Chapter 1 - The Cabinet Corinne Was Protecting
Corinne’s fist was twisted in Maisie’s hair.
The little girl stumbled barefoot across the polished oak floor, clutching her stuffed rabbit with one hand while Corinne dragged her toward the hallway.
“Dad... help me! It hurts!”
Ethan Carter stepped out of the next room.
He froze.
His fourteen-month-old daughter was crying.
Corinne’s hand was wrapped around Maisie’s bruised upper arm.
For one second, Ethan said nothing.
Then his face changed.
“Let her go.”
Corinne pulled Maisie closer.
“Ethan, she was throwing a tantrum—”
He crossed the room before she could finish.
Corinne tried to drag Maisie behind her.
Ethan caught Corinne’s wrist, ripped her hand away from his daughter, then pulled Maisie behind him.
Corinne lunged again.
Ethan’s palm cracked across her face.
She stumbled sideways into the sofa.
“TOUCH HER AGAIN. JUST TRY IT.”
The living room went silent.
Maisie pressed herself against Ethan’s leg.
Her tiny fingers twisted into his shirt.
Then she whispered something that made his anger disappear.
“She said Dad would abandon me, too.”
Ethan slowly looked at his wife.
“Too?”
Corinne’s reddened face tightened.
“She's confused.”
Maisie shook her head.
Corinne began backing toward the hallway.
Toward the locked wooden cabinet beside the family photographs.
Maisie saw it.
Her entire body stiffened.
Then she pointed.
“She hid Mom’s papers.”
Corinne went pale.
Ethan followed Maisie’s finger.
“Corinne?”
“Don’t.”
That single word was enough.
He strode toward the cabinet.
Corinne threw herself in front of him.
“Ethan, listen to me.”
He shoved her aside.
A small brass key was already sitting in the lock.
Corinne reached for it.
Ethan got there first.
He turned the key.
Opened the cabinet.
And pulled out a thick sealed stack of legal documents.
Corinne grabbed his arm.
“Don’t read that.”
Ethan tore free.
He opened the file.
His eyes moved across the first page.
Then stopped.
The color drained from his face.
His mouth opened slightly.
Maisie stood behind him holding her rabbit.
Corinne stared at Ethan like she was watching a bomb count down.
He looked at her.
Not angry anymore.
Horrified.
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Because the first page contained a name he had not expected to see.
The name of Maisie’s dead mother.
