Chapter 4: The Recording She Couldn’t Erase

Clara stared at the phone in Victoria’s hand.

The room felt smaller.

“You went through my things.””

Victoria shrugged.

“I was looking for answers.””

“You mean evidence.””

Victoria smiled.

“Same thing.””

Clara reached out.

“Give me the phone.””

Victoria laughed softly.

“You really think you have power here?””

She unlocked the phone.

But her smile disappeared.

The recording was gone.

For a moment, panic crossed her face.

Then she looked at Clara.

“You uploaded it.””

Clara said nothing.

Because she had.

While Victoria was distracted earlier, Clara had sent the file to a hidden email account.

A copy existed outside this house.

Victoria’s expression changed.

“You’re smarter than you look.””

“I just care about Lily.””

Victoria stood.

“You should have cared about keeping your job.””

“I’ll find another one.””

“You won’t.””

The confidence in her voice was terrifying.

The next morning, Clara was fired.

In front of everyone.

Alexander stood in the entrance hall.

“I’m sorry, Clara, but Victoria says you stole private information.””

Clara looked at him.

“Is that what she told you?””

Alexander frowned.

“What are you saying?””

Clara wanted to tell him.

But Victoria was standing beside him.

Watching.

Waiting.

Clara reached into her bag.

Then she pulled out the notebook.

Alexander recognized it.

“Where did you get that?””

“From Lily’s room.””

His face changed.

“Why?””

“Because your daughter is afraid.””

Victoria immediately stepped forward.

“She’s manipulating you.””

Alexander looked confused.

“My daughter?””

“Yes.””

Victoria’s voice softened.

“She’s been struggling since Emma died.””

Clara looked at Alexander.

“Ask Lily what happened last night.””

Everyone went silent.

Alexander turned.

“Lily?””

The little girl stood on the staircase.

Her face was pale.

“Daddy…”

Victoria looked up.

“Go back to your room.””

Lily didn’t move.

For the first time, she didn’t obey.

“Daddy…”

Alexander walked toward her.

“What is it?””

Lily looked at Victoria.

Then at her father.

“She makes me eat on the floor.””

The hallway went silent.

Victoria’s face changed.

“Lily, stop lying.””

“I’m not lying!””

The little girl started crying.

“She says nobody will believe me.””

Alexander looked horrified.

“Victoria?””

But before she could answer, the front door opened.

A man walked in wearing a dark suit.

He held a folder.

“Mr. Oleso.””

Everyone turned.

Alexander stared.

“Who are you?””

The man looked at Victoria.

Then at Lily.

“My name is Daniel Cross.””

He placed the folder on the table.

“I’m an investigator.””

Victoria’s face went white.

Alexander opened the folder.

Inside were photographs.

Documents.

Records.

His hands started shaking.

“What is this?””

Daniel looked serious.

“Evidence that your wife has been hiding information from you for years.””

Victoria stepped backward.

“That’s impossible.””

Daniel shook his head.

“No.””

He looked at Alexander.

“It’s just the beginning.””

He opened another document.

“And there’s something else you need to know about Emma Oleso’s death.””

Alexander stopped breathing.

“What did you say?””

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Daniel slowly turned the page.

“The accident report was altered.””