Chapter 7: The Second Notebook
I didn’t sleep that night.
Not because I was afraid.
Because I was angry.
The kind of anger that doesn’t explode.
The kind that sits quietly and waits.
The next morning, I met Laura outside my father’s house.
She looked nervous.
“I shouldn’t be doing this.””
I looked at her.
“But you are.””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
We stood beside her car.
“Tell me everything.””
Laura looked toward the house.
“I worked for Karen for almost two years.””
“And?””
“She was different when your father wasn’t around.””
I already knew that.
But hearing someone else say it still hurt.
“She kept records.””
“What kind?””
“Everything.””
Laura opened her phone.
She showed me pictures.
Lists.
Dates.
Notes.
Some were about Emma.
Some were about me.
Then I saw my name.
*David — emotional. Easily provoked.*
I stared.
“She was building a case.””
Laura nodded.
“Yes.””
“For what?””
“I don’t know.””
But I did.
She wanted custody.
She wanted control.
She wanted everyone to believe she was the reasonable one.
Then Laura showed me another page.
And my entire body went cold.
*Possible future guardianship issue.*
I looked at her.
“What does this mean?””
Laura swallowed.
“I think she wanted to prove you were unstable.””
The pieces connected.
The fake recording.
The accusations.
The lawyer.
It wasn’t random.
Karen had been preparing.
“She’s been planning this for months.””
Laura nodded.
Then she whispered:
“There’s more.””
“What?””
“She wasn’t only writing about you.””
“Who else?””
Laura looked uncomfortable.
“Your father.””
I looked at the house.
“What about him?””
“She wrote that he was becoming difficult to influence.””
My blood went cold.
Karen wasn’t just attacking me.
She was losing control.
And people who lose control become dangerous.
That afternoon, we met with Rebecca again.
She reviewed everything.
Then she said:
“We need to move quickly.””
“Why?””
“Because Karen may try to create another incident.””
I frowned.
“What kind?””
Rebecca looked serious.
“A situation where she appears to be the victim.””
I hated that she was right.
Because Karen was already playing a role.
And she was good at it.
That evening, I received a message.
From Karen.
*We need to talk. Alone.*
I showed Rebecca.
She immediately said:
“Don’t go alone.””
“I won’t.””
But I knew I needed to know what she wanted.
We met at a restaurant.
Public place.
Cameras everywhere.
Karen arrived five minutes late.
She sat down.
She looked tired.
Not scared.
Tired.
“I didn’t want things to get this bad.””
I stared.
“You brought lawyers.””
“You brought evidence.””
“You hurt my daughter.””
She looked away.
For a moment, I thought I saw regret.
Then it disappeared.
“I made mistakes.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You made choices.””
She looked at me.
“You think you’re better than me?””
“No.””
I leaned forward.
“I think Emma deserved better.””
That hurt her.
I saw it.
Then she whispered:
“Your father will choose me.””
I froze.
“What?””
“He always does.””
The confidence in her voice bothered me.
“What are you talking about?””
She smiled faintly.
“You don’t know everything.””
My stomach tightened.
“Explain.””
She leaned closer.
“Ask your father why he never told you about your mother’s last letter.””
I stopped.
My mother.
A subject my father almost never discussed.
“What letter?””
Karen smiled.
“There are things you don’t know.””
Then she stood.
“Things that change how people see you.””
She walked away.
I sat there frozen.
Because Karen had just revealed something I never knew existed.
And when I got home, my father was waiting.
He looked at my face.
And immediately knew.
“What did she tell you?””
I stared at him.
“About my mother.””
His expression changed.
May you like
And I knew.
He knew exactly what Karen was talking about.
