But this time, I saw something I could never unsee.

Daniel didn’t comfort her.

He glanced around the room first.

As if checking whether anyone was watching.

My heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear the audio.

Carol stepped forward quickly, saying something I couldn’t make out.

Daniel turned slightly away from her.

Lily’s cries escalated into pure terror.

Then he leaned closer to her tiny face and whispered something.

I replayed the footage.

Once.

Twice.

My blood ran cold.

The man I had trusted. The father I believed my daughter was safe with.

In that moment, I realized Lily had been trying to tell me the truth all along.

And I almost didn’t listen.