Chapter 6: False Certainty

Henry sat alone on the couch, the envelope resting on his lap like something heavy and dangerous.

The living room was quiet, unusually so, and the silence pressed against his ears.

Selena sat beside him, her legs folded under her, her teddy bear squeezed tightly against her chest. She was quiet too, but not calm.

Her eyes kept drifting towards the staircase, then back to Henry, as though she expected her mother to suddenly appear.

Mrs. Willis stood a short distance away, her hands clasped together in front of her. She had been standing there since Henry took the envelope from her. Her eyes followed every small movement he made.

Henry finally lifted the envelope.

His fingers slid under the flap, slow and careful. He did not tear it open the way he usually did with documents.

Instead, he eased it open, his movements cautious, almost reluctant.

The paper inside shifted slightly, making a faint sound that seemed far louder than it should have been.

He drew in a breath.

Just as he began to pull out the first sheet, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

The sudden sound made him pause.

His brows furrowed slightly in annoyance. He glanced down at the envelope, then reached into his pocket.

When he saw the caller’s name, his expression softened immediately.

“Lauren,” he said as he picked up the call.

The change in his tone did not go unnoticed.

Selena’s head lifted at once. Her eyes brightened, and the sadness on her face eased as though someone had flipped a switch.

She hugged her teddy bear tighter and leaned closer to her father, listening eagerly.

“Henry?” Lauren’s voice came through the phone, sweet and familiar. “I think I left my favourite earrings in your bedroom.”

Henry didn't even look back at the envelope.

“I’ll go check,” he said without hesitation.

He stood up, the envelope sliding off his lap and onto the couch. He didn’t notice.

He was already walking towards the stairs, his steps steady and sure, as though the house belonged entirely to him.

Selena watched him go, a small smile forming on her lips.

Mrs. Willis watched too.

Her eyes followed Henry’s back as he climbed the stairs, then dropped to Selena’s eager face. Something twisted painfully in her chest.

She opened her mouth slightly, as though she wanted to speak, but no words came.

What could she say? What words could fix what she was seeing?

She closed her mouth again and simply stared.

Upstairs, Henry walked straight into the bedroom. The room still carried a faint scent that was not Diana’s.

He moved towards the dressing table without thinking, opening the small jewellery box that sat there.

Almost immediately, he spotted the earrings Lauren had described.

“Yes, found them,” he said into the phone.

He closed the box and slipped the earrings into his pocket.

“I’ll keep them safe,” he added. “They’ll be waiting for you when you get back.”

Lauren laughed softly on the other end. “Thank you,” she said warmly.

Henry ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket. Without sparing the room another glance, he turned and walked back downstairs.

When he returned to the living room, he picked up his seat as though nothing had happened.

Mrs. Willis cleared her throat gently.

“Sir,” she said carefully, “the documents.”

Henry followed her gaze to the envelope lying on the couch. He picked it up again, holding it loosely this time.

His eyes rested on it for a brief second, not with fear, but with mild impatience.

He then stretched it towards Mrs. Willis.

“Put them in my office,” he said. “I’ll look at them later.”

The words struck her deeply.

Mrs. Willis felt a sharp pain in her chest, but she masked it quickly. She took the envelope from him with both hands.

“Yes, sir,” she replied quietly.

She turned to leave, but Henry’s voice stopped her.

“And don’t be fooled, Mrs. Willis.”

She paused and turned back slightly, her body stiff.

“She may love me,” Henry continued confidently, “but she loves being Mrs. Golding more than anything.”

Mrs. Willis said nothing.

She nodded once, slowly, and turned away again. Her steps were slow as she walked towards Henry’s office, the envelope pressed tightly against her chest.

Every step felt heavy.

She had served this family for years. She had watched Diana give everything she had, day after day, without complaint.

And now, she had just heard Henry reduce all of that to ambition.

Tears burned behind her eyes, but she did not let them fall.

Back in the living room, Selena shifted restlessly on the couch. She glanced around again, her excitement fading.

“Daddy,” she asked suddenly, her voice small, “Mommy left?”

Henry turned to her and nodded calmly. “Yes.”

Selena frowned. “Where is she?”

Henry leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. “She went out,” he said casually.

Selena hugged her teddy bear closer. “I want my strawberry milkshake.”

Henry smiled faintly and reached out to pat her head. “Don’t worry, baby,” he said reassuringly. “She’ll be back.”

Selena’s eyes searched his face. “When?”

He chuckled lightly, full of confidence. “Soon. She’s got nowhere else to go.”

He believed it.

He believed Diana would return the same way she always did; quiet, apologetic, ready to pick up where she left off.

**********

The city stirred awake under the early morning light.

A white luxurious SUV pulled up smoothly in front of Eastwood Medical Research Center.

The building stood tall and solid, its glass exterior reflecting the pale glow of dawn. It was quiet, dignified, and alive with promise.

The car door opened.

Diana Robinson stepped out.

She stood straight, her shoulders squared, her face calm. She was dressed in a fitted red female suit that framed her figure confidently, paired with a simple blue top.

Her hair was neatly styled, her expression composed.

There were no traces of the woman who had cried in the Golding living room hours earlier.

She paused for a moment, breathing in the familiar air.

This place felt different. It always had.

Here, she was not invisible. Here, she was not tolerated. Here, she was valued.

She adjusted her jacket slightly and walked towards the entrance, her heels clicking softly against the ground.

Before she could reach the doors, they swung open.

Five people rushed out at once.

They were doctors. Researchers. Her old colleagues. Faces she recognised instantly.

Their expressions lit up the moment they saw her.

“Welcome back, Dr. Diana.” They all echoed in excitation.