Vanessa, watching through the security monitor, froze when she saw who it was.
Daniel Morgan.
Her husband.
The children’s father.
Panic flickered across her face.
She had forgotten.
For a split second, she stood frozen—then rushed outside, her movements suddenly hurried, her composure slipping. She ran toward the doghouse, yanked the door open slightly, and hissed:
“Get out. Now. Go inside. Quickly!”
Lily blinked, disoriented, clutching Noah.
But before she could move—
Vanessa had already turned away.
She assumed they would follow.
She had already switched back to her practiced smile by the time she reached the gate to greet Daniel.
“You’re home early,” she said, forcing warmth into her voice.
Daniel nodded, tired but calm, his presence filling the space in a way that immediately changed the atmosphere.
They began walking toward the house together.
But halfway across the yard—
He stopped.
It was subtle.
But final.
His eyes had caught something.
The doghouse door.
Slightly open.
Something about it felt wrong.
Vanessa’s breath caught.
She knew.
Before he even moved, she knew the moment had already slipped beyond her control.
Daniel walked toward it slowly.
Each step deliberate.