Chapter 2: The Message With No Name
Rachel's face drained of color.
Her lips moved but nothing came out.
"Answer me," Julian said.
His voice was low.
Controlled.
More frightening than a shout.
Claire looked up from the floor, tears streaming down her face.
"Rachel…
did you do this?
Did you hurt my daughter?"
"I didn't— I would never—" Rachel stepped back, her heel catching on the edge of the rug.
Julian held up the cup.
"Then explain why your fingerprints are the only ones on this."
The room went still.
From the hallway, a small sound.
Julian turned.
Their housekeeper, Mrs.
Doyle, stood frozen in the doorway, her face pale as chalk, a dish towel pressed to her mouth.
She had seen something.
That much was clear.
But before Julian could speak, Rachel's phone lit up on the side table.
One message.
No name.
Just a number.
*She wasn't supposed to drink it.*
Julian read it first.
He set the phone down slowly.
When he looked at Rachel again, something had shifted in his eyes.
Not anger.
Something colder.
"Who sent that?" Claire whispered.
Rachel said nothing.
Her hands were shaking.
May you like
The ambulance sirens were getting closer.
But the secret in that room was only getting darker.
