Chapter 1 - THE RECORDING IN THE MUSIC ROOM
The old music room had been locked for seven years.
No one entered it.
Not Adrian.
Not Vanessa.
Not even the house staff.
But now the door stood open.
Red security lights flashed across the hallway as Adrian Whitmore stared at the monitor.
On the screen was a grainy recording from seven years earlier.
A woman was standing inside the music room.
Sophie’s mother.
Claire.
Adrian stopped breathing.
Claire was supposed to have died that night.
The recording showed her holding a newborn baby.
Sophie.
Then the door opened.
Vanessa walked inside.
Adrian's face went pale.
“No…”
Elena stood beside him.
Her expression was strangely calm.
Sophie clung to her hand.
“That's Mommy,” the little girl whispered.
Adrian looked at Elena.
“You knew.”
Elena didn't answer.
The recording continued.
Vanessa approached Claire.
They appeared to be arguing.
No sound.
Only the movement of their mouths.
Then Vanessa turned toward the camera.
She knew it was there.
Adrian's stomach twisted.
He had never installed cameras in that room.
At least, he didn't remember doing it.
Suddenly another person entered the frame.
A younger Adrian.
He was carrying a leather briefcase.
Adrian stepped backward.
“That isn't possible.”
Elena looked at him.
“You don't remember?”
“No.”
“You should.”
The recording froze.
Then the screen went black.
A message appeared.
SEVEN YEARS AGO, 11:47 P.M.
Then another.
YOU LEFT HER THERE.
Adrian stared at the screen.
“What does that mean?”
Elena finally spoke.
“It means your wife wasn't the only person who lied to you.”
Vanessa rushed toward the monitor.
“Turn it off!”
Adrian blocked her.
“Why?”
“Because it's fake.”
Sophie shook her head.
“Mommy said you would say that.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“Who told you?”
Sophie pointed at Elena.
“My mom.”
Vanessa's face changed.
Elena crouched beside Sophie.
“You don't have to be afraid anymore.”
Adrian heard the words.
“You've been telling my daughter things about her mother?”
“I've been helping her remember.”
“Remember what?”
Elena looked directly at him.
“The night you thought Claire died.”
Adrian's voice became quiet.
“What happened?”
Elena didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she reached into her pocket.
She removed an old photograph.
Claire was holding a newborn Sophie.
On the back was a handwritten sentence.
IF ADRIAN EVER FORGETS, SHOW HIM THIS.
Adrian recognized the handwriting.
Claire's.
His hands trembled.
“Where did you get this?”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“Claire gave it to me.”
“When?”
“The night she disappeared.”
Adrian looked toward Vanessa.
She was backing away.
“Vanessa?”
His wife didn't answer.
Sophie suddenly spoke.
“She told Mommy you would never believe her.”
Adrian turned.
“Who?”
Sophie pointed at Vanessa.
“She did.”
Vanessa's eyes hardened.
Then the mansion lights suddenly went out.
A scream came from upstairs.
Everyone froze.
Elena grabbed Sophie.
Adrian reached for his phone.
Then a man's voice came through the darkness.
“Adrian…”
The voice sounded exactly like his father.
May you like
A man who had been dead for fifteen years.
“It's time you remembered what you did.”
