Chapter 8 - THE REAL BETRAYAL
Testing later confirmed the liquid was not some dramatic hidden poison.
It was a food-related additive.
That should have ended everything.
It didn’t.
James felt relief first.
Then something harder.
Because the danger Emily feared had not been real.
The fear itself had been.
Serena looked almost triumphant.
“You see? I told you.”
James stared at her.
“No.”
Her smile faded.
“You’re still missing it.”
“What?”
“You made my daughter think she had to gather evidence against you.”
Serena rolled her eyes.
“Because she overreacted.”
“Why did you hide the package?”
Silence.
“Why did you tell Nathan she was difficult before she saw anything?”
Serena looked away.
“Why did you tell Emily nobody would believe her?”
No answer.
James stepped closer.
“The substance was harmless.”
His voice stayed controlled.
“Your behavior wasn’t.”
Serena’s face changed.
For the first time, guilt replaced panic.
Not guilt over the vial.
Guilt over the environment she had created.
May you like
James looked toward Emily.
A child should never need to destroy something beautiful just to make adults stop and look.
