CHAPTER 9: THE VISITOR
Two days later, Karen showed up at the gate.
She was tall, elegant, with sharp cheekbones and cold eyes. She looked exactly like the kind of woman who would destroy someone's life.
"I'm here to see Sarah," she told the guard.
"She's not receiving visitors."
"I'm not a visitor. I'm family."
Daniel came to find me. "Your sister-in-law is here."
"She's not my sister-in-law. She's the woman who tried to steal my daughter."
"Whatever she is, she's at the gate. And she's demanding to see you."
I walked to the front entrance and stared at the monitor.
Karen was waiting, her face impassive.
I pressed the intercom.
"Go away, Karen."
"Sarah, we need to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about."
"Ava is my niece. I have rights."
"You have no rights. You tried to take her from me."
"I was trying to protect her. You know that."
"I know you killed my husband."
There was a pause.
Then Karen smiled.
"You can't prove that," she said.
"I don't have to prove it. I just have to keep you away from my children."
Karen's eyes flickered.
"You can't protect them forever."
"I can."
"No, you can't. Because you don't know what I'm capable of."
She walked back to her car and drove away.
But I knew she'd be back.
She always came back.
Daniel found me on the floor, shaking.
"Sarah?"
"She's not going to stop," I said. "She's never going to stop. She'll keep coming until she gets what she wants."
Daniel knelt beside me. "Then we'll fight her. Together."
"You don't have to do this."
"I know. But I want to."
I looked at him, and for the first time, I believed him.
May you like
"Okay," I said. "Let's fight her together."
And I reached out and took his hand.
