That night, Veronica approached James again, her voice low and edged with unease. “Something isn’t right,” she murmured, clutching her arms as if shielding herself from her own thoughts. But James only gave a dismissive smile. “She’s never acted strange around me.”
And he wasn’t wrong—whenever James looked after Esther, she behaved impeccably. She was sweet and affectionate, showering him with kisses, curling into his arms like the picture-perfect daughter. In those moments, James saw no reason to question her behavior.