Chapter 2: The Gift
Adrian stared at Vanessa for several seconds.
“Why shouldn't I open it?””
Vanessa's face had lost its color.
“I just meant… we should calm everyone down first.””
Claire stepped between them.
“No. Open it.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“Claire, this isn't your business.””
“It became my business when you accused a six-year-old of lying.””
Mia stood beside Claire, still clutching the stained skirt of her dress. Her eyes stayed fixed on the silver-wrapped box.
Adrian slowly crossed the room.
The party guests moved aside without saying a word.
The music was still playing in the background, absurdly cheerful compared to the silence that had settled over the house.
Adrian picked up the package.
It was small enough to fit in both hands.
A white ribbon crossed the top.
There was a little card attached.
He turned it over.
His eyebrows pulled together.
There was no name.
No message.
Nothing.
“Where did this come from?”” Adrian asked.
Vanessa folded her arms.
“I don't know.””
Claire gave her a hard look.
“You were standing beside the gift table all afternoon.””
“So were half the people here.””
Adrian studied the box.
“Mia, is this your present?””
She nodded.
“I thought it was from you.””
“I didn't buy this.””
Mia looked confused.
“But you said I might have a giant present.””
“I did. Not this.””
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“Maybe someone brought it for her.””
Adrian looked at her.
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“Then why are you acting like you do?””
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
“I said I don't know.””
Claire reached for the box.
“Give it to me.””
Adrian didn't move.
“I'll open it.””
He pulled the ribbon free.
The wrapping paper came loose.
Inside was a small black device nestled in white foam.
For a moment, nobody understood what they were looking at.
Then Claire leaned closer.
“That's a camera.””
Mia frowned.
“A camera?””
Adrian picked it up.
It was about the size of a deck of cards.
A tiny lens sat in the center.
There was a memory card slot along the side.
Vanessa took one step backward.
“No.””
Adrian looked at her.
“You just said you didn't know what this was.””
“I don't.””
“Then why did you say no?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Claire noticed something else.
“There’s a phone beside it.””
Adrian reached into the box.
A cheap prepaid phone lay beneath the camera.
The screen was already on.
One notification appeared.
*Camera connected.*
Another followed.
*Live recording active.*
The room seemed to shrink.
Adrian looked at the screen.
“Who set this up?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I told you. I don't know.””
Claire's eyes never left her.
“You're lying.””
Vanessa snapped.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me.””
Adrian held up a hand.
“Stop.””
He turned back to the device.
A small red light was blinking beside the lens.
The camera was recording.
Right now.
Adrian's expression changed.
“Can we see the footage?””
Claire nodded.
“There should be an app.””
She took the phone from him.
Her fingers moved quickly.
Then she froze.
“What?””
Adrian stepped closer.
“The footage is here.””
Mia looked up at them.
“Can it show Daddy?””
Claire crouched beside her.
“Yes.””
“Can it show what Aunt Vanessa did?””
Claire's eyes flicked toward Vanessa.
“Yes.””
Mia swallowed.
“Then please watch it.””
Vanessa suddenly grabbed the phone.
“No.””
Adrian caught her wrist before she could pull away.
“Vanessa.””
She stared at him.
“Give it back.””
“Why?””
“Because this is private.””
“What private?””
“The camera.””
Adrian released her wrist and took the phone from her.
“You just tried to stop me from watching evidence that could prove whether my daughter was telling the truth.””
“I was trying to protect the party.””
“The party is already ruined.””
Vanessa's voice rose.
“You think I did something to her?””
Adrian didn't answer.
That silence hurt more than any accusation.
Vanessa looked around the room.
“You all think I'm some kind of monster.””
Nobody spoke.
She looked at Mia.
The little girl immediately stepped behind Claire.
Vanessa noticed.
Her face hardened.
“See?””
Claire stepped forward.
“Don't.””
“What?””
“Don't use her fear against her.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“She's afraid because you've convinced her I'm dangerous.””
Claire stared at her.
“I haven't had to convince her of anything.””
The words landed heavily.
Adrian looked at the phone again.
“I'm playing the video.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Adrian, wait.””
He pressed the screen.
The footage appeared.
At first it showed the living room from a high angle.
The image was clear.
Guests moved around the birthday table.
Mia's cousins ran past.
Claire carried a tray of drinks.
Adrian entered through the front door.
The video had sound.
Every laugh.
Every song.
Every word.
Mia watched the screen.
“That's me.””
Claire squeezed her hand.
“Yes.””
The video continued.
Then Mia saw herself following Vanessa toward the hallway.
Her small fingers curled around Claire's.
“There,” she whispered.
Vanessa looked away.
On the screen, Mia said something.
The audio was too soft to understand.
Vanessa responded.
Claire leaned closer.
“What did she say?””
The room became completely silent.
Everyone watched.
The image showed Vanessa holding a large glass bowl filled with strawberry frosting.
Mia stood several feet away.
She wasn't touching Vanessa.
She wasn't running.
She wasn't even close.
Then Vanessa looked toward the living room.
She glanced at the camera.
Her face changed.
Claire's eyes widened.
“Oh my God.””
Adrian stared at the screen.
Vanessa suddenly reached down.
She tipped the bowl.
Not toward Mia.
She tipped it into her own hand.
Then she smeared frosting across the front of Mia's dress.
Mia screamed.
A collective gasp moved through the room.
Someone whispered, “No…”
Adrian's face went completely still.
On the screen, Mia backed away.
Vanessa grabbed her arm.
The sound became clearer.
“Don't tell your father,” Vanessa said.
Mia cried.
“You hurt me.””
“I said don't tell him.””
“I want Daddy.””
“Stop crying.””
“You made my dress dirty.””
“And you're going to tell them you did it yourself.””
Mia shook her head.
Vanessa crouched down until her face was close to Mia's.
“Listen to me. Nobody is going to believe you if you make a scene.””
Claire covered her mouth.
Adrian didn't move.
The video continued.
Mia tried to pull away.
Vanessa tightened her grip.
Then she released her.
She picked up the bowl, stepped backward, and deliberately dropped it.
The bowl shattered against the floor.
The impact made several guests jump.
On the screen, Vanessa looked at the ruined dress.
Then she turned toward the living room.
Her expression changed instantly.
She wiped her face.
She made herself look shocked.
The footage ended with her shouting for help.
Nobody breathed.
Nobody moved.
The birthday candles had burned lower.
The music had stopped.
The only sound was Mia's quiet crying.
Adrian slowly lowered the phone.
He looked at his daughter.
Then at Vanessa.
Then back at the screen.
“You did this.””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“No.””
“It's on video.””
“You don't understand.””
“I understand exactly what I saw.””
Vanessa stepped toward him.
“You don't know the whole story.””
“Then tell me.””
“I was angry.””
Adrian stared at her.
“At a six-year-old?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“She wouldn't listen to me.””
“She’s six.””
“She’s spoiled!””
Mia flinched.
Adrian's voice dropped.
“Don't call my daughter spoiled.””
Vanessa pointed toward Mia.
“She always gets away with everything!””
Claire stepped closer.
“That's your excuse?””
“You don't know what she's like!””
“No,” Claire said.
“But now we know what you're like.””
Vanessa's face twisted.
“You think you know me because of one video?””
“One video showing exactly what you said never happened.””
Vanessa looked around the room.
Her friends wouldn't meet her eyes.
Her sister had moved away from her.
Even the children had stopped whispering.
For the first time since the incident, Vanessa looked alone.
Then she noticed something.
The recording hadn't stopped.
The red light on the camera was still blinking.
Vanessa stared at it.
Adrian noticed.
“What?””
She said nothing.
Claire walked toward the camera.
“It's still recording.””
Adrian looked at the phone.
The screen displayed a red timer.
*02:17:43*
His brow furrowed.
“That means it recorded everything?””
Claire nodded.
“Everything.””
Vanessa's breathing changed.
“Turn it off.””
Adrian looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because you have no right.””
“No right to record my own house?””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“You're not thinking clearly.””
“Don't tell me what I'm thinking.””
“I can explain.””
“You've had every opportunity to explain.””
Vanessa's voice cracked.
“Please.””
The word surprised everyone.
Adrian stared at her.
Then he asked quietly, “Who gave Mia this camera?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
“Mia?””
The little girl shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Claire looked at the box again.
She picked up the phone.
“There might be a clue.””
She checked the notifications.
“There are several recordings.””
Adrian came closer.
“What kind?””
“Motion detected.””
Claire scrolled.
“Before the party. During the party. And…”
She stopped.
“What?””
Her finger hovered over the screen.
“There was a recording made last night.””
Adrian frowned.
“Last night?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Claire opened it.
The screen showed the same room.
The house was dark.
Empty.
Then, at 11:48 p.m., someone walked into the frame.
The figure was wearing a dark coat.
The face couldn't be seen.
The person placed the camera inside the gift box.
Then they looked directly toward the lens.
The image paused for a second.
Claire's breath caught.
“I know that person.””
Adrian turned toward her.
“Who?””
Claire didn't answer immediately.
She zoomed in.
The figure lifted a hand.
A silver bracelet reflected the camera's tiny light.
Vanessa saw it.
And her entire expression changed.
“No,” she whispered.
Adrian looked at her.
“Vanessa…”
But before he could finish, the phone buzzed again.
A new notification appeared.
*1 new video received.*
Claire opened it.
May you like
The sender's name appeared at the top.
*MOM.*
