Chapter 3 - Danielle Had Never Stopped Calling
Marcus checked every blocked number on his phone.
Danielle appeared three times.
Her personal number.
Her office number.
Her mother’s landline.
All blocked.
He had blocked none of them.
Then he checked Ava’s tablet.
Danielle’s email address was filtered directly into trash.
Video-call notifications were disabled.
Rachel had not merely intercepted packages.
She had built a wall.
Ava began crying.
“You said Mommy forgot me.”
Rachel crouched.
“Ava, sweetheart—”
Marcus stepped between them.
“Don’t.”
He did not shout.
That frightened Rachel more.
Marcus asked Ava to take the birthday presents into the living room
while he called Danielle.
The number rang once.
A woman answered.
“Hello?”
Marcus could not speak for several seconds.
Then:
“Danielle.”
Silence.
“Marcus?”
Her voice broke.
“Is Ava okay?”
He closed his eyes.
“She thinks you abandoned her.”
Danielle began crying.
“I call every week.”
“I know now.”
“No, Marcus. You don’t know everything.”
He looked toward the financial statements.
“Then tell me.”
May you like
Danielle whispered:
“Check what Rachel has been giving Ava before meals.”
