CHAPTER 3: THE FIRST CRACK
766 Words
Serena couldn't stop smiling.
For the first time in months, she left work before sunset.
The promotion wasn't official yet, but the board's confidence in her was enough to fill her heart with hope. She imagined Damien's face lighting up when she told him the news.
Maybe they could finally take that family vacation Lily had been begging for.
Maybe Damien's business would finally catch a break.
Maybe...
Her phone buzzed.
Lily's Daycare Teacher
Serena answered immediately.
"Hello, Mrs. Hart."
"Good evening, Ms. Parker. Is everything alright?"
"Oh, yes. Lily was wonderful today. I just wanted to let you know she wasn't feeling well after lunch. She kept saying she wanted her mommy."
Serena's smile faded.
"Is she okay now?"
"She is. We thought you should know."
"I'll pick her up right away."
As she ended the call, guilt crept into her heart.
She had been so focused on work lately.
Maybe she really was spending too much time at the office.
By the time she arrived at the daycare, Lily came running into her arms.
"Mommy!"
"There you are, my little sunshine."
Lily wrapped her tiny arms around Serena's neck.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too."
The little girl frowned.
"Daddy didn't come."
Serena blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"He said he would visit me."
A strange feeling settled in Serena's stomach.
Damien had mentioned stopping by the daycare that afternoon.
Maybe something came up.
She brushed the thought aside.
"I'm sure Daddy got busy."
Lily nodded, though she didn't look convinced.
...
The apartment was unusually quiet when they got home.
Damien wasn't there.
His phone went straight to voicemail.
Serena frowned.
That wasn't like him.
He always answered.
She placed dinner in the oven to keep it warm.
Seven o'clock.
No Damien.
Eight o'clock.
Still nothing.
At eight thirty, the front door finally opened.
"There you are!" Serena said with relief.
Damien smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. Business meeting."
"You could've called."
"My phone died."
He kissed her forehead before kneeling to hug Lily.
"Did Daddy's princess miss me?"
Lily folded her tiny arms.
"You lied."
Damien laughed awkwardly.
"I know. Daddy's sorry."
"You promised."
"I'll make it up to you."
Serena watched them together.
Everything looked normal.
Yet...
Something wasn't.
For the first time in years...
His hug felt forced.
His smile didn't reach his eyes.
His apology sounded rehearsed.
...
Later that night...
Damien stepped onto the balcony with his phone.
Serena was putting Lily to bed.
The balcony door remained slightly open.
"I told you not to call me here," Damien whispered.
A woman's voice echoed faintly from the speaker.
"You were supposed to transfer the documents today."
"I'll do it tomorrow."
"You keep delaying."
"I'm being careful."
"You'd better be. If Serena finds out before the money reaches us, everything falls apart."
Serena froze.
Money?
Documents?
Who was he talking to?
She took a cautious step toward the doorway.
Before she could hear another word...
Her phone rang loudly behind her.
Damien turned instantly.
Their eyes met through the glass.
For one terrifying second...
Neither of them moved.
Then Damien smiled.
Too quickly.
Too naturally.
He ended the call before Serena could say a word.
"Everything okay?" he asked as he walked inside.
Serena forced a smile.
"Just a spam call."
He studied her face for a second longer than usual.
"You look pale."
"I'm just tired."
"Hmm."
He kissed her forehead again.
"I'll take a shower."
Serena watched him disappear down the hallway.
Her pulse raced.
Had she imagined it?
Or had she just overheard something she was never supposed to hear?
...
The next morning, Damien left unusually early.
The moment the apartment door clicked shut, Serena walked into his home office.
She had never searched through his things before.
She trusted him.
Completely.
But the conversation from the night before refused to leave her mind.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to herself.
"If I'm wrong... I'll never do this again."
She opened the first drawer.
Nothing.
The second.
Business receipts.
Old notebooks.
Pens.
The third drawer...
Locked.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Locked?
Damien had never locked anything from her.
She searched the desk until she found a tiny silver key hidden beneath a framed family photograph.
Hands trembling, she unlocked the drawer.
Inside sat a thick brown envelope.
Across the front, written in bold black ink, were four chilling words.
DO NOT LET SERENA SEE.
The color drained from her face.
With trembling fingers, Serena slowly reached for the envelope...
...just as she heard the unmistakable sound of the apartment door unlocking.
Damien was home.
- Writer
