CHAPTER 4 — The Truth Was Worse Than I Imagined
CHAPTER 4 — The Truth Was Worse Than I Imagined
The first video began.
Emily had hidden the camera inside a stuffed elephant sitting on the nursery shelf.
Victoria stood over one of my twins.
He couldn't have been more than four months old.
He was crying.
Not loudly.
Just like any hungry baby would.
Victoria stared at him with complete annoyance.
"You sound just like your father."
She picked up his bottle.
Instead of feeding him...
She placed it just out of reach.
"Let's see how long you cry."
The baby wailed.
Minute after minute.
Emily rushed toward the crib.
Victoria blocked her path.
"No."
Emily pleaded.
"He's hungry."
"I know."
"Please let me feed him."
"No."
Five agonizing minutes passed.
Then ten.
My son cried until his tiny face turned red.
Emily was sobbing.
"I can't watch this."
Victoria smiled.
"Then don't."
Eventually Emily pushed past her, grabbed the baby, and fed him anyway.
Victoria slapped her so hard she nearly dropped the bottle.
The recording ended.
I couldn't breathe.
I clicked another.
This time both twins were crawling across the nursery floor.
Victoria was speaking on the phone.
One of the babies reached toward her.
She shoved him away with her foot.
Not enough to injure him.
Enough to make him fall backward.
Enough to make him cry.
Emily immediately scooped him into her arms.
Victoria rolled her eyes.
"They're becoming clingy."
Another recording.
Another nightmare.
Victoria looked directly into the hidden camera without realizing it.
"I never wanted children."
She laughed.
"I wanted Daniel's company."
"I wanted his name."
"The babies were simply part of the contract."
My knees nearly gave out.
Emily gasped quietly.
"I prayed you'd never have to hear that."
But there was still one final video.
It had been recorded only yesterday.
The date glowed on the screen.
Victoria stood in the nursery speaking with someone whose face wasn't visible.
A man's voice answered her.
Calm.
Professional.
"Everything is almost ready."
Victoria nodded.
"He still hasn't changed the will."
The man chuckled.
"He will."
"And if he doesn't?"
Victoria's voice turned icy.
"Then accidents happen."
The room fell silent.
The man asked, "What about the twins?"
Victoria didn't hesitate.
"They're insured."
I stopped breathing.
Emily covered her mouth.
"No..."
Victoria's recorded voice continued.
"If something tragic happens..."
"Daniel will be devastated."
"But grief makes people careless."
"The company will eventually belong to me."
The video ended.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
The woman standing behind me was no longer simply cruel.
She had discussed my death...
...and treated my children's lives like financial assets.
Slowly, I closed the laptop.
Victoria's face had turned ghostly pale.
She tried to smile.
"Daniel..."
"I can explain."
Before she could say another word—
A sharp knock echoed through the front door.
Three heavy knocks.
Not a neighbor.
Not a delivery.
Whoever was outside sounded impatient.
Then the house security system chimed.
"Police Department. Open the door."
Victoria's eyes widened.
May you like
For the first time since I had known her...
She looked like someone whose entire world had just begun to collapse.
