Chapter 9
The driver’s door of the first dark vehicle opened.
Megan did not turn her head fully.
She kept her eyes moving between Brian, Lily, and the side mirror.
The person stepping out remained just beyond clear view.
A dark coat.
Measured movement.
No panic.
Brian’s shoulders stiffened.
Donna retreated one step toward the porch.
Chloe’s phone followed the movement, but she did not zoom or speak.
The calm male voice came through Megan’s phone one more time.
“Megan, keep your window up.”
“I am.”
“Is Lily still responsive?”
Megan looked back.
Lily’s eyes opened weakly when she heard her name.
“Yes. Barely.”
“Good. You’re doing well.”
Those four words nearly broke her.
You’re doing well.
No one in that house had said that while she tried to save her daughter.
Brian moved closer to the windshield but stopped before reaching the hood.
“Megan, listen to me,” he said. “You’re making this look worse than it is.”
Megan turned toward him slowly.
Her reddened cheek faced him fully.
“Worse than what?”
He froze.
She continued, voice quiet enough that only the phone and the closed car could capture it.
“Worse than hitting me? Worse than blocking the door? Worse than telling me not to take Lily to the hospital?”
Donna shouted, “Stop saying things like that!”
Chloe cried harder but kept recording.
Brian looked from Megan to the street.
The approaching figure had reached the edge of the driveway.
Still, the identity was not revealed.
Megan tightened her hand around the steering wheel.
She could feel Lily breathing behind her.
May you like
That was all that mattered.
Read Chapter 10 👉 Because the person walking up the driveway had not spoken yet, but Brian already looked like he knew the private family matter was over.
