Chapter 7 - The Quiet RoomDaniel woke Claire immediately.
He didn’t show her the financial documents.
He didn’t mention Anna.
He only asked:
“Have you ever put Ethan behind the barn partition?”
Claire stared at him.
“What?”
“The hidden room.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Daniel watched her face carefully.
“You never knew it existed?”
“No.”
He held up the wooden height board.
“Then explain Ethan’s name.”
Claire’s expression flickered.
“That child writes on everything.”
“He didn’t write this.”
“You don’t know that.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Did you lock my son in there?”
Claire raised her voice.
“You are becoming paranoid.”
Ethan appeared at the top of the stairs.
Claire instantly softened.
“Sweetheart, go back to bed.”
Ethan froze.
Daniel looked at him.
“Ethan, come down.”
Claire said sharply, “Daniel.”
“Come here, buddy.”
Ethan walked downstairs slowly.
Daniel crouched.
“Have you ever been inside the hidden room in the barn?”
Ethan looked at Claire.
Daniel gently shifted so Ethan could no longer see her.
“You’re safe.”
The boy nodded.
“How many times?”
“I don’t know.”
Claire scoffed.
“He’s confused.”
Ethan began trembling.
Daniel stood.
“Stop.”
Claire folded her arms.
“What exactly do you think happened?”
Ethan spoke before Daniel could.
“You said Dad would send me away if I told.”
Silence.
Claire’s face lost color.
Daniel stared at her.
“Pack a bag.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Pack.”
“This is my home.”
“It’s my son’s home first.”
Claire’s composure broke.
“You think a seven-year-old gets to destroy our marriage?”
Daniel’s expression changed.
“No.”
He moved between her and Ethan.
“You did that yourself.”
Claire left forty minutes later.
She claimed she was going to Helen’s house.
She didn’t.
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She drove to Robert’s.
And Daniel’s security camera recorded her arriving there shortly before dawn.
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