Chapter 10 - The Slap Before the Candles
The party continued because Eleanor insisted it continue.
She told the guests that smoke from an electrical problem had caused a brief interruption. The firefighters confirmed the flames had been contained to one room, though one of them quietly told Daniel that the fire appeared deliberate.
Daniel kept Lily beside him.
Claire remained in the library under the supervision of his security team.
Rebecca stood near the cake, smiling for photographs as if nothing had happened.
Sophie looked miserable.
“Make a wish,” Rebecca told her.
The candles were lit.
Guests gathered in the main hallway. Amelia raised her phone to record the children singing.
Before Sophie could blow out the candles, Eleanor whispered something to Rebecca.
Rebecca looked toward Lily.
Then she stepped away from the cake.
“Lily,” she called. “Come with me.”
Daniel heard her, but one of the firefighters asked him to sign a statement. He looked toward Lily and saw Sophie holding her hand.
“Stay here,” he said.
Lily nodded.
Rebecca walked into the side hallway.
A moment later, Sophie leaned toward Lily.
“My mom took your scrapbook.”
“What?”
“She put it in the hall closet.”
“Why?”
“She said she needed to find the key.”
Lily touched the empty pocket of her dress.
The silver key was no longer there.
She hurried toward the hallway.
Sophie followed.
Neither child noticed Eleanor watching them.
Inside the closet, Lily found the scrapbook torn open on the floor. Several photographs had been removed.
Rebecca entered behind her.
“What are you doing?”
Lily turned.
“You broke my present.”
Rebecca closed the door.
“You brought something into this house that belongs to us.”
“I didn’t.”
“The silver key.”
“Dad has it.”
“No, he doesn’t. I saw you take it from his jacket.”
“I didn’t.”
Rebecca moved closer.
“Give it to me.”
Lily stepped backward.
“I don’t have it.”
Eleanor opened the closet door.
“Rebecca, not here.”
“She is lying.”
Eleanor looked down at Lily.
“Your mother taught you to keep secrets. That does not mean you should continue her mistakes.”
“Mommy didn’t make mistakes.”
Eleanor’s expression hardened.
“She nearly destroyed this family.”
Lily’s eyes filled with tears.
“You said she was dangerous.”
“She was.”
“You said Dad would stop loving me if he knew the truth.”
Rebecca glanced toward the hallway.
“Keep your voice down.”
Lily tried to leave.
Rebecca blocked her.
“You will apologize to Sophie for ruining the party.”
“I didn’t ruin it.”
“You will apologize.”
“No.”
Eleanor’s voice became low.
“Make her apologize, or tell her she doesn’t belong in this family.”
Rebecca looked at her mother.
“You want me to do it?”
“Daniel must understand that the girl is not one of us.”
Neither woman noticed Amelia’s phone beyond the partly open door.
Sophie had returned to the cake, and Amelia had turned while recording her.
Lily pushed past Rebecca.
“I’m telling Dad.”
Rebecca caught her arm.
Lily pulled free.
The child ran into the hallway.
Guests turned.
Rebecca followed, smiling as though nothing had happened.
“Lily, come back.”
Lily reached the gift table and picked up the damaged scrapbook.
“You broke it.”
Rebecca whispered through her smile.
“Put it down.”
“You took Mom’s pictures.”
“Stop making a scene.”
“They’re mine.”
Rebecca reached for the scrapbook.
Lily pulled it away.
A photograph slipped to the floor.
It showed Anna wearing the sapphire necklace.
Several relatives leaned closer.
Rebecca saw them.
Her control broke.
“You selfish little brat.”
Lily stepped backward.
Rebecca slapped her.
The sound ended the birthday song.
Daniel came running.
What followed happened exactly as Amelia’s recording captured it.
Lily asked whether she needed to apologize.
Rebecca claimed she had barely touched her.
Daniel saw the handprint.
Amelia raised her phone.
The second voice played.
Daniel turned toward Eleanor.
Then every light went out.
In the darkness, Daniel heard Rebecca scream.
He reached for Lily.
Her hand disappeared from his shirt.
When the emergency lights came on, Lily and Eleanor were gone.
The side door near the service hallway stood open.
May you like
On the floor beside it lay the sapphire necklace.
And beneath the necklace was a drop of blood.
