Chapter 2 - The Silent War
Rosemary knew better than to reveal her hand too early. With the phone tucked safely in her pocket, she forced her expression into one of weary resignation. She closed the blue box with a deliberate, slow click.
"I’m here to take Hazel for the weekend, Derek," Rosemary said, her tone deceptively flat. "Gianna is… she’s resting. The doctors want her to stay a few extra days for observation. I’m sure you understand the hospital's protocols."
Derek’s eyes darted to the blue box, then back to Rosemary’s face. He was searching for a tremor, a sign of fear, anything that would confirm he still held the power. Evelyn, standing just behind him, crossed her arms, her lips curling into a thin, synthetic smile.
"A few days?" Evelyn chimed in, her voice dripping with false concern. "Poor dear. She’s always been so clumsy. We’ll be happy to look after Hazel. It’s for the best, really. Stability is what the child needs right now."
Rosemary felt a surge of white-hot fury, but she buried it under layers of professional detachment. "Of course. I just wanted to pick up some of her clothes and her favorite stuffed bear. She won't sleep without it."
Derek hesitated, his eyes narrowing. For a terrifying second, he seemed ready to deny her. But Rosemary didn't flinch. She had spent years watching men like him crumble under the pressure of their own ego. She made it look like she believed their lie—that she was just a worried grandmother who accepted the narrative of Gianna’s "instability."
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"Go on then," Derek muttered, stepping aside. "But don't linger. We have plans this evening."
Rosemary walked past them, her heart hammering against her ribs. She went to Hazel’s room, her hands shaking as she packed a small bag. She didn't find the bear, but she found something else—a small, voice-activated recorder Hazel had used to play with. She slipped it into her pocket alongside her phone. She would need every piece of evidence she could get. When she left the house, she didn't look back. The silent war had begun, and she was already two moves ahead.
