Chapter 1: The Woman Behind the Door

“Your wife,” Nia finally whispered.

I stared at her.

For several seconds, I genuinely believed I had misunderstood.

“My wife?”” I repeated.

Nia nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks.

“Mrs. Eleanor. She came home around noon.””

My wife.

Eleanor.

The woman I had kissed goodbye that morning. The woman who had texted me at 10:17 a.m. to remind me to pick up groceries. The woman who had supposedly been at a charity luncheon across town.

I looked at the two newborns.

Then I looked at Nia.

“Eleanor brought these babies here?””

“She brought them upstairs.””

“Where were they before that?””

Nia swallowed.

“I don't know, sir. They were already wrapped in blankets when she came through the door.””

I crouched beside her.

“Tell me exactly what happened.””

Nia glanced toward the locked door again.

“She told me to prepare your bedroom. I thought she wanted the sheets changed. Then two men carried the babies upstairs.””

My stomach tightened.

“Two men?””

“Yes. They wouldn't look at me. One of them had a hospital bag.””

I stood.

“Why didn't you call the police?””

Nia raised her wrist.

The skin beneath the white cloth was red and swollen.

“She took my phone.””

I felt something inside me turn cold.

“Who?””

“Mrs. Eleanor.””

I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed emergency services.

But before I could speak, Nia grabbed my arm.

“Please, sir. Don't tell her I told you.””

I looked down at her.

“She locked you in my bedroom. She took your phone. You have nothing to apologize for.””

One of the babies began crying.

Nia instinctively reached for the child, but her trembling hands stopped halfway.

I gently lifted the baby and placed the infant in her arms.

“Take your time,” I said.

She pressed her cheek against the baby's forehead.

“I don't understand why she brought them here,” she whispered.

Neither did I.

I called the police, explained what I had found, and gave them our address.

Then I called my lawyer, Daniel.

“Daniel, I need you at my house.””

He sounded distracted.

“Is something wrong?””

“There are two newborn babies in my bedroom. Nia has been locked inside with them.””

Silence.

Then Daniel asked something that made my blood run cold.

“Did Eleanor tell you where she was today?””

I frowned.

“What does that have to do with anything?””

“Just answer me.””

“She said she was attending a charity luncheon.””

Another silence.

“Listen carefully,” Daniel said.

“Don't let anyone remove those babies. Don't sign anything. And don't confront Eleanor until I get there.””

“Why?””

“I'll explain when I arrive.””

I ended the call.

Nia was watching me.

“Sir?””

“Yes?””

“There's something else.””

I turned toward her.

She looked down at the babies.

“Mrs. Eleanor said the children weren't supposed to stay here. She said someone would collect them before you returned.””

“Who?””

“I don't know.””

“Did she say anything about their parents?””

Nia hesitated.

Then she whispered, “She said the father had already agreed.””

I felt my pulse quicken.

“Agreed to what?””

Nia opened her mouth.

A sharp knock interrupted her.

Three heavy strikes against the bedroom door.

Then Eleanor's voice came through.

“Darling? Are you home?””

I looked at the door.

My wife sounded perfectly calm.

“Why is the bedroom locked?”” she asked.

I didn't answer.

“Darling?””

Then her voice changed.

“Who told you to go upstairs?””

I glanced at Nia.

She had gone completely pale.

Eleanor knocked again.

This time, harder.

“Open this door.””

I walked toward it.

Before I could reach the handle, my phone vibrated.

A message from Daniel appeared.

*DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. I JUST CHECKED THE HOSPITAL RECORDS. THOSE BABIES WERE REGISTERED UNDER YOUR NAME.*

I read it twice.

My name.

My date of birth.

My home address.

I stared at the screen, struggling to understand what I was seeing.

Then another message arrived.

*THERE'S SOMETHING WORSE. ONE OF THE BABIES HAS YOUR BLOOD TYPE LISTED.*

I slowly turned toward the two infants.

Outside, Eleanor stopped knocking.

For several seconds, the hallway was silent.

Then she spoke.

“Darling, I know you can hear me.””

Her voice was no longer gentle.

“You need to understand something. Those babies are not supposed to be here.””

I stepped toward the door.

“Then why did you bring them into my house?””

She didn't answer immediately.

Instead, I heard her take a breath.

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