Chapter 3: The Man In The Footage
Ethan set the phone down on the counter without touching it.
He looked at Vivian.
"I'm going to ask you one more time.
Who is he?"
Vivian's chin lifted.
"A friend.
That's all."
"A friend who texts you asking if I've seen the security footage."
She said nothing.
"A friend who comes to my house while my four-year-old daughter is alone with you."
"Lily was never alone.
I was right there—"
"You were right there with a chain." His voice didn't rise.
It dropped.
"Sit down, Vivian."
She didn't sit.
She crossed her arms instead and looked toward the hallway, as if calculating the distance to the front door.
Ethan walked back to the security panel.
He pulled up the footage from three weeks ago.
Then four weeks.
Then six.
The same man.
Every time Ethan left for work.
Always arriving within twenty minutes of Ethan's car leaving the driveway.
Always gone before Ethan returned.
Lily had watched all of this from the couch.
She hadn't moved.
She was holding the small stuffed rabbit she carried everywhere, pressing it against her chest with both hands.
"Daddy," she said quietly.
"His name is Marcus."
Ethan turned around.
Vivian's face went white.
"Lily." Vivian's voice came out sharp.
"Go to your room."
"She stays where she is." Ethan crossed the room and sat on the couch beside his daughter.
He kept his voice soft.
"How do you know his name, sweetheart?"
"He eats lunch here.
Mommy Vivian makes him sandwiches." Lily looked up at him with her wide brown eyes.
"She told me Marcus was my uncle.
But I knew he wasn't.
Uncle Paul doesn't look like that."
Ethan looked at Vivian.
"It's not what you're thinking," Vivian said.
"Then explain it to me."
"He's an old friend.
We grew up together.
There's nothing—"
"His number is saved in your phone as M." Ethan nodded toward the counter.
"Not Marcus.
Just M.
You've been texting him since before we were married."
Vivian's jaw tightened.
"You went through my phone?"
"The screen lit up in front of me.
I read what was on it." He stood up slowly.
"How long?"
She looked away.
"Vivian.
How long?"
"You're making this into something it isn't."
"Lily." Ethan looked down at his daughter.
"Can you go get your shoes for me?
We're going to Grandma Carol's tonight."
Lily slid off the couch immediately, still clutching her rabbit, and disappeared down the hallway.
She didn't look at Vivian once.
The moment she was gone, Ethan turned back.
"I have six weeks of footage," he said.
"I have the texts on your screen.
I have my daughter telling me this man has been eating lunch in my house and pretending to be her uncle." He paused.
"And I have footage of you dragging a chain across the floor to frighten a four-year-old girl into silence."
Vivian's composure finally cracked.
"She talks too much.
She tells you everything.
I needed her to understand—"
"That she should be afraid of you."
"That there are things children don't need to repeat."
The room went very still.
Ethan picked up his briefcase from where it had fallen near the door.
He set it on the table and opened it.
He took out a business card and placed it on the counter next to Vivian's phone.
"That's my attorney," he said.
"You should call yours."
Vivian stared at the card.
"You're not serious."
"I've never been more serious in my life."
"Ethan, if you do this, I will make it very complicated for you.
I know things about your company.
About decisions you made before we were married.
I kept records."
He looked at her for a long moment.
"Then I suppose we'll both be talking to lawyers," he said.
Lily reappeared in the hallway, shoes in hand, rabbit tucked under her arm.
Ethan walked to her, took her hand, and led her toward the door.
He didn't look back at Vivian.
But as he reached for the handle, Vivian said, "You'll regret this."
He opened the door.
May you like
"I already do," he said quietly.
"I regret every month I left her alone with you."
