Chapter 3: The Video
Daniel arrived just after midnight.
His shirt was wrinkled, his eyes bloodshot from the drive, but the moment he saw Lily, his face changed.
He bent beside her bed and touched her little fingers.
Lily opened her eyes just enough to whisper, “Daddy?”
Daniel smiled, but his jaw trembled.
“I’m here, baby.”
She blinked slowly.
“Aunt Amanda got mad.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, the softness was gone.
The next morning, Officer Reynolds returned.
“We received a call,” he said. “From one of your relatives.”
My stomach tightened.
“What kind of call?”
He held up a tablet.
“Your cousin sent us video.”
I stared at him.
He pressed play.
The footage was shaky, filmed from the corner of the dining room. At first, it showed nothing unusual—breakfast plates, adults talking, Lily climbing into the chair.
Then Amanda turned.
Her face twisted.
She grabbed the skillet.
And threw it.
No hesitation.
No accident.
The sound of impact was worse the second time.
Daniel turned away, one hand covering his mouth.
I couldn’t move.
Then the video continued.
My mother stepped into frame, looked down at Lily on the floor, and said clearly:
“Take her somewhere. She’s disturbing everyone’s mood.”
Officer Reynolds stopped the video.
May you like
His voice was careful.
“This changes everything.”
