Chapter 2 - Uncovering The Secret Past Beneath The Guest Bed
Julian stared down at the yellow blanket, his chest tightening as the terrifying weight of his daughter's words settled over him.
The name Nora had been a sacred, painful memory for two years, ever since the tragic car accident that took her life.
Yet four-year-old Maisie was talking about another woman, a second mother whom Julian had ruthlessly forced out of their lives.
He remembered the bitter breakup vividly, how he had packed Elena’s bags and locked her out of the house in a fit of blind rage.
Julian gently pried the hidden napkin out from beneath the blanket, his heart breaking as he saw the bruised skin on Maisie's small wrist.
“Who told you that you were bad for talking about her, Maisie?” Julian asked, keeping his voice dangerously calm.
Maisie looked toward the bedroom doorway again, her wide eyes reflecting the dim amber glow of the bedside lamp.
“Celeste said if I mentioned her name again, she would throw away all my toys and send me away to live in the dark,” the little girl whispered.
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Julian’s blood ran cold as he realized the psychological abuse his mother, Celeste, had been inflicting behind his back.
He kissed the top of his daughter's head, whispering a fierce promise that no one would ever hurt her or silence her again.
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