Chapter 3
The security camera showed Candice stepping out of the SUV with sunglasses on her head and a smile that did not belong to an innocent woman.
Behind her came Marianne, her mother, carrying shopping bags from designer stores. Then Elena, Candice’s sister, laughing into her phone. Last came Wyatt, tall, spoiled, and smug, dragging a suitcase across Gabriel’s driveway like he owned the place.
But it was the man who climbed out of the passenger seat that made Gabriel stand perfectly still.
He had never seen him before.
Mid-forties. Expensive watch. Gray suit jacket despite the warm morning. He looked around the house as if inspecting property he intended to buy.
Candice opened the front door with her key and walked in calling, “Lucas! Where are you? You’d better have finished the laundry!”
Then she saw Gabriel standing in the hallway.
Her face drained of color.
“Gabriel,” she said, too quickly. “You’re home.”
He slipped his phone into his shirt pocket, camera still recording.
“Shipment got canceled.”
Marianne’s smile vanished. Elena stopped laughing. Wyatt froze near the staircase.
The strange man stepped forward. “This must be your husband.”
Candice’s eyes flicked toward him in panic. “Victor, wait outside.”
Gabriel looked at him. “Victor?”
The man smiled, but his eyes were sharp. “Old family friend.”
Gabriel nodded slowly. “Funny. I’ve been married to Candice for five years. Never heard your name.”
Candice stepped between them. “We came back early because Wyatt wasn’t feeling well.”
Wyatt looked perfectly fine.
Gabriel turned his gaze toward him. “Then I guess he has enough strength to explain why my son has bruises on both arms.”
The house became silent.
Wyatt swallowed.
Candice’s voice hardened. “Lucas is dramatic. He hurts himself for attention.”
Gabriel took one slow step closer. “Careful.”
Marianne dropped her bags on the floor. “Don’t you threaten my daughter in her own house.”
Gabriel looked at her. “My name is on the mortgage.”
That was the first time fear truly appeared in Candice’s eyes.
Then she smiled.
It was small. Controlled. Dangerous.
“Gabriel,” she said softly, “you’re tired. You’re confused. You’ve been on the road too long.”
“And you’ve been in my son’s life too long.”
Candice’s expression twisted. “That boy has poisoned you against me.”
“No,” Gabriel said. “You did that yourself.”
Victor cleared his throat. “Maybe this is a private family matter.”
Gabriel turned to him. “Not anymore.”
Before anyone could answer, he pulled out his phone and played the first recording.
Lucas’s voice filled the hallway.
“They say using water and electricity for my clothes is a waste of money.”
Candice lunged for the phone.
Gabriel stepped back.
May you like
The recording continued.
“Wyatt slapped me because I sat in Dad’s chair. Candice said if I told anyone, Dad would believe her because I’m troubled.”
