Chapter 3: The Recovered Footage
Ethan didn't look at Sophia.
His eyes stayed on the monitor.
“Play it.””
Gloria pressed the button.
The footage appeared.
The same living room.
The same coffee table.
The same family photographs lining the wall.
Sophia entered the frame carrying a folder.
She looked toward the camera.
Then toward the hallway.
She waited.
No one came.
Sophia placed the folder on the coffee table.
Ethan leaned closer.
“That's the folder.””
Gloria looked at him.
“You recognize it?””
“I've seen it in her office.””
Sophia shook her head.
“You're misunderstanding what you're seeing.””
Ethan didn't turn around.
“Then explain it.””
Sophia remained silent.
On the monitor, Sophia opened the folder.
She removed several pages.
Then she placed them beside a pen.
She picked up the pen.
The video froze.
Ethan's voice dropped.
“Why is it paused?””
Gloria stared at the controls.
“I didn't pause it.””
Sophia's eyes widened.
The monitor flickered.
The image resumed.
Sophia was now sitting at the coffee table.
A phone rested against her shoulder.
Her voice was faint, but the microphone caught it.
“No. He won't remember.””
Ethan stiffened.
Sophia closed her eyes.
Gloria pressed the volume higher.
Sophia continued.
“He trusts me.””
Ethan slowly turned toward his wife.
Sophia whispered, “Ethan…”
He raised one hand.
“Don't.””
The footage continued.
Sophia looked toward the doorway.
Then she pulled a sheet of paper from the folder.
The camera angle captured only part of it.
But at the bottom was the same signature.
Ethan's signature.
His face went pale.
“That isn't mine.””
Gloria watched the screen.
“I know.””
Sophia shook her head.
“You don't understand.””
Ethan turned.
“Then make me understand.””
“I can explain.””
“Explain why you said I wouldn't remember.””
Sophia's breathing became uneven.
“I didn't mean it like that.””
“How did you mean it?””
“I was talking about something else.””
Gloria stepped closer.
“Who were you talking to?””
Sophia looked at her.
Then at Ethan.
“I don't know.””
Ethan stared at her.
“You don't know who you were talking to?””
Sophia said nothing.
The footage suddenly jumped forward.
Sophia was standing now.
She picked up the document.
For a brief moment, the entire page was visible.
Gloria reached toward the monitor.
“Stop.””
Ethan grabbed the remote.
“Don't.””
He pressed pause.
The document filled the screen.
Ethan stared at his signature.
Below it was a date.
His expression changed.
“That date…”
Gloria looked at him.
“What?””
“I wasn't here that night.””
Sophia backed away.
Ethan turned toward her.
“Where was I?””
Sophia’s lips trembled.
“I don't remember.””
“You just said you remembered nothing.””
“I was confused.””
“You knew the date.””
Sophia shook her head.
“Ethan, listen to me.””
He took one step toward her.
“No. You listen to me.””
His voice was quiet now.
“Someone used my name.””
Sophia said nothing.
“Someone used my signature.””
Still nothing.
“And you know why.””
Sophia's eyes filled with tears again.
This time, Ethan didn't move toward her.
He simply watched.
Gloria reached for the remote.
Before she could press anything, the monitor chimed.
A notification appeared over the frozen footage.
*FILE TRANSFER COMPLETE.*
Ethan frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Gloria looked at the screen.
A second notification appeared.
*RECIPIENT: ETHAN.*
Ethan slowly reached for his phone.
It buzzed in his hand.
One new message.
No number.
No name.
May you like
Just a single sentence:
*If you want the truth about your signature, don't trust the woman standing behind you.*
