“Daddy, don’t leave me with the new mom, she does bad things.” Hiding in the closet, the father FROZE at what he saw

Sophia nodded, clutching her bear. “And I’ll pretend everything’s fine, even though I’m scared.” — “Exactly,” Michael confirmed, ruffling her hair. “I know it’s tough, but you need to act as natural as possible. If Rachel suspects anything, the plan falls apart.” — “I’ll try, Dad,” Sophia promised. “But what if she tries to hurt me before you can get out of the closet?” Michael’s heart ached. “I’ll be watching closely.

At the first sign of trouble, I’ll come out. And remember, if you feel threatened, shout the code word, and I’ll be there in a second.” — “Strawberry ice cream,” Sophia recalled the code they’d chosen. — “That’s right,” Michael smiled. “Strawberry ice cream. And no matter what, I’m so proud of you.

You’re the bravest girl in the world.” Sophia hugged him, finding comfort in his embrace. “I love you, Dad.” — “I love you too, my brave little one,” Michael replied, kissing her head.

Morning came, and Michael woke before dawn, his stomach knotted with nerves. He dressed quietly, steeling himself for the day ahead. When he went to wake Sophia, she was already sitting up in bed, eyes wide, ready for the day. “You ready, honey?” he asked softly.

Sophia nodded, fear in her eyes. “I’m ready, Dad.” They ate breakfast in tense silence. As Michael finished washing dishes, the doorbell rang. “That’s probably Rachel,” he said, drying his hands.

He knelt before Sophia, looked into her eyes, and said, “Remember, act normal. I’ll leave in a few minutes, but I’ll always be close.” — “Okay,” Sophia whispered.

Michael opened the door, and there stood Rachel, a nervous smile on her face. “Hey, honey,” she said softly. “Thanks for letting me come over.” Michael nodded, forcing a smile. “Come in. I’m about to head to work.” Rachel stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room as if seeing it for the first time.

When she saw Sophia at the table, her smile widened. “Sophia, sweetie, I missed you so much.” Sophia mumbled a greeting, eyes on her plate. Michael noticed his daughter growing shyer, but Rachel seemed oblivious. “I gotta go,” Michael announced, grabbing his bag. “I’ll be back tonight, and we can talk.” Rachel replied enthusiastically, “Sure, have a good day at work.” Michael kissed Sophia’s forehead and whispered, “Remember, I’m always nearby.”

With a final glance at his daughter, Michael left, carefully leaving the door slightly ajar, and waited a few minutes in the hallway. After a while, he quietly re-entered the house.

Knowing Rachel liked to take long morning showers, he headed to Sophia’s room and hid in her closet, leaving the door cracked to hear and see everything.

Minutes dragged on. Michael heard Rachel and Sophia’s voices from afar. Their conversations were muffled, sometimes punctuated by Sophia’s laughter, though it sounded strained, which Rachel didn’t seem to notice. Michael’s legs cramped, but he stayed still, holding his breath and listening for every sound. Finally, he heard Rachel approach Sophia. “What do you want to do today, sweetie? We could play with your dolls.”

Sophia replied softly, “How about watching a cartoon?” Rachel agreed and went to the kitchen to make tea.

Michael began to doubt his daughter’s words. Why did she say Rachel was hurting her? When Rachel went to the bathroom again, Michael decided he’d seen enough. He left the closet, slipped out of the house, and returned, pretending he’d just come back from work. “Hey,” he said, walking in, trying to sound casual. “How was your day?” Rachel met him in the hall with a smile. “Great, honey.

We had a blast, didn’t we?” Sophia only nodded, avoiding her father’s gaze. Michael sensed a strange tension but couldn’t quite place it. At dinner, he decided it was time to address what happened. He took Sophia to her room, tucked her in, and looked at her seriously. “Sophia,” he began, keeping his voice steady, “you told me Rachel was hurting you, but today I heard her being kind to you…