CHAPTER 2 — The Truth Beneath the Surface
CHAPTER 2 — The Truth Beneath the Surface
Ethan didn’t move for several seconds.
The room felt like it had collapsed inward, every sound swallowed by the weight of what he was seeing.
“Mom…” he said again, but this time his voice broke.
Margaret straightened her posture quickly, like she could rebuild reality with composure alone.
“This isn’t what it looks like,” she said.
But Ava, still on the floor, shook her head weakly. Her voice was barely audible.
“It’s exactly what it looks like…”
Ethan dropped to his knees beside her. His hands hovered over her bruised face, afraid to hurt her more.
“What did you do to her?” he whispered.
Margaret exhaled sharply. “I protected this family.”
Ethan’s eyes snapped up. “By drugging her? By forging documents?”
A flicker of something crossed Margaret’s face—anger, or fear, or both.
“She was never supposed to survive the accident,” she said quietly.
The words landed like a gunshot.
May you like
Ava froze.
Even Ethan went still.
