CHAPTER 3: THE HUSBAND WHO CAME HOME TOO EARLY

Emma was still sitting on the floor, surrounded by photographs, when she heard the front door open.

“Emma?”

Daniel’s voice echoed through the house.

She shoved the envelope behind her back, but her hands were shaking too badly.

Daniel stepped into the office wearing the same gentle smile he had worn for seven years of marriage.

The same smile that had once made her feel safe.

Now it looked like a mask.

“What are you doing in here?” he asked softly.

Emma forced herself to breathe.

“I was looking for Lily’s insurance papers.”

For one second, Daniel’s eyes changed.

Not sadness.

Not worry.

Fear.

Then he smiled again.

“I already handled that.”

Emma slowly stood.

“Of course you did.”

Daniel walked closer.

Too close.

His eyes dropped to the corner of the envelope peeking out behind her hand.

The room went silent.

“Emma,” he said, his voice suddenly low. “What did you find?”

Before she could answer, her phone buzzed.

Unknown Number.

Daniel saw it.

His face turned pale.

Emma answered before he could stop her.

The same man’s voice whispered:

“Run. He knows.”

Daniel lunged.

Emma screamed and threw the envelope at his face.

Photographs scattered across the room like dark secrets finally set free.

Daniel grabbed her wrist.

“You should’ve just answered the first call,” he hissed.

Emma’s blood ran cold.

“So it was you.”

Daniel’s gentle husband mask shattered.

“You were supposed to die quietly, Emma. A tragic accident. A grieving husband. A beautiful insurance payout.”

Emma kicked him hard and ran toward the hallway.

Behind her, Daniel shouted:

“You have no idea who you’re fighting!”

Emma didn’t stop.

She ran out of the house, barefoot, clutching only her phone and one photograph.

The photo of Daniel standing beside the mysterious caller.

At the hospital, Lily was still unconscious.

Emma locked herself in the bathroom and stared at the picture again.

Then her phone received one message from the unknown number:

“Your husband didn’t hire me to kill you.”

Emma’s hands trembled.

A second message appeared.

“He hired me to kill your daughter.”

Emma stopped breathing.

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Then came the third message.

“Because Lily is not his child.”