PART 2 — WHAT MY DAUGHTER SAW ON DESMOND’S EAR
I couldn’t move.
The pool light shifted again.
And there it was.
A tiny crescent-shaped scar hidden just behind Desmond’s ear.
My heart began pounding.
Julian had the exact same scar.
I knew because I had kissed that spot countless times during our marriage.
But that wasn’t what frightened me most.
It was the small black mark directly beneath it.
A birthmark.
Julian had one too.
Same location.
Same shape.
Same size.
I stared at Desmond.
“Where did you get that?”
He immediately touched the side of his neck.
“What?”
“That scar.”
His expression changed.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Nora suddenly reached toward him.
“Daddy has it.”
Desmond stepped backward.
“Nora, sweetheart, that’s enough.”
His voice was shaking.
I looked at him.
“Why are you scared?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he looked toward the other guests.
“Can we talk somewhere private?”
“No.”
My voice came out colder than I expected.
“Tell me right here.”
Desmond lowered his eyes.
Then he quietly said:
“Your husband gave me that scar.”
My entire body went numb.
“What does that mean?”
He took a breath.
“Julian and I had an accident when we were younger.”
I stared at him.
“I know about the accident.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You know what we told everyone.”
“What really happened?”
Desmond looked toward Nora.
Then back at me.
“Julian didn’t die the way you think he did.”
I couldn’t breathe.
I grabbed the edge of the table.
“What are you saying?”
Before he could answer, Nora began crying.
“Mommy, Daddy’s hurting.”
I turned toward her.
“Where?”
She pointed directly at Desmond.
“Inside.”
Desmond closed his eyes.
Then he whispered:
“She remembers.”
“Remembers what?”
He looked at me.
“The night Julian disappeared.”
I stared at him.
“Julian didn’t disappear.”
“He died.”
Desmond shook his head.
“No.”
“He was alive when they took him to the hospital.”
My knees almost gave out.
I remembered that night.
The doctors had told me there was nothing they could do.
I had held Julian’s hand.
I had watched the monitor go flat.
I had said goodbye.
“How could he be alive?”
Desmond reached into his jacket.
Then he pulled out a small photograph.
He handed it to me.
I looked down.
My hands began trembling.
It was Julian.
Alive.
Older.
Standing beside Desmond.
And the photograph had been taken only six months ago.
I looked at the date.
My heart stopped.
“This is impossible.”
Desmond’s voice broke.
“I know.”
“Where is he?”
He didn’t answer.
“Where is my husband?”
Desmond looked around the party.
Then he lowered his voice.
“He’s been watching you.”
I stepped backward.
“What?”
“He never stopped loving you.”
“Then why didn’t he come home?”
Desmond swallowed.
“Because he believed coming back would put you and Nora in danger.”
I stared at him.
“Danger from who?”
Desmond looked directly into my eyes.
“The people who made everyone believe Julian was dead.”
My phone suddenly vibrated.
I looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
One message.
Don’t trust Desmond.
I looked up.
Desmond was staring at my phone.
Then his face went pale.
“Delete that.”
“Why?”
“Because they know you’re here.”
Another message arrived.
This one contained a photograph.
I opened it.
It showed Nora sleeping in her bedroom.
Taken from inside our house.
My blood ran cold.
Under the photograph were six words:
Your daughter is next if you talk.
I looked at Desmond.
“What have you gotten us into?”
He stepped closer.
Then he whispered:
“I’m not the one you need to be afraid of.”
I stared at him.
“Then who?”
Desmond pointed toward the far end of the backyard.
A man was standing beside the gate.
Watching us.
Then Desmond said:
“That’s Julian’s brother.”
My heart stopped.
Because Julian had never told me he had a brother.
And the man standing there was holding something in his hand.
Something I recognized immediately.
Julian’s wedding ring.
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