Chapter 3: The Secret Behind the Scissors
Mia walked into the hallway to answer the call.
My father followed.
“Who was that?””
She turned around quickly.
“Nobody.””
“Don’t lie to me.””
Her face hardened.
“You don’t trust me?””
My father looked at her.
“I’m trying to understand you.””
“That’s funny.””
She laughed.
“Everyone always understands Emma.””
The bitterness in her voice was almost frightening.
I stood behind my father, watching.
For years, I thought Mia hated me because she was cruel.
But now I wondered if there was something else.
Something hidden.
My father lowered his voice.
“Mia, tell me what’s going on.””
She looked away.
“I can’t.””
“Why?””
No answer.
Then her phone buzzed again.
This time, she didn’t pick it up.
My father reached for it.
Mia grabbed it first.
“Don’t.””
That reaction told us everything.
“What are you hiding?””
“Nothing.””
“Then let me see.””
“No!””
Her voice echoed through the hallway.
Everyone froze.
Mia looked at all of us.
And for the first time, I saw fear instead of anger.
Rachel stepped forward.
“Daniel, stop.””
My father turned.
“No.””
He looked between them.
“What is happening in this house?””
Nobody answered.
Then my phone buzzed.
A notification.
A message from an unknown number.
I opened it.
And my entire body went cold.
There was a photo attached.
A photo of my graduation dress.
But not from today.
From last night.
Someone had taken a picture of it hanging in my room.
Underneath the photo was a message:
Ask your stepsister why she wasn’t the only one holding the scissors.
I stopped breathing.
“Emma?””
My father looked at me.
I couldn’t speak.
I handed him the phone.
He read the message.
Then his eyes slowly lifted toward Mia.
“Mia.””
She went pale.
“I can explain.””
The room became completely silent.
Because everyone knew one thing.
Mia had not acted alone.
May you like
And whoever had been standing beside her last night…
Was someone inside our family.
