A House Divided

Victor stepped through the front door as quietly as he could, the chill of the night still clinging to his skin. The house was dark, silent, and still — just the way he hoped it would be.

The soft tick of the grandfather clock echoed in the hallway, reminding him how late it truly was.

His stomach twisted in knots as he tiptoed down the hallway, every creak of the floorboards under his feet sounding like thunder in the stillness. He couldn’t afford to wake anyone, especially not *her*.

*Thank God she's asleep*, he thought, relief sweeping through him. If he could just make it to the bedroom without being noticed, he could shower, get into bed, and deal with her wrath in the morning. Maybe by then, she would be less angry, maybe even willing to forgive.

But as Victor reached for the bedroom door, the lights suddenly flicked on, blinding him momentarily.

He froze mid-step, his heart sinking like a stone as his eyes adjusted to the bright light. There she was—Evelyn—sitting in the armch