Chapter 3: The Woman I Married
I left the hospital before sunrise.
Not because I wanted to.
Because I needed answers.
When I arrived home, Rebecca’s car was parked outside.
The front door was unlocked.
That was unusual.
Rebecca always locked the door.
Always.
I stepped inside quietly.
The house felt different.
Like it was holding its breath.
“Rebecca?””
No answer.
I walked upstairs.
The bathroom door was still broken.
The same place where everything changed.
Then I heard her voice.
From my office.
“You should have stayed quiet.””
I stopped.
My heart started racing.
The door was slightly open.
I looked inside.
Rebecca was standing over my desk.
And in her hand was Harper’s tablet.
“What are you doing?””
She turned around.
For the first time, I saw fear on her face.
Not guilt.
Fear.
“You scared me,” she whispered.
“You were looking through Harper’s things?””
“I was trying to understand why she’s lying.””
I stepped closer.
“She’s six.””
Rebecca’s jaw tightened.
“You don’t know what she’s capable of.””
I stared at her.
The woman who had helped me raise my daughter.
The woman who kissed my son goodnight every evening.
The woman I trusted.
“What happened in that bathroom?””
She looked away.
“It was an accident.””
“Then why did Harper say you locked the door?””
“She’s confused.””
“Then why did you send me a picture of her sleeping?””
Silence.
A long, painful silence.
Rebecca slowly placed the tablet down.
“You went through my phone?””
“No.””
I held up mine.
“You sent it.””
Her face changed.
A tiny crack.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
She walked toward the window.
“When I married you, I knew your children would always come first.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It means I spent years being invisible.””
The anger in her voice shocked me.
“Rebecca…”
“No, you don’t get it. Everyone loved Harper. Everyone loved Ben.
Their pictures were everywhere. Their mother was still everywhere.””
I stepped back.
“So this is about jealousy?””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“It’s about control.””
The word hung between us.
I didn’t like how honest it sounded.
“Where were you last night?””
Her eyes narrowed.
“What?””
“When I was at the hospital. Where were you?””
“I was here.””
“Then why did you take a picture of Harper?””
She didn’t answer.
That was the answer.
I grabbed my keys.
“I’m taking Harper and Ben somewhere safe.””
Rebecca’s expression changed instantly.
“You wouldn’t.””
“I would.””
“You have no idea what you’re doing.””
I walked toward the door.
Then she said something that stopped me.
“You think Harper is innocent because she’s a child.””
I turned around.
“What are you saying?””
Rebecca smiled sadly.
“She knows exactly how to manipulate you.””
My stomach twisted.
“You’re blaming my daughter?””
“I’m telling you the truth.””
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
It was the hospital.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?””
The nurse’s voice was urgent.
“Mr. Carter, you need to come back.””
“What happened?””
“There’s something we found while treating your son.””
I grabbed my jacket.
“What?””
A pause.
Then:
“Your son had bruising on his wrists.””
I looked at Rebecca.
She was watching me.
And she already knew.
The nurse continued.
“We need to ask you something.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What?””
“Has anyone recently tried to restrain your son?””
May you like
I couldn’t breathe.
Because suddenly, the accident didn’t look like an accident anymore.
