All Chapters of The Trouble I Brought Home: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

I didn't get off work until ten at night. By the time I dragged myself home, my whole body felt like it was made of lead.The second I opened the door, a wave of stench hit me so hard that it made me flinch.I instinctively looked around for the source and found a pile of trash bags right by the entrance. It was stuffed with used diapers, all of them smeared and reeking.I hung up my coat and walked straight into the living room.The lights were dim, the TV flickering nonstop.Lillian lay half-reclined on the couch, propping her head up with one hand, completely absorbed in her show. The coffee table was covered in empty snack wrappers and peels from the expensive fruit I had just bought for my wife, Estelle Parks.She saw me, smiled lazily, and didn't move an inch."Vincent, you're back. Just do a quick clean tonight. It's late, so wrap it up and get some rest."Estelle had just given birth not long ago. To make things easier for her and the baby, I paid three times the usual

Chapter 2

The next morning…When I first got together with Estelle, I was just a department manager. I pushed myself nonstop, climbing all the way to a director role so I could give her a better life.Now that we had Belle, slowing down wasn't even an option.I was halfway to the office when I realized I had forgotten some documents. I turned the car around immediately.As the elevator reached a few floors below our place, I suddenly heard Belle crying, sharp and desperate. This time, it only got louder and more frantic.My chest tightened as a bad feeling hit me. I pulled out my phone to call Estelle, only to notice a message she had sent 15 minutes earlier.[Honey, I booked a postpartum recovery session this morning, so I went to the clinic early to get in line. Let's have lunch together later!]Something felt wrong.The moment the elevator doors opened, I ran straight for the apartment.That damn Lillian! If Estelle wasn't home, she might've just let Belle cry and not bothered to che

Chapter 3

I uploaded the documents to my assistant and stayed home, pacing, waiting for Estelle to come back.Two hours passed, but she still wasn't answering me. Whatever anger she had, she was holding onto it.The office kept calling, pushing me to return. I had no choice but to go back. Thankfully, my assistant held things together and bought me two extra hours.I couldn't focus during the meeting, my mind drifting the entire time. However, I still managed to close the deal on skill alone and didn't let anything fall apart.Some coworkers invited me out to celebrate, but I turned them down right away.I couldn't stop thinking about Belle.I called Estelle again, but her phone was off.A cold unease crept up my spine as images of the three of them at home together kept flashing through my mind.Lately, there had been news stories about nannies turning on the families they worked for, things that ended in blood. The thought alone sent a chill through me.Estelle had always been slim fr

Chapter 4

A second later, Lillian screamed at the top of her lungs, "Help! He's assaulting me!"She clamped onto my wrist and refused to let go. In the struggle, the towel around her slipped loose, hanging halfway off her body.Her voice was loud and rough, and it was right around the time everyone was home from work. Doors opened one after another as neighbors rushed out to see what was happening.Seeing the crowd gather, Lillian hurried to clutch her towel closed, finally letting go of me."Vincent, have you no shame?!" she snapped. "I'm old enough to be your mother, and that's where your mind goes?"Panic hit me. "I didn't do anything!"Her crying only grew louder and more dramatic, drowning out anything I tried to say. The neighbors exchanged looks and started whispering."He looks so proper, but I guess he's into some messed-up stuff."Someone else hesitated. "Could it be a misunderstanding?""No way! When I came out just now, he was grabbing her towel."The way they looked at me

Chapter 5

Estelle continued, "I never thought you were this kind of person. Even when you accused Lillian of feeding the baby sleeping pills just because you didn't like her, I didn't say a word."Now, you go and pull something like this. Is this your way of forcing her to leave?"I honestly didn't think you could sink this low. You don't deserve to be my husband, and you don't deserve to be Belle's dad!"Estelle grabbed a few of my things and threw them out into the hallway, then slammed the door shut."Get lost!"I sank to the floor, my body feeling hollow.I could take it if strangers framed me, smeared my name, or tried to ruin me.What I couldn't accept was the woman I loved choosing to believe someone else over me.Estelle was the only woman I had ever loved, the only girlfriend I had ever had. After we got married, I kept my distance from anything that could cross a line. I avoided gatherings with female coworkers whenever I could. I even passed off meetings with female clients

Chapter 6

The man continued, "Once Vincent walks away with nothing, the four of us can finally be together for good."Lillian, who had been frowning, broke into a smile."This whole thing has already worn him down. When the time comes, we'll push a little harder and force the divorce through. Once he's labeled the one at fault, he won't have any claim to the money. By then, our little one can take a new last name. Belle, your daddy's name is Hank Moore, so how about we call you Belle Moore?"They all laughed.I sat at the next table, cold all over as I listened to every word.There was no sadness left in me; only a deep, crawling chill.The woman I loved most, the one I trusted more than anyone, the one I shared my bed with… She had been the one plotting against me all along.And then, it hit me.Everything they had done these past few days had been to draw me in.They let me see the sleeping pills on purpose and dropped half-finished hints about some "special" relationship on purpose.

Chapter 7

Through the security camera, I heard Estelle muttering under her breath, "What's wrong with the lock? I need to get inside and change. Vincent's getting out today. If he sees this, I'll be in trouble."Hank looked like he still hadn't had enough. He leaned in close, pressing himself against Estelle."What are you scared of? If he questions how you're dressed, just use it to start a fight and bring up divorce. That works perfectly."Lillian shot him a look. "We're not there yet. Keep it together."Of course. Why would they stop before squeezing every last thing out of me?After a bit of fumbling with the keypad, the alarm suddenly went off. A few neighbors stepped out again, drawn by the noise."You're back, Estelle. Must be nice, going on a trip and having so many helpers around."Estelle smiled lightly. "Vincent arranged all of that. I guess he's trying to make up for what he did. I didn't even want to deal with him, but it's been so long since I went anywhere, so I figured I m

Chapter 8

A clear handprint bloomed across Hank's cheek."I want a divorce."Rosalind said only those words, each one heavy with despair.She gave me a brief look of thanks, then turned and left with the boy.That was when I noticed something I had missed before.The child had a congenital condition. He couldn't communicate, and even his reactions were slower than normal.I couldn't imagine how she had managed to raise him alone all these years.Suddenly, it made sense why Hank had taken so much money, yet his family still lived in poverty. It had all gone toward the child's treatment.Even so, none of that justified what they had done to me.Hank shoved the baby into Estelle's arms and moved to chase after Rosalind.Estelle grabbed him tightly. "Hank, don't go! Explain this to me. What the hell is going on? You have a wife and a kid? You lied to me! I gave up everything for you!"Hank looked annoyed. "You saw it yourself. What's there to explain? We're done."Estelle panicked; she g

Chapter 9

Estelle had lost a lot of weight. Her cheeks were hollow, and the corners of her eyes were red and inflamed, like she had cried herself raw.I kept my eyes on the documents in front of me and didn't look up."Go ahead. Tell me what you want. If it's about not divorcing, don't bother. I won't agree. We can settle it in court."She didn't answer.When I finally glanced up, I saw tears running down her face.That quiet, fragile look pulled me back to when we first met. Her mother had passed early, and her father was always busy with work. She used to carry herself with a kind of quiet insecurity.It took time, but with me beside her, she slowly opened up and grew more confident.Back then, I wanted to protect her and take care of her for the rest of my life, to be the one she could always rely on.But that was all in the past.Now, looking at her like this only made something inside me twist with irritation. I picked up the phone and called my assistant."If you're done, leave.

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