Hearing it now made my blood run cold. How could someone sound so normal, so completely innocent, while harboring such darkness? “Put your shirt down, Sophie,” I whispered urgently, wiping her tear away with my thumb. “Go back into your room, put on a movie, and act like everything is normal.

Daddy is going to take care of this, okay? I promise.” Sophie nodded quickly and slipped back into the shadows of her room, closing the door softly behind her. I stood up, smoothing down my shirt, forcing my trembling hands into my pockets. I had to play a part.

If I confronted Sarah right then and there, in a fit of rage, I didn’t know what she would do. I needed to get Sophie out of the house safely first. When Sarah walked into the living room, she looked radiant. She smiled, dropping her purse on the counter, and walked over to give me a kiss.

It took every ounce of structural willpower in my body not to flinch away from her touch. “How was Chicago?” she asked, leaning against the counter. “It was fine. Productive,” I lied, my voice tight. “Where were you guys? The house was so quiet when I got in.” “Oh, just running some errands.

Sophie was being a bit difficult earlier, so she’s just resting in her room,” Sarah said seamlessly, not a single hint of guilt or hesitation in her eyes. She said it so casually, as if she hadn’t terrorized our daughter just days prior. “Actually,” I said, forcing a casual smile.

“I was thinking I’d take Sophie out to get some ice cream and pick up some takeout for dinner. Give you a little break since I’ve been gone all week.” Sarah eyed me for a fraction of a second, a subtle tension tightening around her jaw before she relaxed.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I can just whip something up here.” “I insist,” I replied, my tone leaving no room for argument.