Chapter 2: The Stranger in the House
The ride home was a blur of silent tears and tight grips. The mother, Sarah, refused to let go of the boy’s hand. Emily sat wide-eyed, watching this strange, dirty boy who was supposedly her older brother, Leo. When they arrived at the sprawling estate, the heavy oak doors opened to reveal Arthur, Sarah’s current husband and Emily’s father. His welcoming smile vanished the moment he saw the boy.
"Sarah, what is this? Who is that beggar?" Arthur demanded, his voice laced with an uncharacteristic venom.
"It's Leo," Sarah breathed out, her eyes shining. "Arthur, I found him. My baby is alive."
Arthur’s face drained of color. He staggered back, his eyes darting from the boy’s scarred face to Sarah’s hopeful one. Instead of joy, a shadow of sheer panic crossed his features. He immediately demanded a DNA test, claiming it was a scam, a cruel trick played by street hustlers. But Leo didn't look at Arthur with the innocence of a lost child. He looked at him with a chilling, silent recognition.
That night, after Leo was scrubbed clean and put in the guest room, Sarah woke up to get a glass of water. As she passed Leo's room, she noticed the door was slightly ajar. Arthur was standing over the sleeping boy's bed, whispering frantically on his phone.
May you like
"I don't care how you do it," Arthur hissed into the receiver. "He wasn't supposed to be found. Fix this before she remembers what really happened that night."
Sarah froze, the glass slipping from her hand. The shatter echoed through the quiet house. Arthur slowly turned around, his eyes locking with hers in the dark.
