Chapter 2
Beatrice’s eyes widened.
Her hands began trembling.
She shook her head desperately.
Adam didn’t waste another second.
He stood and ran toward the laundry room.
But Beatrice moved first.
She rushed ahead of him, dropped onto both knees and pressed her back against the washing machine door.
Then she stretched both arms wide.
Blocking it completely.
Adam stopped in front of her.
The washer shook violently against Beatrice’s back.
She looked up at her son with terrified eyes.
Sophia remained behind him, still crying and pointing.
“Mom, move.”
Beatrice didn’t.
She only pressed herself harder against the machine.
And that was when Adam understood.
His mother wasn’t trying to protect Sophia.
She wasn’t confused.
She knew exactly what was inside.
Somewhere behind her, the washer kept rattling.
Sophia had said their newborn son was trapped inside.
And the woman standing between Adam and that door was his own mother.
Whatever Beatrice had been hiding was seconds away from being exposed.
But she looked terrified enough to do anything to keep that machine closed.
Adam stepped forward.
“Move.”
Beatrice shook her head.
“No.”
The machine knocked once against the wall.
Then again.
A soft sound came from somewhere behind the door.
Not the mechanical thud of wet clothes.
A cry.
Tiny.
Weak.
Adam went cold.
“Noah?”
May you like
Sophia started sobbing harder.
Beatrice squeezed her eyes shut.
