“Daddy, do you want to play a game?” Lily asked suddenly.
“Of course, baby. What game?”
“A game Mommy and I play.”
Ethan closed his laptop with a smile.
“I’d love that. How do we play?”
Lily stood up and turned her back to him.
“You have to touch here,” she said, pointing toward her bottom. “And I have to stay very still and quiet.”
Ethan felt ice flood his veins.
“What’s the game Mommy plays with you?”
“She says it’s our special secret.”
“Lily…” Ethan’s voice trembled as he fought to stay calm. “Who exactly touches you there?”
“Mommy’s new friend. His name is Justin. He plays the game with me when Mommy is busy.”
Ethan felt sick.
“Justin… who is Justin?”
“Mommy’s boyfriend. He lives with us now.”
“And he… he touches you like that?”
Lily nodded innocently.
“Yes. He says it’s a special game, but I don’t like it very much. Sometimes it hurts.”
Ethan had to summon every ounce of willpower not to scream, not to scare her. He took a deep breath.
“Lily, sweetheart, come here. Sit with me.”
She climbed onto the couch beside him.
“That game Justin plays… where exactly does he touch you?”
Lily pointed to her genital area.
“Here. Inside my underwear.”
The world tilted.
“How many times has this happened?”