The storm had swallowed the street whole.
Rain hammered the windshield as Adrian Cole turned into the long driveway of his estate, headlights cutting through sheets of water. He had left the city early to surprise his family.
A rare night home.
Maybe dinner with his daughters.
Maybe finally fixing what work had slowly broken.

Then he saw them.
Two small figures barefoot in the rain.
Screaming.
Running toward the gate.
āDad!ā
Adrian slammed the brakes so hard the car skidded sideways.
He jumped out into ankle-deep water and ran.
Lila, eight, threw herself into his arms sobbing. Her younger sister Mia clung to his leg, shaking so hard she could barely stand.
āWhat happened?ā he shouted over the storm.

Lila pointed at the house.
āMom locked us outside!ā
Adrian froze.
āWhat?ā
āShe said we were being too loud,ā Mia cried. āWe were scared!ā
Something dark moved through his chest.
He carried one child and grabbed the otherās hand, storming toward the front door.
Inside, the mansion was warm.
Dry.
Quiet.
Soft piano music played from hidden speakers.
Candles glowed in the living room.
And on the couch sat his wife, Vanessa, wearing silk loungewear, sipping wine as if nothing had happened.
Across from herā
A younger man.
Relaxed.
Laughing.
Adrianās voice came out low and dangerous.
āYou locked my children outside?ā
Vanessa barely looked surprised.
āYou werenāt supposed to be home yet.ā
The room went still.
The stranger slowly stood.
āWho is he?ā Adrian asked.
Vanessa set down her glass.
āThatās not the real question.ā
Lila and Mia hid behind their father.
Adrian stepped forward.
āNo. The real question is why my daughters were screaming in a storm while you entertained a guest.ā
Vanessa smirked.
āBecause they interrupt everything.ā
Adrian stared at her like heād never seen her before.
Then Mia tugged his sleeve.
