Chapter 2 FaçAde

• The following days unfolded in a blur of routine—school, errands, and family time, all laced with a growing sense of unease that Victoria struggled to shake off. Every time she glanced at her phone, the buzzing sensation of it felt like a weight in her pocket, a constant reminder of the unresolved tension hanging in the air. The suggestive texts haunted her thoughts, and the more she tried to dismiss them, the more they festered like an untreated wound.
• As she set about her daily tasks, she noticed how her interactions with Daniel had shifted. He was still charming, still affectionate, but there was an undercurrent of something unspoken that made her skin crawl. He would often come home late, his excuses always wrapped in a smooth package of corporate jargon that only served to deepen her suspicion.
• That Friday evening, Victoria found herself in a daze, her mind racing as she prepared dinner. The sizzle of vegetables in the pan and the bubbling of pasta in the pot felt like a distant reality as she stood there, knife in hand, slicing through the air more forcefully than necessary. It was the same meal they always had on Fridays: spaghetti and meatballs, but tonight, it felt like she was serving up a false sense of normalcy.
• “Mommy, can I help?” Ethan asked, tugging at her apron, his little face bright with excitement.
• “Of course, sweetie! You can set the table,” she said, forcing a smile. He bounced away, and she allowed herself a moment of silence. Leaning against the counter, she felt the weight of the world pressing down on her chest.
• What do I even know about Daniel? The question spiraled through her mind, relentless and suffocating. She had trusted him completely, but now that trust felt like a fragile shell, ready to shatter at the slightest pressure.
• After dinner was served, Victoria took a moment to gather her thoughts. The aroma of the meal wafted through the kitchen, a comforting presence amidst her swirling doubts. Should she confront him directly? No, that could lead to chaos—chaos that could spill over and disrupt Ethan’s innocent world. Instead, she decided on a quieter approach.
• Victoria glanced at the clock; it was almost time for Daniel to come home. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising anxiety in her chest. As she cleared the table, her mind began to formulate a plan.
• After Ethan had eaten his fill and disappeared into the living room to play, she would take a closer look at Daniel’s phone. It felt invasive, wrong even, but the need to know overwhelmed her better judgment. What harm could come from a little investigation?
• Daniel’s laughter echoed through the house as he walked in, greeted by Ethan’s delighted squeals. He wrapped his arms around both of them, planting kisses on Ethan’s cheeks while Victoria plastered on a smile, the façade of the perfect family in place.
• “How’s my little superhero?” Daniel asked, tousling Ethan’s hair as he lifted him into the air.
• “He’s saving the world!” Victoria replied, her voice light but strained as she fought to keep her emotions in check. She excused herself to the kitchen, her heart racing as the plan began to take shape.
• With each clatter of dishes, her mind raced. She’d need to wait until he was distracted, perhaps after dinner when he settled down with the television.
• As she finished cleaning up, she caught sight of herself in the reflection of the microwave. Her eyes were shadowed, and her face looked weary, as though the very act of maintaining this normalcy drained her spirit.
• Why is this so hard?
• Tears threatened to spill over, but she quickly blinked them back, inhaling deeply to quell the rising tide of sadness. Not now, she told herself, focusing on her family instead.
• The evening unfolded like a well-rehearsed play. They ate together, Daniel engaged with Ethan, laughing and making silly faces while Victoria contributed only half-heartedly, her mind elsewhere. They chatted about Ethan’s day at school, but Victoria’s responses were automatic, her thoughts tangled in a web of suspicion and heartbreak.
• “Did you make any new friends today?” Daniel asked, his eyes bright with interest.
• “Yeah! I played with Jamie. He has the coolest dinosaur stickers!” Ethan beamed, his little hands animated as he described the stickers.
• “That’s awesome, buddy! We should get some stickers for you to bring to school!” Daniel replied, a warm smile lighting up his face.
• Victoria watched them, her heart aching. Why can’t I feel this happy?
• When dinner finally came to an end, and Daniel moved to the living room to catch up on a game, Victoria found a moment of solitude. She rushed to their bedroom, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination.
• She picked up Daniel’s phone from the bedside table, the screen still illuminated from when he had last used it. The messages from Maya flashed in her mind, a haunting specter she couldn’t shake.
• What if I find something? What if I don’t?
• Her breath caught in her throat as she held the device, contemplating the betrayal she was about to commit. It felt wrong, but her need to know outweighed her morals. She pressed her thumb against the screen, and it lit up, revealing a world of notifications.
• Just then, the front door creaked open, and Ethan scampered past, shouting something about a monster in the living room. “Mom! Come quick! There’s a monster!”
• Victoria dropped the phone back onto the bed, her heart racing as she rushed to join them, guilt washing over her like cold water.
• Daniel’s laughter rang out, easing her anxiety momentarily. “I think the monster is just a pillow!” he called, his voice playful.
• “No way! It’s a huge, scary pillow!” Ethan insisted, his little feet pounding across the floor.
• Victoria took a deep breath, forcing her emotions back down, reminding herself that dinner had gone well and that they were still a family, even if it felt like they were teetering on the brink of chaos.
• As she entered the living room, Ethan was jumping up and down, waving a pillow around like a sword, his laughter infectious. “See, Mom? I told you!”
• “Alright, brave Ethan the Monster Slayer! Let’s get that pillow!” Victoria said, joining in the playful banter, her heart softening at the sight of their joy.
• For now, she would maintain the façade. But deep inside, the knot of anxiety twisted tighter, and she knew the truth was lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.
• As she tucked Ethan in later that night, she felt the weight of her decision press down on her. She lingered by the door, watching him drift off, the innocent rise and fall of his chest pulling at her heartstrings. She longed for the day when she wouldn’t feel this way, when her family could be whole without the shadows lurking around them.
• I’ll find out the truth, she promised herself silently. But for now, she would tuck her feelings away, putting on a brave face, if only to protect the innocence of her little superhero.