Chapter 12 - Liam Chooses a DoorEleanor stood in the mansion foyer.
Liam had a backpack over one shoulder.
Emma blocked the front door.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Carter. I can’t let him leave.”
“You work for my family.”
“I work for Daniel and Sophia.”
“I hired you.”
“Eleven years ago.”
Emma’s voice trembled.
“But I know who signs my paycheck now.”
Liam looked between them.
“Grandma said Dad is angry.”
“Your father is coming home.”
“I don’t want to be here when he comes.”
Eleanor placed a hand on Liam’s shoulder.
“You don’t have to be frightened.”
Emma saw the manipulation clearly now.
“Liam, sweetheart, please put the bag down.”
“No.”
Headlights swept across the windows.
Daniel and Sophia arrived.
The front door opened.
Eleanor did not move.
Daniel entered first.
“Take your hand off my son.”
Eleanor’s face hardened.
“He asked to come with me.”
“He is seven.”
“He’s also terrified of your wife.”
Sophia entered.
Liam looked away from her.
Sophia did not approach.
“Liam.”
He gripped his backpack strap.
“Grandma says you’re trying to blame her because you hate her.”
Daniel looked at Eleanor.
“You called him after I blocked you.”
“I called my grandson.”
“You used him.”
Eleanor laughed.
“What dramatic language.”
Sophia spoke quietly.
“Did you send the anonymous messages?”
“No.”
“Did Ross?”
“No.”
“Did you put the photographs in Liam’s backpack?”
“No.”
Liam looked up.
“What photographs?”
Eleanor froze.
Only for half a second.
But Sophia saw it.
Daniel saw it.
Emma saw it.
Liam did too.
Sophia asked:
“How did you know there were photographs?”
Eleanor’s face recovered.
“Daniel mentioned them.”
“No, I didn’t,” Daniel said.
Silence.
Liam stepped away from his grandmother.
“Grandma?”
Eleanor reached toward him.
“Sweetheart—”
“Did you know?”
“Adults are discussing complicated matters.”
His eyes filled.
“That’s what everyone says when they lie.”
Daniel almost flinched at the familiar sentence.
Liam dropped his backpack.
“Did you send them?”
Eleanor’s voice sharpened.
“I wanted you to ask questions.”
Liam stared.
“That means yes.”
“I wanted you protected.”
“From Mom?”
Eleanor did not answer.
Liam’s face twisted.
“You told me she did something terrible.”
“I never said those exact words.”
“But you wanted me to think it.”
Sophia felt something shift in the room.
Not forgiveness.
Understanding.
Liam looked at her scars.
Then at Eleanor.
“Why?”
Eleanor’s mouth tightened.
“Because your mother has been tearing this family apart for years.”
Sophia laughed softly.
“No, Eleanor.”
Daniel looked at his mother.
“She’s been finding out what you did.”
Eleanor turned to leave.
Daniel blocked the door.
“You’re not taking Liam.”
“I can see that.”
Her dignity remained intact until Liam spoke.
“Grandma?”
She turned.
“Did Mom start the fire?”
For the first time that night, Eleanor looked uncertain.
Sophia realized why.
Eleanor did not know how much Liam had been told.
The wrong answer could expose her.
“I wasn’t there,” Eleanor said.
Liam stared.
“That’s what you said before.”
“Yes.”
“Then how did you know I needed to be protected from her?”
Eleanor had no answer.
Liam began to cry.
Not loudly.
That was worse.
He walked past her and went upstairs.
Eleanor watched him disappear.
Daniel opened the front door.
“Leave.”
She looked at her son.
“You will regret choosing her over blood.”
Daniel’s face became strangely calm.
“Sophia is blood.”
Eleanor left.
Upstairs, Liam sat on his bed.
Sophia knocked.
“Can I come in?”
He nodded.
She entered.
He looked at her.
“You promised.”
“I know.”
“Tell me what happened in the car.”
Sophia sat beside him.
This time, she did not look toward Daniel for permission.
May you like
She began.
“You were asleep in the back seat when the brakes stopped working.”
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