CHAPTER 5 The Enemy Inside the Family
Bethany did not sleep that night.
Not because she was afraid of what would happen tomorrow.
But because she could not understand what had happened tonight.
Someone had turned the game against her.
For years, Bethany had been the person who collected secrets.
She knew everyone’s weaknesses.
She knew which words could hurt people.
She knew which memories to bring up during arguments.
She had always believed information was power.
But now…
Someone had information about her.
And that terrified her.
The video played again on her phone.
Her own voice.
Her own words.
Her own cruelty.
She watched herself laughing while talking about Rosie.
“She’s too sensitive.”
“She needs discipline.”
“She needs to stop acting like a princess.”
The words sounded different now.
When she said them, she believed she was being honest.
Now they sounded ugly.
Cold.
Cruel.
Bethany threw the phone onto the bed.
“No.”
She shook her head.
“This is impossible.”
She grabbed her phone and called the unknown number.
The call connected immediately.
But nobody spoke.
Only silence.
“Who are you?”
Nothing.
“Stop playing games.”
Still nothing.
Bethany’s anger returned.
“You think you can scare me?”
A voice finally answered.
A calm voice.
“You should be scared.”
Bethany froze.
“Who are you?”
“You’ll know soon enough.”
The call ended.
She stared at the phone.
Then she noticed something.
The person on the other end had not sounded angry.
They sounded disappointed.
And somehow, that was worse.
The next morning, Ethan woke up early.
Rosie was still sleeping.
He quietly walked downstairs and prepared breakfast.
For the first time in days, the house felt calm.
But he knew it would not last.
His phone showed dozens of notifications.
Family members.
Old friends.
People asking questions.
The story had already started spreading.
Not publicly.
Not yet.
But rumors moved quickly.
Especially when powerful people were involved.
Ethan opened one message.
From a relative.
Everyone is saying you attacked Bethany. Are you really going to let this ruin the family?
He stared at it.
Then another message arrived.
Your father is furious.
Another.
Bethany says she was only trying to help Rosie.
Ethan slowly put the phone down.
Help.
That word almost made him angry enough to break something.
But then he heard footsteps.
“Daddy?”
He turned.
Rosie stood at the bottom of the stairs holding her stuffed rabbit.
Her hair was messy.
Her eyes were still sleepy.
And somehow, seeing her made all the anger disappear.
“Good morning, princess.”
She walked toward him.
“Are we staying here today?”
“Yes.”
“Forever?”
The question surprised him.
“Why do you ask?”
She looked down.
“Because I don’t like when people yell.”
Ethan crouched down.
“Rosie.”
“Yes?”
“You never have to worry about grown-up problems.”
“But grown-ups make problems.”
He smiled sadly.
“Yes.”
She hugged her rabbit.
“Can you promise something?”
“What?”
“Promise you won’t let anyone hurt me again.”
Ethan felt his throat tighten.
He placed his hand over hers.
“I promise.”
And this time, he meant it.
At 10 a.m., Laura called.
“Ethan.”
He immediately knew something was wrong.
“What happened?”
“I received a message from someone.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
A pause.
“But they sent me additional evidence.”
Ethan sat down.
“What kind of evidence?”
“More recordings.”
His expression changed.
“Of Bethany?”
“Yes.”
“Where did they come from?”
“That’s the strange part.”
Laura lowered her voice.
“They were recorded inside your parents’ house.”
Ethan frowned.
“Inside?”
“Yes.”
A cold feeling moved through him.
“Someone in the family has been watching.”
An hour later, Daniel arrived.
When Ethan told him, Daniel became quiet.
“Ethan…”
“What?”
“I think I know who it might be.”
Ethan looked at him.
“Who?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Your father.”
Ethan frowned.
“My father?”
“Think about it.”
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Your father always records business meetings.”
“So?”
“He has cameras everywhere in the house.”
Ethan stood still.
The possibility had never crossed his mind.
Richard Carter was obsessed with security.
He always said:
“Information protects people.”
But maybe…
Information could also expose them.
“Why would my father record Bethany?”
Daniel shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
That afternoon, Ethan returned to the mansion.
But this time, he didn’t go inside.
He stood outside near the garden.
The same garden where Rosie had been hurt.
He looked around.
The flowers.
The trees.
The birthday decorations that had been removed.
Then he noticed something.
A small security camera attached to the corner of the house.
He stared at it.
His father had cameras everywhere.
Every hallway.
Every entrance.
Every room.
Including this garden.
Meaning…
His father had seen everything.
Ethan walked inside.
Richard was in his office.
Working.
As if nothing had happened.
Ethan closed the door behind him.
“Dad.”
Richard looked up.
“You came.”
“Yes.”
Richard returned to his computer.
“I assume you’re here to apologize.”
Ethan almost smiled.
“Apologize?”
“Yes.”
Richard finally looked at him.
“You embarrassed your sister.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“You saw the video.”
Richard became still.
Only for a second.
But Ethan noticed.
“You saw everything.”
Richard said nothing.
“You watched my daughter get hurt.”
Silence.
“And you did nothing.”
Richard looked away.
“That’s not what happened.”
“Then tell me what happened.”
Richard remained quiet.
Ethan’s voice became lower.
“You had cameras.”
No answer.
“You had proof.”
Still nothing.
“And you let everyone pretend it was a joke.”
Richard stood.
“You don’t understand.”
Ethan stared at him.
“Then explain.”
Richard walked toward the window.
“Bethany has always been difficult.”
“That’s your excuse?”
“No.”
Richard sighed.
“She has problems.”
Ethan shook his head.
“Everyone has problems.”
He pointed toward the door.
“But Rosie was four years old.”
Richard closed his eyes.
For the first time, Ethan saw something unexpected.
Regret.
“I thought she would stop.”
The words were quiet.
Ethan froze.
“You knew?”
Richard looked away.
“I thought Bethany was just being harsh.”
The room became cold.
“You knew.”
Richard didn’t answer.
“You knew my daughter was scared.”
A pause.
“And you did nothing.”
Richard finally looked at him.
“I made a mistake.”
Ethan stared.
“No.”
His voice was filled with disappointment.
“You made a choice.”
That night, Richard sat alone in his office.
For the first time, he watched the footage.
Not as a father.
Not as a businessman.
As a grandfather.
He watched Rosie cry.
He watched Bethany grab her.
He watched himself standing in the distance.
Doing nothing.
The image broke something inside him.
Because the person he had failed was not Ethan.
It was Rosie.
His granddaughter.
A child who had once run into his arms every time she saw him.
His phone rang.
Bethany.
He answered.
“What?”
Her voice was nervous.
“Dad…”
“What happened?”
“I need your help.”
Richard closed his eyes.
For years, he had protected Bethany.
Covered for her.
Fixed her mistakes.
But this time was different.
This time, there was no mistake to fix.
There was a child who had been hurt.
And there was a family falling apart because everyone had chosen silence.
“Bethany.”
“Yes?”
His voice was heavy.
“I think we need to stop protecting you.”
Silence.
“What?”
Richard looked at the security footage.
“I think we need to tell the truth.”
Bethany’s breathing changed.
“Dad, don’t.”
But Richard had already made his decision.
Because sometimes the hardest punishment was not losing.
May you like
It was finally facing what you had done.
End of Chapter 5
