Chapter 1: The Money on the Table
The slap cracked through the marble foyer.
Marcus's son stumbled sideways, his left cheek snapping toward the right as his knees buckled. He dropped beside the long wooden table, catching himself with his right hand while his left covered his burning face.
Bundles of cash lay spread across the polished surface.
The boy wore a black hoodie. His eyes were already filling with tears.
Standing opposite him was a woman in an expensive red dress, her right hand still raised.
"Thief. Tell me where you got this.""
The boy looked up at her, trembling.
"I didn't steal anything.""
"Don't you dare lie to me!"" the woman shouted.
She stepped closer, pointing first at him and then at the money.
"Look at all this cash! Do you expect me to believe you found it lying around?""
The boy shook his head.
"No. I didn't touch it. I swear!""
"Then why is it here?""
"I don't know!""
She bent forward, her red fingernails hovering inches from his face.
"You think because your father owns this house, you can take whatever you want?""
Before the boy could answer, the front door opened.
Marcus had just returned home.
He stopped.
His eyes moved from the bundles of cash to the woman in red, then to the sight of his son crouched on the marble floor.
"What happened?""
Nobody answered immediately.
Marcus dropped his car keys onto a small console and hurried across the foyer.
"Son?""
He reached down, gently taking his boy by the shoulder.
"Come on. Get up.""
The boy struggled to stand. Marcus supported him with one arm, bringing him beside him.
Then Marcus stepped forward, placing his own body between his son and the woman.
His expression changed when he saw the red mark spreading across the boy's left cheek.
"Why did you hit my son?""
The woman, Vanessa, lowered her hand.
For a moment, she looked surprised that Marcus was questioning her.
Then she pointed sharply toward the table.
"I caught him with thousands of dollars!""
Marcus glanced at the money.
"Thousands?""
"Yes! I walked into this room and found him standing right there. He was practically surrounded by cash.""
His son tugged at Marcus's sleeve.
"Dad, she put that money there, I swear.""
Vanessa immediately turned toward him.
"He's lying!""
The boy flinched.
Marcus noticed.
He also noticed that Vanessa hadn't once asked whether his son was hurt.
Instead, her attention remained fixed on the money.
"Vanessa," Marcus said quietly, "I want you to explain exactly what happened.""
"I just did.""
"No. You told me what you think I should believe.""
Her eyebrows rose.
"Excuse me?""
Marcus took out his phone with his left hand.
His right hand opened the home security application.
Vanessa's expression changed.
"What are you doing?""
"Checking something.""
He tapped the security system and selected the foyer camera.
The small black camera above the entrance had been visible the entire time.
A thumbnail appeared on his screen.
The footage was available.
His son stood beside him, breathing unevenly. Vanessa stood opposite them, her hands now clasped tightly in front of her.
Marcus studied the screen.
"Good. Then the camera will tell me who's lying.""
Vanessa swallowed.
"Marcus, there's no reason to make this complicated.""
He didn't answer.
He opened the recording.
The screen displayed a paused clip.
A timeline ran beneath the image.
Marcus moved his thumb toward the PLAY button.
Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
She grabbed his left forearm, stopping his movement.
"Marcus, you don't need to check that.""
Her voice was higher now.
Her eyes jumped from the phone to his face.
Marcus looked down at her hand.
Then he slowly raised his eyes.
"Why are you scared of the footage?""
Vanessa froze.
Her fingers remained wrapped around his arm.
For the first time since he had entered the house, she had nothing to say.
His son stood beside his father, his left hand still pressed against his cheek.
His eyes were red.
He looked at Marcus, then turned toward the camera.
"Wanna see what my dad does to her?""
His voice cracked slightly.
"Hit like and watch part two in the first comment.""
The phone remained paused.
May you like
Vanessa's hand remained on Marcus's arm.
And nobody moved.
