Chapter 3

"Emily." Helen suddenly stopped what she was doing and looked at me. "Is something on your mind?"

I felt a jolt inside.

"No, nothing," I said.

"Don't lie to me," she said, wiping her hands and turning to face me, her eyes gentle but searching. "I've watched you grow up. It's been seven years since you married into this family.

"I can always tell when something's bothering you."

I clenched my fingers.

For a split second, I almost wanted to blurt out, "Helen, do you know whose child Lucas really is?" But I held it in.

I couldn't ask.

Not right now, at least.

"It's just that work's been a bit of a mess lately," I said, dropping my gaze. "One of my projects hit a snag, and I might have to go on a business trip for a bit."

"A business trip? Where are you going? How long will you be away?" Helen asked.

"It's not decided yet. Maybe just the next city over, for a few days," I lied, making it up as I went. "Honestly, I kind of want to get away and clear my head."

Helen watched me for a few seconds, then sighed and patted my shoulder. "Don't put so much pressure on yourself. Work is just work. Do what you can, and if you can't, that's okay.

"We're not counting on you to bring in a ton of money. David's job is steady now, so just focus on taking care of yourself and Lucas."

Her voice was sincere.

I felt a lump in my throat, almost bursting into tears.

If only none of this were real.

If only this care, this warmth of family, were truly real.

"Yeah, I know," I said softly.

Just then, we heard the sound of keys turning at the door, and David's voice rang out, "I'm home. I'm starving. Is dinner ready?"

"It's ready. We're waiting for you," Helen called out. Then she whispered to me, "Come on, let's have dinner."

I walked out of the kitchen and saw David by the door, taking off his shoes. He was wearing a crisp shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his tie loosened. He looked tired from work, but when he saw me, his eyes lit up.

He walked over, naturally reaching out to put his arm around my waist.

Instinctively, I shifted to the side, dodging his touch.

His grip missed, and he paused, looking at me with a puzzled expression. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I smell like the kitchen," I said, making up an excuse as I turned toward the dining table. "Come on, let's eat."

David hesitated for a moment behind me, then followed.

*****

At dinner, the atmosphere was like any other night.

Richard patiently removed the bones from Lucas's fish, meticulous as always.

Helen kept piling food onto our plates.

David cracked jokes about work, making Lucas giggle nonstop.

I ate in silence, barely tasting the food.

"Emily," Richard suddenly spoke up, "Helen mentioned you might be traveling for work soon?"

I paused with my fork midair.

Helen told him already? That was fast.

"Yeah, maybe," I mumbled, trying to sound casual.

"Where are you going? How long will you be away?" Richard asked, his tone easy, just like any caring elder.

"Just the next city over. Not sure yet, depends on how the project goes," I replied, keeping it vague.

"Okay." Richard nodded, not asking any more questions. He picked up a piece of ribs and put it on Lucas's plate. "Eat up, Lucas, so you can grow tall."

Under the table, David lightly tapped my leg.

I glanced up at him.

He silently mouthed, "What's wrong?"

I shook my head and forced a smile.

Worry flickered in his eyes, but with his parents and Lucas right there, he didn't press any further.

The meal went down like wax.

Every smile, every word of concern, all felt like some staged performance to me.

I was a spectator on the sidelines, watching this cozy family show with a cold heart, and I was the only one who knew the script was nothing but a rotten lie.

*****

After dinner, Helen started clearing the table, and I helped out.

Richard was in the living room, playing with Lucas and the new Lego set.

David took a work call and stepped out onto the balcony.

Now it was just Helen and me in the kitchen, and the only sounds were the water running in the sink.

"Emily," Helen said, sounding casual as she washed the dishes, "you and David aren't having a fight, are you?"

"No, nothing's wrong," I answered, my heart jumping in my chest.

"I noticed you barely paid him any attention tonight," Helen said, glancing over at me. "If there's something between you two, you should talk it out.

"David can be clueless sometimes, but his feelings for you are real. You two have been through a lot together."

Real feelings?

I scrubbed the plate so hard that my knuckles turned white.

"Helen, I know," I said. "I'm just a bit tired."

"If you're tired, just rest. If you can put off that business trip, do it," Helen said, drying her hands and turning to me, her eyes complicated. "Emily, I've been through a lot.

"Everything else in this world is not important. The only thing that really matters is a family that's safe and together. Don't be too obsessed over something."

Obsessed over something?

I almost snorted.

If she knew what I was really obsessing over, would she still say that?

"Sure," I said, lowering my head and avoiding her gaze.

Out on the balcony, David finished his call and came back inside.

His gaze swept across the living room, locking onto me in the kitchen.

There was a searching look in his eyes, and a barely noticeable tension.

What was he so nervous about?

I looked away, placing the dried plate into the dishwasher.

My hands were steady, but my heart was pounding.

I knew that from the moment I got that report, a bottomless rift had opened up between me and this family.

I had to rip it open with my own hands, just to see how rotten things really were inside, no matter how bloody the truth turned out to be.