled into the couch.
Maya crawled toward him, crying.
“Ethan!”
He immediately wrapped one arm around his little sister.
Victoria raised her hand again.
“You both need to learn respect.”
Then the front door flew open.
Arthur stood there.
For one second, nobody moved.
He had come home early because a meeting had been canceled. He was still holding his briefcase.
Then he saw Maya trembling on the floor.
He saw Ethan protecting her.
And he saw the red handprint spreading across his son’s cheek.
Arthur dropped the briefcase.
“What happened?”
Victoria’s face changed instantly.
“Arthur, I can explain.”
Ethan shook his head.
“Dad, don’t believe her.”
Arthur crossed the room.
Victoria reached for him.
“Ethan was being disrespectful. Maya threw a tantrum. I was only—”
Arthur caught her wrist before she could touch either child again.
“Only what?”
Victoria froze.
Arthur’s voice became dangerously calm.
“Were you going to hit him again?”
“No.”
Ethan spoke through tears.
“Yes.”
Victoria glared at him.
Arthur saw it.
That look told him everything.
He released Victoria’s wrist and stepped between her and the children.
“You attacked my children in their own home.”
“They’re spoiled because you never discipline them!”
Arthur stared at her.
Then he pointed toward the stairs.
“Pack your things.”
Victoria’s mouth fell open.
“You’re choosing them over me?”
“They’re my children.”
“I’m your wife!”
“And you put your hands on them.”
Victoria began crying.
She followed Arthur upstairs, begging him to listen.
He refused.
Ten minutes later, Arthur carried her suitcase to the front door and threw it onto the porch.
Victoria grabbed his arm.
“You’ll regret this.”
Arthur shoved her hand away.
“No. I regret not seeing who you were sooner.”
He shut the door and locked it.
Victoria started pounding from outside.
Then sirens approached.
Ethan flinched.
Arthur immediately turned around.
Maya was hiding behind the couch.
Ethan stood in front of her again.
Even now, he was protecting her.
Arthur’s anger disappeared.
He dropped to his knees.
“Come here.”
Maya ran first.
Ethan followed more slowly.
Arthur pulled them both into his arms.
Maya buried her face against his chest.
“She said you wouldn’t believe us.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
Those words hurt more than anything Victoria had done to him.
Ethan whispered, “Dad, this wasn’t the first time.”
Arthur opened his eyes.
“What?”
Ethan looked toward the door.
Police officers were speaking with Victoria outside.
Then he looked back at his father.
“She told us if we ever told you, she would send us away.”
Arthur tightened his arms around both children.
“She will never hurt either of you again.”
But Ethan did not look relieved.
Instead, he whispered something that made Arthur’s blood run cold.
May you like
“Dad… there’s something in Maya’s closet you need to see.”
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