Chapter 16 — The Trap
Friday morning felt strangely normal.
Vanessa prepared pancakes.
Nathan read the business section.
Ethan quietly packed his schoolbag.
Vanessa smiled warmly.
"Don't forget your science project."
"I won't."
As Ethan reached for the front door, Vanessa stopped him.
"I baked your favorite cookies."
She handed him a small container.
He thanked her politely.
But something felt...off.
When he arrived at school, he opened the container.
The cookies smelled unusual.
His friend Liam wrinkled his nose.
"Those smell weird."
Instead of eating them, Ethan threw them away.
That afternoon, he returned home to find Nathan pacing the living room.
"Ethan!" Nathan shouted.
"What happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"Vanessa says you've been spying on her."
Ethan froze.
Vanessa stood behind Nathan, tears streaming down her face.
"I found him searching through my private things."
"I never—"
"He hates me," Vanessa sobbed.
"I've tried so hard to love him."
Nathan looked heartbroken.
"Ethan... tell me this isn't true."
Ethan wanted to explain.
He wanted to show the notebook.
But before he could speak, Vanessa whispered just loudly enough for Nathan to hear,
"I think he's trying to hurt the baby."
Nathan's face changed instantly.
May you like
For the first time in Ethan's life...
His father looked at him like a stranger.
