The door swung open a fraction of an inch, and a woman’s voice drifted into the quiet room, sounding completely familiar and utterly terrifying. “Excuse me, Marco, I know I’m early for my afternoon session, but the receptionist said it was alright to slip inside.”
My heart hammered frantically against my ribs as I recognized the voice immediately. It belonged to Clara, a wealthy family friend who frequently dined at our house and always asked about Marco’s demanding job. 
Marco lunged toward the door, his face pale with panic, trying to shield the entrance and block Clara from stepping fully inside. “Not today, Clara! We have an unexpected emergency—please, you need to reschedule immediately!”
Clara paused, peering around Marco’s shoulder into the room, and her eyes locked directly onto mine standing frozen by the desk. The color completely drained from her face as the heavy, unbearable truth hung suffocatingly in the air between us. ….
