Chapter 2

Over the next few days, I kept trying to find moments when no one was home so I could secretly throw the doll away, but David and Lily seemed to be guarding against me.

They kept that doll with them constantly, and Lily even stuffed it into her little backpack when she went to preschool.

David's behavior became especially strange. He suddenly started picking Lily up and dropping her off at school every single day, which meant I barely had any chance to even see that doll.

That night, after David and Lily had both fallen asleep, I snuck into Lily's room.

I needed to get rid of that creepy doll, but the second I touched it, something sharp sliced across my palm, and blood started pouring out.

Before I could even process what happened, Lily's eyes snapped open. She was clutching the doll, and she stared at me with a look I'd never seen before. "What are you doing?"

A chill ran down my spine. It was Lily's face, but those eyes—I didn't recognize them at all.

I said, "Lily, sweetie, can you give Mommy the doll?"

I ignored the blood dripping from my hand and reached for it, but Lily fought back hard. She held onto that doll like her life depended on it, and she wouldn't let go no matter what.

I had no idea where my little girl suddenly got that kind of strength. Anger flared up inside me, hot and irrational. I just wanted to rip that damn doll apart and be done with all this.

But before I could tear it, the lights flicked on. David yanked me back and demanded, "Emily, what the hell are you doing?"

The instant the light hit Lily's face, her expression changed. That vicious look melted into something pitiful, and she ran to David and wrapped her arms around his leg. "Daddy, Mommy's scaring me. She tried to hit me and take my doll away."

I stared at her in disbelief. Sure, I'd tried to take the doll, but I would never hit her. Never.

I frowned. "Lily, who taught you to lie like that?"

David knelt down and pulled her close. "Don't cry, sweetie. Daddy won't let anyone hurt you."

Then he stood up and glared at me with pure disgust. "Emily, I never thought you'd actually hit Lily. I'm so disappointed in you."

"I didn't! How could you think I'd ever hurt her?"

"Then explain your hand." David pointed at my palm, still bleeding.

"I don't know. I just reached for the doll, and then my hand was cut. That's all that happened."

I stared at the doll in Lily's hands, and my blood ran cold when I saw the silver blade poking out from inside it.

Why would Lily hide something so dangerous inside her doll? I rushed forward to grab it from her, but David shoved me hard, and I hit the ground.

He said, "Emily, are you seriously trying to hit Lily right in front of me?"

"I told you, I never hit Lily."

"So you're saying a child is making this all up?"

I couldn't find the words to defend myself. "Lily, tell me the truth. What really happened?"

I couldn't believe it—the daughter I'd raised from birth was framing me.

Lily burst into tears. "Daddy, I don't want Mommy anymore. Mommy's scary, she's a monster. I don't want her!"

Lily's sobs got more hysterical, and David held her close, trying to soothe her. "Okay, Lily, we won't have Mommy anymore. Don't cry."

Lily's tears stopped instantly. "Daddy's gonna divorce Mommy, right?"

"Yes, Lily. Don't worry, Daddy will protect you."

I watched the scene unfold in front of me, and my heart climbed into my throat. The child standing there wasn't my Lily—it couldn't be.