Chapter 2 – The Silence Returns
Chapter 2 – The Silence Returns
Within days, everything Daniel had worked so hard to rebuild began to collapse.
Liam refused breakfast.
He skipped lunch.
Dinner remained untouched.
The laughter disappeared.
The toys stayed scattered across the floor exactly where he had left them.
At night, the nightmares returned.
He woke screaming for his mother.
Daniel blamed grief.
Victoria blamed Liam.
"He's manipulating you," she whispered one evening.
"Children know exactly how to get attention."
Daniel wanted to believe her.
But something didn't feel right.
Grace had made progress no therapist could explain.
How had everything unraveled so quickly?
One afternoon, Daniel found Liam sitting alone beside the kitchen window.
His untouched bowl of soup had gone cold.
"Buddy..."
Liam didn't answer.
Daniel sat beside him.
"Can you tell me what's wrong?"
After several minutes, Liam finally whispered,
"Grace didn't leave..."
Daniel frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Liam looked toward Victoria, who stood watching from the doorway.
"She was sent away."
Before Daniel could ask another question, Victoria interrupted.
"He's confused."
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But for the first time...
Daniel wasn't sure she was telling the truth.
