CHAPTER 2 — THE TRUTH BEHIND THE BRUISES
The name echoed in my head.
Grandpa Richard.
My own father.
The man Chloe had always run to whenever we visited.
The man I trusted to babysit her.
The man I had never questioned.
"There has to be some mistake," I whispered.
Chloe shook her head.
"There isn't."
She reached beneath her bed and pulled out a small notebook wrapped in a pink ribbon.
"I wrote everything down."
My hands trembled as I opened it.
Every page carried a date.
Some pages had childish drawings.
Others were filled with short sentences written in shaky handwriting.
"Grandpa got angry today."
"He squeezed my arm because I moved."
"He said if I told Daddy, he would leave me forever."
The notebook slipped from my hands.
My knees nearly gave out.
For months...
My daughter had been carrying this nightmare alone.
I wrapped my arms around her.
"You did nothing wrong."
"None of this is your fault."
She buried her face against my chest.
"I wanted to tell you."
"But Grandpa said nobody would believe me."
My heart broke.
"I believe you."
"I always will."
Just then, Meredith quietly stepped into the doorway.
She looked from Chloe...
To the notebook...
Then to the bruises.
Her face turned white.
"Harrison..."
"What happened?"
I couldn't speak.
I simply handed her the diary.
As she turned each page, tears streamed down her face.
Without saying another word, she picked up her phone.
"I'm calling the police."
Before I could answer...
The front door opened downstairs.
Richard had arrived.
May you like
He had come to watch Chloe's recital.
He had no idea everything had just chang
