Chapter 2: Two Completely Different Stories
"Take your hand off me.""
Marcus didn't raise his voice.
He didn't need to.
Vanessa immediately released his forearm, taking half a step backward.
His son remained beside him, holding his cheek.
Marcus glanced down.
"Does it hurt?""
The boy nodded.
"Yes, Dad.""
"Can you move your jaw?""
"Yeah.""
"Does anything feel broken?""
The boy shook his head.
Marcus gently examined the red mark without touching it.
"Go sit on the sofa for a minute.""
"But Dad—"
"Please. I need to talk to her.""
The boy hesitated.
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Of course. Send him away. That's convenient.""
Marcus turned toward her.
"Don't start.""
His son slowly walked to the nearby sofa. He sat on the edge, keeping his eyes on the two adults.
Marcus placed his phone on the table, but kept the screen facing upward.
The recording remained paused.
"Now," he said, "I want to hear your story from the beginning.""
Vanessa let out a frustrated breath.
"I already told you. I came downstairs to collect the money for the household expenses. When I entered the foyer, I saw him standing beside the table.""
"Why was there so much cash?""
"Because I had withdrawn it earlier.""
Marcus frowned.
"You withdrew it?""
"Yes.""
"From where?""
Vanessa blinked.
"From the bank, obviously.""
"Which bank?""
"Marcus, seriously?""
"I'm asking a simple question.""
She glanced toward the sofa.
"Your son was standing beside it. I asked him what he was doing. He got nervous. Then I noticed that some of the bundles had been moved.""
Marcus looked at the table.
"Which bundles?""
Vanessa pointed to the cash.
"Those.""
"All of them?""
"Some of them.""
"How many?""
"I don't know exactly.""
Marcus nodded slowly.
"So you saw him near money, assumed he had stolen it, and slapped him?""
"He was being disrespectful!""
"Did he touch you?""
"No.""
"Did he threaten you?""
"Don't twist my words.""
"Did he touch you?""
Vanessa looked away.
"No.""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Then why did you hit him?""
"Because he wouldn't tell me the truth!""
From the sofa, the boy suddenly spoke.
"That's not what happened.""
Vanessa spun around.
"Stay out of this!""
Marcus raised one hand.
"Let him speak.""
The boy swallowed.
"She told me to come downstairs because she needed help carrying something. When I got here, the money was already on the table.""
Vanessa laughed sharply.
"That's ridiculous.""
"I didn't even know what it was for," the boy continued.
"Then she asked me if I'd taken some.""
Marcus turned toward him.
"Did you touch the money?""
"No, Dad.""
"Did she ask you to move it?""
"No.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"He's making this up as he goes.""
The boy's eyes filled again.
"She said if I told you, you'd believe her anyway.""
Marcus went still.
He looked at Vanessa.
"What does that mean?""
"Nothing. He's twisting another conversation.""
"What conversation?""
Vanessa walked toward the table and began straightening the bundles of cash.
"I have been trying to keep this household running while you're always busy with work. I shouldn't have to defend myself every time I discipline him.""
Marcus watched her hands.
"Discipline?""
"Yes.""
"You call slapping a child discipline?""
"He stole money!""
"You haven't shown me that.""
"I don't need to show you what I saw!""
Marcus picked up his phone.
"Actually, you do.""
Vanessa's gaze dropped to the screen.
Her fingers stopped moving.
"Marcus, listen. These cameras don't always record properly.""
"Why would that matter?""
"Sometimes the system freezes. Sometimes the timestamps are wrong.""
"Have you noticed that before?""
She hesitated.
"Everyone who lives here knows the system has problems.""
Marcus looked toward the camera above the entrance.
"Interesting. I haven't heard about any problems.""
Vanessa gave a forced smile.
"You don't pay attention to these things.""
He didn't respond.
Instead, he walked toward the security console near the hallway.
The boy watched him go.
"Where are you going, Dad?""
"To check the recording from the main system.""
Vanessa immediately moved to block his path.
"Wait.""
Marcus stopped.
"What now?""
"There's no need to go through the whole system.""
"I want to make sure the recording is complete.""
"Why don't you just ask him to apologize?""
Marcus stared at her.
"Apologize for what?""
"For causing all this trouble.""
The boy stood up from the sofa.
"I didn't do anything.""
Vanessa pointed at him.
"See? That attitude!""
Marcus stepped between them again.
"Enough.""
He turned to his son.
"Did anyone else see what happened?""
The boy hesitated.
"I don't know.""
"Think carefully.""
"There was someone near the kitchen.""
"Who?""
"I think it was Mr. Collins. He was carrying some boxes.""
Vanessa's face tightened.
"Mr. Collins wasn't here.""
The boy looked confused.
"But I heard his voice.""
"You're mistaken.""
Marcus studied her reaction.
"Then we'll ask him.""
Vanessa shook her head quickly.
"He's not involved.""
"That isn't for you to decide.""
Marcus unlocked his phone again.
This time, he opened the camera system's event history rather than the paused clip.
Several recordings appeared.
The foyer camera.
The hallway camera.
The kitchen entrance.
The staircase.
He scrolled slowly.
Vanessa watched every movement.
"Marcus," she said, forcing a calmer tone, "I know you're upset because he's your son. But you need to understand that children sometimes lie when they're afraid of consequences.""
Marcus looked at her.
"And adults sometimes lie when they're afraid of being caught.""
Her mouth fell open.
"How dare you?""
He ignored the question.
A notification appeared on the screen.
*SECURITY SYSTEM: RECORDING ACCESS RESTRICTED.*
Marcus frowned.
He tapped the notification.
A second message appeared.
*ADMINISTRATOR PERMISSION REQUIRED.*
He turned toward Vanessa.
"Why does this account need administrator permission?""
She didn't answer.
Marcus looked at the phone again.
"Who has administrator access?""
Vanessa slowly lowered her eyes.
May you like
Then she whispered something he hadn't expected.
"I do.""
