Chapter 12: The Person Inside My Home
I didn’t sleep.
Not because I was afraid.
Because I was thinking.
Fear made people freeze.
Planning made people dangerous.
At 2:00 a.m., I was sitting in the nursery when I heard footsteps.
Slow.
Careful.
Someone trying not to make noise.
I turned off the lamp.
The door opened slightly.
My heart raced.
Then I heard a whisper.
“Emily?””
I turned the light back on.
It wasn’t Damon.
It was Claire.
She stood in the doorway.
Without makeup.
Without her perfect smile.
For the first time, she looked scared.
“What are you doing here?””
Her eyes moved toward my stomach.
Then the crib.
“I needed to talk to you.””
I laughed quietly.
“You broke into my house to talk?””
“I still have a key.””
The answer was so casual it made me angry.
“You still have a key?””
Claire looked away.
“I forgot to give it back.””
“Twelve years of friendship, and you forgot?””
She flinched.
Good.
“You don’t understand.””
I stepped closer.
“No.””
My voice was calm.
“That’s the problem.””
She looked at me.
“You think I wanted this.””
I stared.
“You were hiding in my closet.””
Her eyes filled.
“I know.””
“You wore the clothes I helped you buy.””
She looked down.
“I know.””
“You slept with my husband.””
Her face collapsed.
“I know.””
For a moment, I almost felt something.
Pity.
Then I remembered the forged documents.
The plan.
The baby monitor.
“You came here because Damon sent you.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
I noticed.
“Then why?””
Claire looked toward the hallway.
“He’s going to hurt you.””
The words shocked me.
“You’re warning me?””
“Yes.””
I almost laughed.
“After everything?””
She wiped her eyes.
“I made mistakes.””
“Mistakes.””
The same word.
The same excuse.
Claire sat down.
“You don’t know what Victoria is capable of.””
I watched her carefully.
“You worked with her.””
“Yes.””
“You helped them.””
“Yes.””
Her honesty surprised me.
“Why?””
Claire looked broken.
“Because I thought I had no choice.””
I crossed my arms.
“Everyone says that after they get caught.””
She nodded.
“I deserve that.””
For the first time, she wasn’t defending herself.
She was admitting it.
“What did you help them do?””
Claire hesitated.
Then whispered:
“They planned your divorce before you got pregnant.””
I already knew.
“But there’s more.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
Claire looked at me.
“They weren’t planning to leave you.””
Silence.
“They were planning to make you disappear.””
The room went cold.
“What does that mean?””
Claire started crying.
“I don’t know everything.””
“Then tell me what you know.””
She looked toward the door.
“They have someone inside the hospital.””
My blood froze.
“Why?””
“To control what happens when you give birth.””
I felt my hand move over my stomach.
My daughter.
My baby.
Claire whispered:
“Emily, you need to leave before the birth.””
Then her phone buzzed.
She looked at the screen.
Her face changed instantly.
“What?””
I stepped closer.
“What is it?””
She didn’t answer.
She just showed me the message.
One sentence.
From Damon.
*Why are you in the nursery with her?*
Claire looked at me.
“He’s been watching.””
Then the lights in the house suddenly went out.
The entire room went dark.
May you like
And from downstairs…
I heard the front door open.
