Vanessa pushed baby Emma’s stroller toward the pool, then cried like Clara was the one who did it.

I woke early the next morning.

My knee was stiff and bruised, turning an ugly shade of purple. My wrist had a faint ring of bruises where Adrian had grabbed me. But it wasn’t the pain that woke me. It was the memory of that voice.

I got up quietly and walked down the hall to the study. Adrian had left the door slightly open. I peeked in—he was asleep in the leather chair, head back, phone still in his hand. He really had stayed up all night.

I hesitated, then stepped inside and gently took the mouse from the desk. I pulled up the security archive from yesterday. I found the clip—the one where Vanessa stood on the patio talking on her phone.

I turned the volume up.

There was Vanessa, her voice low and cold: Once the nanny is gone, Adrian will have no choice but to trust me with the baby.

Then the man’s voice came through the speaker. Clearer than I remembered. Calm. Familiar.

And if the baby actually falls?

Vanessa’s reply: She won’t. I just need it to look close enough.

The man again: And if it doesn’t work?

Vanessa: It will work. Trust me. He’s already wrapped around my finger.

Then the call ended.

I played it again. And again. And again.

That voice. I knew that voice. I had heard it before. But where?

Adrian stirred behind me. He sat up, blinking, then saw what was on the screen. He stood up quickly, coming to stand beside me.

“You’re up early,” he said quietly.

“I’ve been listening to this voice,” I said. “Do you recognize it?”

Adrian leaned in. We played the clip once more. He went still. His face paled.

“I know that voice,” he said slowly.

“Who is it?”

Adrian was quiet for a long time. Then he spoke, each word heavy.

“My brother-in-law. Marcus. Vanessa’s brother.”

My stomach dropped. “She was working with her own brother?”

Adrian nodded slowly, running a hand through his hair.

“Marcus introduced us. He’s the one who told me how wonderful Vanessa was. How kind. How great with children. I trusted him. Like family.” He let out a bitter laugh. “Like family.”

“How long do you think this has been going on?” I asked.

Adrian stared at the screen.

“I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.” He pulled out his phone and dialed. “Detective? It’s Adrian. I have more footage. And we need to talk about Marcus—Vanessa’s brother.”

While Adrian made the call, I stood there thinking. Marcus had introduced them. He had vouched for her. He had been the one to push for their marriage so quickly. And now here he was—on tape, asking what would happen if the baby fell.

This wasn’t jealousy. This was a plan. A business deal. A transaction.

Adrian hung up. He looked at me, his expression grim.

“The detective is getting a warrant for Marcus’s phone and records. They’re going to pull every text, every call, every bank transfer between them.”

“Bank transfers?” I asked.

Adrian nodded.

“If they were doing this for custody… maybe it was never just about the children. Maybe it was about money. My money.” He walked to the window and looked out at the patio where everything had happened. “If something had happened to me… or if Vanessa had gotten full custody… she would have controlled everything. The house. The accounts. The trust funds.”

“Olivia and Emma’s future,” I added quietly.

Adrian turned back to me, his eyes hard.

“They were going to take everything. And they were willing to kill my daughter to get it.”

Just then, my phone buzzed. A text message. Unknown number.

I opened it. My blood ran cold.

*You think this is over? She’s in jail. But I’m not. And I know where to find the girls.*

I showed Adrian. He grabbed his phone immediately, calling the detective back. His hands were shaking.

“Marcus didn’t just help her,” Adrian said into the phone. “He’s threatening my children. We need him found. Now.”

He hung up and looked at me.

“Stay inside. Lock the doors. Don’t let anyone in. Not anyone. I’m going to pick up Olivia and Emma and we’re leaving this house until Marcus is in custody.”

“Adrian—”

“Promise me, Clara. Don’t go outside. Don’t open the door. Not for anyone.”

“I promise.”

He grabbed his keys and ran out. I stood in the hallway, the phone still trembling in my hand.

Somewhere out there, Marcus was watching. He knew what had happened. He knew his sister was in jail. And he was angry.

I walked to the window and pulled the curtain back just enough to see the driveway. Adrian’s car was gone. The house was quiet. Too quiet.

My phone buzzed again. Another text.

*You recorded her. You ruined everything. Now it’s your turn.*

I stared at the screen. Then I looked up at the security camera above the front door. The red light was dark.

It had been working last night.

Someone had turned it off.

I backed away from the window, my heart hammering. I reached for my phone to call Adrian. But before I could dial, I heard it.