Chapter 1 - THE BUTTON
Beth spat in Claire Mercer’s face before anyone in the room had the courage to stop her.
“You don’t belong here!”
Warm saliva struck Claire’s cheek.
For one stunned second, she simply stood there.
Then she lifted one trembling hand and wiped her skin.
Across the room, her husband David did not move.
Neither did his mother, Evelyn.
Claire’s eyes filled with furious tears.
“You disgusting—”
A scream tore through the room.
“Mommy!”
Claire spun around.
Evelyn had grabbed six-year-old Rose by the arm.
Rose wore the blue dress Claire had bought for the family dinner, the one with the tiny silver flowers at the waist.
Now she was twisting desperately, trying to pull free.
“Let her go!”
Evelyn’s face hardened.
“She needs discipline.”
Then she slapped Rose.
The sound was small.
That made it worse.
Rose burst into tears.
Claire crossed the room in two strides.
“DON’T TOUCH MY CHILD!”
She yanked Rose away and pulled her against her chest.
Rose buried her face into Claire’s shoulder.
Evelyn pointed at them.
“She needed discipline!”
Claire’s voice dropped.
“Touch her again.”
Beth laughed.
Actually laughed.
Claire looked at her.
Then at Evelyn.
Then finally at David.
He had watched everything.
“Your mother hit your daughter.”
David rubbed his forehead.
“Claire, stop.”
Her face went blank.
“Your mother hit your daughter.”
He looked at Evelyn.
Then Beth.
Then shrugged.
“They’re right.”
Claire stopped breathing.
“…You chose them?”
David looked away.
That was answer enough.
Claire took Rose’s hand.
“We’re leaving.”
David stood quickly.
“Claire, stop being dramatic.”
“Stay away from us.”
She walked toward the front doors.
Rose stayed glued to her side.
Beth called after them:
“Good! Go!”
Evelyn muttered something about ungrateful women.
Claire did not turn.
Outside, the evening air hit her face.
Cold.
Clean.
Rose wrapped both arms around Claire’s waist.
“Mommy…”
“I’ve got you.”
David followed onto the front steps.
“Claire.”
She kept walking.
“Claire!”
She stopped.
Reached into her coat pocket.
Pulled out a small black remote.
David’s expression changed instantly.
Not confusion.
Fear.
“Claire…?”
She slowly turned toward the house.
Tears still ran down her face.
But her voice was completely steady.
“You should’ve never touched my daughter.”
Her thumb settled over the button.
May you like
David’s eyes widened.
And Claire began to press.
