Lily Pointed at the Kitchen Camera While Her Mother Explained — Then Michael Watched What Happened Before He Came Home
Chapter 4 — The Photograph
Michael picked up the envelope.
Claire reached toward him.
“Please.”
He stepped back.
“No.”
He removed the first photograph.
It showed Evelyn standing outside the Carter family’s old house.
Beside her was Michael’s father, Andrew.
The image was nearly fifteen years old.
The second photograph showed Claire.
Michael stared at it.
She was standing beside Evelyn.
Both women were smiling.
The date printed on the bottom was six months after Michael supposedly stopped all contact with his mother.
Michael slowly looked up.
“You saw her after we stopped speaking?”
Claire said nothing.
He pulled out another photograph.
Claire and Evelyn again.
This time inside a coffee shop.
Another date.
Two years later.
Michael felt cold.
“How many times did you meet her?”
Claire whispered.
“Several.”
“Why?”
“Michael—”
“Why?”
Claire sat down.
“Because she kept asking me to help repair things between you.”
Michael stared at her.
“And you never told me?”
Claire shook her head.
“I thought it would make everything worse.”
Lily was listening silently.
Michael opened the handwritten letter.
The first sentence made him stop.
Michael, if Lily is the one reading this first, then Claire has probably hidden my letters from you again.
Michael looked at his wife.
Claire went completely pale.
