CHAPTER 2: THE CHILDREN NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO FIND
For several long seconds, no one moved.
The riding crop lay on the concrete floor between Nathan and Victoria.
The only sound was the frightened breathing of the children.
Victoria forced a smile.
"Nathan... you're home early."
He didn't answer.
Instead, he walked past her.
The little boy instinctively stepped in front of his sister again, expecting another blow.
Nathan slowly knelt.
"It's okay," he said gently. "Nobody is going to hurt you."
The boy stared at him with exhausted eyes.
"She says that every time."
Nathan's heart clenched.
He carefully removed his suit jacket and wrapped it around the trembling little girl.
"What are your names?"
The boy swallowed.
"I'm Daniel."
He pointed toward the little girl.
"She's Emma."
Then he nodded toward the silent child curled against the wall.
"And that's Noah."
Nathan looked at Victoria.
"What is this?"
"They're foster children," she answered immediately.
"I've been helping them."
Nathan's eyes swept across the room.
There were no beds.
Only thin blankets.
Three metal food bowls.
A surveillance camera mounted in the corner.
A lock on the outside of the basement door.
Helping them?
The room looked more like a prison.
Daniel quietly tugged Nathan's sleeve.
"Please..."
He hesitated before whispering.
"Don't leave us alone with her again."
Nathan slowly stood.
His face had become frighteningly calm.
He pulled out his phone.
"I'm calling the police."
Victoria's composure finally cracked.
"You can't!"
She rushed toward him, but Nathan stepped back.
"For twelve years I trusted you."
His voice was almost emotionless.
"And now I don't know who you are."
She grabbed his arm desperately.
"If you make that call... everything we've built will disappear."
Nathan looked straight into her eyes.
May you like
"It already has."
He pressed the emergency call button.
