Chapter 1 - DAD'S COME HOME
Vanessa Carter snatched Emily’s phone so fast the girl barely had time to react.
Then she hurled it.
The phone struck Emily near the temple and clattered across the marble floor.
Emily recoiled, one hand flying to the small cut near her hairline.
“No phone!”
Vanessa stomped on the screen.
Once.
Twice.
Glass cracked.
“NOW YOU CAN’T TATTLE TO YOUR DAD!”
Emily backed toward the living-room wall.
“He’ll find out.”
Vanessa crossed the room and slapped her.
Emily’s eyes filled.
Vanessa caught her chin.
“You pathetic little snitch.”
Emily jerked away.
Vanessa shoved her backward and pointed at the shattered phone.
“Without your daddy, you’re nothing.”
She stepped closer.
“He’ll believe me over you.”
Emily stopped crying.
Her eyes shifted toward the front door.
Vanessa noticed.
“What are you smiling at?”
A car engine stopped outside.
Vanessa froze.
Emily wiped her face.
“Dad’s come home.”
Vanessa’s face drained.
A key turned in the lock.
The door opened.
Michael Carter stepped inside carrying an overnight bag.
He stopped.
Saw the broken phone.
Saw Emily’s face.
Saw Vanessa standing too close.
No one spoke.
Then Michael said:
“What happened?”
Vanessa answered first.
“She threw the phone at me.”
Emily stared at her.
Michael looked between them.
Vanessa continued quickly.
“She lost control again.”
Michael set down his bag.
Emily’s expression changed.
Not shock.
Recognition.
Again.
Vanessa had already chosen the story.
Michael looked at Emily.
“Is that true?”
Emily whispered:
“No.”
Vanessa laughed.
“She always says that.”
Michael’s face tightened.
Emily took one step backward.
Then another.
Michael saw the small cut.
“Emily.”
She said nothing.
“What happened to your head?”
Vanessa answered:
“She hit the table.”
Emily looked at her father.
Then at the ruined phone.
May you like
And said the sentence that changed everything.
“Ask her what time that happened.”
