Chapter 2: The Notebook in the Drawer
Adrian's hands were shaking as he watched the footage on his phone.
Every second of it.
Every word Vanessa had said.
Every time Noah had begged.
He set the phone down on the counter without a word.
"Adrian, I can explain—"
"Don't."
Noah was still on the floor, arms wrapped around himself, not making a sound.
The dog bowl sat beside him like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Adrian knelt down and pulled his son close.
"I've got you.
I'm right here."
Noah didn't cry.
He just held on.
Then Adrian stood up and looked at Vanessa.
"How long?"
She said nothing.
"How long has this been happening?"
Still nothing.
Adrian walked to the drawer beside the fridge.
He pulled out a small notebook — the kind used for grocery lists.
He opened it and went quiet.
Page after page.
Dates.
Times.
Short sentences written in a child's handwriting.
*She took my food again.*
*She said Mom was dirty.*
*She said Dad wouldn't believe me.*
Noah had been writing it down.
Every single time.
Vanessa saw the notebook and her face changed.
"That's not — he made those up—"
"He's seven years old, Vanessa."
Then Adrian's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
It was his mother.
And the way his expression shifted suggested she already knew something.
---
What did Adrian's mother know — and how long had she been silent?
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