Ethan’s phone buzzed on the nightstand, the vibration piercing the quiet of the early morning. Groggily, he reached out, his fingers fumbling for the device. The display read Detective Harris. A sense of foreboding settled in his chest as he swiped to answer.
“Detective?” Ethan’s voice was hushed, careful not to wake anyone.
“Mr. Ethan,” Hayes’s voice was steady but tinged with urgency. “We need you to come to the station. It’s about Tania. There’s been… a development.”
Ethan sat up, the weight of the detective’s words pulling him out of the haze of sleep. “What kind of development?”
“It’s better if we discuss it in person. Can you come now?”
Ethan glanced at the clock. It was barely 5 a. m. He sighed and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. “I’ll be there.”
As he ended the call, Ethan turned to see Ella stirring beside him. She opened her eyes, concern immediately shadowing her expression. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s the detective. Something about Tania. I need to go to the station.”
Ella propped herself up on her elbow, her gaze scanning his face. “Do you want me to come with you?”
He shook his head. “No, you and the boys need rest. I’ll handle it.”
“Be careful,” she murmured, her voice soft but filled with earnest worry.
Ethan leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before slipping out of bed. Quietly, he made his way to the twins’ room. Leo and Liam were tangled in their blankets, their peaceful faces a stark contrast to the chaos that had engulfed their lives. He kissed each boy on the forehead, whispering, “I’ll be back soon.”
Next, Ethan peeked into Grace’s room. She was curled up, her small hand clutching a stuffed animal. He smiled faintly, smoothing her hair before leaving her to her dreams.
Moments later, Ethan was in his car, the engine purring as he navigated the empty streets toward the station. The city was still asleep, the silence outside matching the storm brewing in his mind.
When Ethan arrived at the station, Detective Hayes greeted him with a firm handshake. “Thanks for coming so quickly.”
“What’s going on?” Ethan asked, his voice tight with apprehension.
Hayes gestured for him to follow. They walked through the dimly lit halls until they reached a small observation room. Hayes pointed to the one-way glass. “Take a look.”
Ethan stepped forward and froze. On the other side, Tania sat in a stark cell, her knees pulled to her chest. She was whispering to herself, her lips moving rapidly. Occasionally, she would burst into laughter, the sound hollow and unsettling. Her eyes darted around the room as if she were seeing things no one else could.
“What the hell is she doing?” Ethan asked, his brow furrowing.
Hayes crossed his arms. “She’s been like this since last night. Whispers, laughter, talking to people who aren’t there. Our psychologist is assessing her, but they suspect she may be mentally unstable.”
Ethan felt a chill run down his spine. Tania, always calculating and manipulative, now seemed like a shadow of her former self. “Is she faking it?”
Hayes tilted his head. “That’s the question, isn’t it? It could be an act to avoid harsher punishment, but…” He hesitated. “If it’s real, she may not have been mentally stable for a long time. Her obsession with you, her actions it all points to a fractured psyche.”
Ethan stared at her, memories flooding his mind. The betrayal, the lies, the danger she’d put his family in. And now, this. “What happens if she’s declared mentally unstable?”
“She’ll likely be transferred to a psychiatric facility instead of standing trial,” Hayes explained. “But that doesn’t mean she’ll walk free. Depending on the evaluation, she could spend the rest of her life under psychiatric care.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened. “And if she’s faking it?”
“We’ll prove it,” Hayes assured him. “But it’ll take time.”
Ethan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “What do you need from me?”
“For now, just your cooperation. We may need you to testify about her behavior in the past and any signs of instability you noticed.”
Ethan nodded. “Whatever you need.”
As Ethan left the observation room, his thoughts were a whirlwind. Could Tania’s descent into madness be real? Or was it just another ploy, a twisted strategy to evade justice?
He was halfway to his car when Hayes called after him. “Ethan.”
Turning, he saw the detective holding a folder. “This just came in. Thought you should see it.”
Ethan took the folder and flipped it open. Inside were records-medical files, psychological evaluations, and personal notes. It painted a picture of Tania’s troubled past, one he’d never known.
She’d struggled with abandonment issues as a child, feeling overshadowed by Ella’s achievements. There were notes from a therapist detailing bouts of depression and a deep-seated need for validation.
“She hid this from everyone,” Ethan murmured, his voice laced with disbelief.
Hayes nodded. “It doesn’t excuse what she’s done, but it helps explain it. People like Tania often spiral when their insecurities and obsessions go unchecked.”
Ethan closed the folder, a mixture of anger and pity swirling inside him. “What now?”
“Go home,” Harris said firmly. “Be with your family. We’ll handle this.”
Back at home, Ethan slipped inside quietly, careful not to wake anyone. But as he stepped into the living room, he found Ella waiting, her eyes heavy with sleep but filled with concern.
“You’re back,” she said softly, standing to meet him.
He nodded, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Tania might be… mentally unstable,” he said, his voice muffled against her hair.
Ella pulled back slightly, her eyes searching his. “What do you mean?”
He explained everything-the whispers, the laughter, the records Hayes had shown him. As he spoke, Ella’s expression shifted from shock to sadness.
“I don’t know how to feel,” she admitted. “After everything she’s done, part of me wants to see her pay. But if she’s really sick…”
Ethan cupped her face, his thumbs brushing her cheeks. “We’ll face this together, Ella. Whatever happens, we’ll protect our family.”
She nodded, leaning into his touch. “You need to rest,” she said, her voice gentle but firm. “You’ve been through enough tonight.”
Ethan smiled faintly, the weight of the night finally catching up to him. “Yeah,” he agreed. “But only if you come with me.”
Hand in hand, they headed upstairs, their resolve stronger than ever. Together, they would face whatever came next, united as a family.