Chapter 3: The Woman At The Door
I didn't sleep that night.
I sat beside Sophie's bed and watched her breathe.
Every few minutes, she moved closer to me without waking up.
Like she was afraid I would disappear.
At 3:00 a.m., I opened my laptop.
I checked every security camera in the house.
I had installed them years ago for safety.
But somehow, I had never watched them closely enough.
I started with the kitchen.
My heart broke all over again.
There was Sophie.
Alone.
Sitting on the floor.
Holding her stomach.
Waiting.
Then Vanessa appeared.
She placed the dog's bowl on the floor.
Even from the camera footage, I could see my daughter's fear.
I stopped the video.
My hands were shaking.
I forced myself to continue.
I needed proof.
I needed every detail.
At 7:00 a.m., I called my attorney.
"James, I need you to come to the house.""
His voice sounded concerned.
"Richard, what's happening?""
"I need to protect my daughter.""
There was a pause.
Then he answered quietly.
"I'll be there.""
After breakfast, I sat across from Sophie.
She looked exhausted.
"Sophie, Daddy needs to ask you something.""
She nodded.
"Do you know a woman who comes here every Friday?""
Her spoon stopped moving.
That reaction told me enough.
"Sophie?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I wasn't supposed to tell.""
My heart sank.
"Who told you that?""
She whispered:
"Vanessa.""
I reached across the table.
"Sweetheart, nobody can make you keep secrets from me.""
She looked toward the stairs.
"Her name is Claire.""
"Who is Claire?""
Sophie rubbed her fingers together nervously.
"She comes to see Vanessa.""
"Why?""
"I don't know.""
I stayed quiet.
Children often revealed truth in pieces.
Not because they wanted to hide it.
Because they were trying to understand it.
"What does Claire look like?""
Sophie thought.
"She has a red coat.""
A red coat.
I wrote it down.
Then Sophie whispered something else.
"She talks about you.""
My stomach tightened.
"What does she say?""
Sophie looked scared.
"She said when Vanessa marries you, this house won't belong to me anymore.""
The room went silent.
I looked around the mansion.
The home I built after losing my wife.
The home where I promised Emily I would protect our daughter.
I had let someone dangerous walk through the front door.
Then the doorbell rang.
Maria looked confused as she answered it.
A few seconds later, her face turned pale.
"Mr. Sterling...""
I stood up.
"Who is it?""
Maria stepped aside.
A woman stood at the entrance.
Red coat.
Dark hair.
Cold expression.
I had never seen her before.
But she knew my name.
"Richard Sterling?""
I walked closer.
"Who are you?""
She looked past me.
Her eyes landed on Sophie.
Then she smiled.
A smile that made my entire body go cold.
"I'm the woman who can tell you what Vanessa has really been doing in your house.""
She reached into her purse.
And pulled out a small envelope.
"I think you need to see what she wanted to hide from you.""
I took the envelope.
But before I opened it, the woman whispered:
"Because your daughter isn't the only person Vanessa has been hurting.""
May you like
I looked at the envelope in my hand.
And realized my nightmare had only just begun.
