CHAPTER 2: THE HOUSE THAT STARTED TALKING
CHAPTER 2: THE HOUSE THAT STARTED TALKING
Marcus Vale didn’t react when the recording ended.
Not immediately.
The screen had already gone dark, but the image stayed burned into him—his daughter on her knees, the dog bowl, Cassandra’s voice cutting through the kitchen like glass.
“That’s all you’re worth.”
Silence filled his office, but it wasn’t empty.
It was full.
Full of everything he had missed.
Every “she’s just grieving” he had accepted.
Every “it’s a phase” he had chosen to believe.
He slowly leaned back in his chair.
Not shaking.
May you like
Not breaking.
Just… shifting into decision.
