Chapter 2 - THE LIE FALLS APART
“Mom?”
Ethan’s voice was quiet.
Almost too quiet.
Margaret stared at her son.
For years, she had imagined this moment.
She imagined Ethan thanking her.
Calling her a hero.
Telling everyone she was the only person who never abandoned Ava.
But she never imagined him standing there…
Watching everything.
“Ethan…”
Margaret forced a smile.
“You’re home early.”
He didn’t answer.
His eyes stayed on the floor.
On the pills.
“What are those?”
Nobody moved.
The silence was unbearable.
Margaret stepped forward.
“It’s not what you think.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Then tell me what it is.”
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Ava’s breathing became shaky.
“Ethan…”
He immediately rushed toward her.
“Ava!”
He dropped beside his wife.
“Are you hurt?”
Ava grabbed his hand.
Her fingers were freezing.
“Don’t let her touch me.”
Ethan looked up.
His face changed.
“Mom?”
Margaret’s expression hardened.
“Your wife is confused.”
Ava closed her eyes.
“Don’t listen to her.”
Margaret laughed.
“After everything I’ve done for you?”
Ava looked at her.
“You drugged me.”
The words hit the room like a gunshot.
Lena covered her mouth.
Ethan froze.
“What did you say?”
Margaret shook her head.
“No. She’s lying.”
Ava’s voice trembled.
“I’ve been getting weaker every day.”
She pointed toward the pills.
“Those were never vitamins.”
Ethan slowly stood.
His face was filled with disbelief.
“Mom…”
Margaret stepped closer.
“You’re really going to believe her?”
She pointed at Ava.
“She’s sick. She’s scared. She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”
Ethan looked at the documents.
Then the pills.
Then Ava.
And something inside him broke.
Because deep down…
He remembered.
The little things.
Ava forgetting conversations.
Ava sleeping all day.
Ava saying she felt strange after taking her “vitamins.”
He had ignored every warning.
Because Margaret had always been there.
Or at least…
That’s what he thought.
“I need answers.”
Margaret’s eyes narrowed.
“Ethan.”
“No.”
His voice became colder.
“I need the truth.”
For the first time in years…
Margaret looked afraid.
Then she smiled.
A dangerous smile.
“Fine.”
She walked toward the door.
“Ask your wife about the night of the accident.”
Ava’s face changed.
Ethan noticed.
“What does that mean?”
Margaret looked back.
“Ask her what she really remembers.”
Then she walked away.
Leaving behind a question…
May you like
That nobody wanted answered.
TO BE CONTINUED…
