Chapter 5: The Person Who Knew Before Me
I answered the call.
Nobody moved.
The dining room suddenly felt smaller.
Like the walls were closing in around us.
“Hello?””
For three seconds, there was only silence.
Then a woman spoke.
“Marcus?””
I didn’t recognize the voice.
“Who is this?””
The woman hesitated.
“My name is Renee.””
Bianca’s face changed.
Not fear this time.
Recognition.
She whispered one word.
“No.””
I heard it.
The woman on the phone heard it too.
“She’s there, isn’t she?””
I looked at Bianca.
“Who is Renee?””
Nobody answered.
That was the answer.
“Marcus,” the woman continued, “I’m sorry you had to find out this way.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Find out what?””
Bianca stepped forward.
“Hang up.””
I turned.
“No.””
Her eyes flashed.
“Marcus, you don’t know her.””
The woman on the phone gave a quiet laugh.
“I think he knows enough.””
I looked toward Maya.
She was holding Lily close.
Both of them were watching me.
Waiting.
“Renee,” I said, “tell me why you’re calling.””
A long pause followed.
Then she said:
“Because I was where you are now.””
The room went still.
“What does that mean?””
“I trusted Bianca.””
My jaw tightened.
“You know my wife?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Another pause.
“She worked for me.””
I frowned.
“Worked for you?””
“Yes.””
The confusion on my face must have been obvious because Renee continued.
“She was our nanny.””
The words didn’t make sense.
I looked at Bianca.
“She told me she met you years ago.””
Renee sighed.
“She told you a lot of things.””
Bianca’s face turned pale.
“Marcus, don’t listen.””
I ignored her.
“What happened?””
Renee’s voice became quieter.
“My son was five when Bianca started taking care of him.””
My stomach dropped.
“Your son?””
“Yes.””
I looked at Lily.
Then at Bianca.
“Why did you stop working for her?””
Renee didn’t answer immediately.
Then:
“Because I found videos.””
My heart sank.
The same word.
Videos.
“What kind of videos?””
“Videos of him crying.””
Nobody spoke.
“She said he was difficult. She said she was documenting his behavior.””
My eyes closed.
It was the same excuse.
The same pattern.
The same cruelty.
“How long?””
“Eight months.””
Bianca shook her head.
“No.””
Renee continued.
“She made me believe my son was the problem.””
Maya looked at me.
Her eyes said what neither of us wanted to admit.
This wasn’t new.
This was who Bianca was.
I turned away from Bianca.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?””
Renee’s voice cracked.
“Because Bianca threatened me.””
The room went silent.
“She told me nobody would believe me.””
My eyes moved toward my wife.
“She said I was unstable.””
Bianca’s face hardened.
“Enough.””
I looked at her.
“You threatened her?””
“She’s lying.””
Renee answered immediately.
“She always says that.””
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
Because Bianca’s favorite weapon wasn’t anger.
It was making people doubt themselves.
“Marcus,” Renee said, “check her messages.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Her old phone.””
Bianca froze.
I noticed.
Renee noticed.
“She keeps backups.””
Bianca stepped toward me.
“Don’t.””
The same word.
The same fear.
I walked toward the kitchen counter where Bianca’s old phone charger sat.
I remembered the device.
She had kept her previous phone after upgrading.
I picked it up.
Bianca followed.
“Marcus, you’re crossing a line.””
I looked at her.
“You crossed it first.””
The phone was locked.
I turned back.
“Password.””
“No.””
“Password, Bianca.””
She stared at me.
Then she laughed softly.
“You think you’re the hero here?””
I said nothing.
“You think you’re saving them?””
Her voice changed.
“You don’t even know what you’re about to destroy.””
I looked at Lily.
Then Maya.
Then the phone.
“Password.””
Bianca looked at the screen.
And finally whispered:
“0324.””
I entered it.
The phone unlocked.
The first thing I saw was a folder.
My hands went cold.
Because the name was not Bianca’s.
May you like
It was mine.
*Marcus.*
