Chapter 2: Four Words From a Stranger
The first page of the folder held a single bank statement.
Daniel's name.
Daniel's account.
Fifteen transfers to a woman named Chloe — while I was pregnant, exhausted, and told we couldn't afford a night nurse.
His mother picked it up before he could stop her.
Her face changed slowly.
Then all at once.
"Daniel." Her voice was barely a sound.
"What is this?"
He reached across the table.
"Mom, put that down—"
"Don't." I said it quietly.
"There's more."
I turned to the next page.
A screenshot.
Chloe's message to Daniel, sent the week after Lily was born.
*She still doesn't know, does she?
You're so good at this.*
Someone at the table made a sharp sound.
A coworker pushed his chair back.
Daniel turned to me, and for the first time, he didn't look angry.
He looked cornered.
"Jennifer, please.
Not here.
Not in front of everyone."
"You planned this party in front of everyone," I said.
"You thanked me in front of everyone.
You spent my money in front of everyone."
His father set his glass down.
Daniel's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Then my phone buzzed on the table.
I looked at the screen.
It was a message from a number I didn't recognize.
May you like
Four words.
*I need to talk.*
