Chapter 4 – A House Full of Secrets
The footsteps lingered for several long seconds before finally moving away.
Neither Carol nor Emily spoke until the hallway fell silent again.
"They listen," Emily whispered.
Carol nodded slowly.
"Tomorrow, we're leaving anyway."
Emily's eyes filled with fear.
"You don't understand."
"No, sweetheart. I understand enough."
Morning came with forced smiles and the smell of fresh coffee.
Patricia behaved as though nothing unusual had happened.
Ryan kissed Emily on the forehead in front of everyone.
It looked affectionate.
Carol saw Emily tense beneath his touch.
Later that morning, while Patricia drove to the grocery store, Carol quietly explored the house.
Inside the home office she noticed a locked filing cabinet.
Beside it sat a folder labeled simply:
EMILY
Before she could reach it, Ryan appeared behind her.
"Looking for something?"
Carol didn't flinch.
"I was admiring your office."
Ryan smiled.
"I like keeping important documents organized."
His tone remained pleasant.
His eyes did not.
As Carol walked away, she caught one more glimpse of the folder.
Medical bills.
Insurance papers.
Bank statements.
Everything belonged to Emily.
Everything was locked away from her.
That afternoon Carol secretly called Emily's obstetrician using the clinic number she remembered from an old baby shower invitation.
The nurse hesitated before answering one simple question.
"No," she said.
"Mrs. Emily Carter has missed her last three prenatal appointments."
Carol nearly dropped the phone.
Emily believed Ryan had been taking her to every appointment.
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If that wasn't true...
What else had he been lying about?
